Matthew 16:19 . . . And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

I. What are the Keys for?

Matthew 16:18 . . . And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

• For the Building of the church – I will build my church.

• For the Continuance of the church – The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

• For Entrance into the Kingdom – to overcome the rebellious religious leaders

Matthew 23:13 . . . “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

II. What are the Keys?

• The Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven

Matthew 13:10–17 . . . And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

• They are hidden - mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 16:19b . . . and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

• Loose – to provide access

• Bind – to prohibit access