Dear Christian friends:

Jesus once said to His disciples, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:19) There has been much argument between people about the "keys of the kingdom of heave." What are those keys? Jesus gave them to whom? It is important for us to know about the "keys of the "kingdom of heaven." Therefore this morning let us consider:


Last week on TV I heard a popular song which said, "Prayer is the key to heaven and faith unlocks the door." Is prayer the key to heaven? In our text Jesus and others of the Bible says that the key to heaven is forgiveness of sins. If a man has his sins forgiven heaven is open for him. If a man has not forgiveness of sins heaven is closed and locked to him.

In our text Jesus on Easter evening said to His disciples, "Whoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained." (John 20:23) One key forgives sins and opens heaven; the other key does not forgive sins and locks heaven.

Now you can see that is a very wonderful power, truly a heavy responsibility. A man who has that power rules the world. Oh what men will do to get peace of conscience! Work hard, drink hard, pay much money. Think of those keys and the power to open or close heaven to men.

Long ago the bishop of Rome understood what a great power that is. He wanted that power for himself so he could rule over all nations. So he argued this way, "Jesus gave those keys only to St. Peter not to other Christians. Peter was the first bishop of Rome. Before he died he ordained the next bishop of Rome and gave the keys to him. So now the bishop of Rome or the Pope has the keys of heaven. Only those men whom the Pope ordains through cardinals and bishops have the keys. That is why in the Catholic church only the priests can forgive sins. The laymen do not have that power.

But our text clearly shows that Jesus gave the keys to all the Christians, not only to Peter. We read in John 20:21-22, "He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye" Notice Jesus does not say, "you" as to mean one or Peter. But He says, "ye" as to mean, "all." The Bishop of Rome was selfish and wanted that power for himself so he could be God on earth. But Jesus gave that power to all Christians.

That is why in the Lutheran Church the laymen have the power to call their pastor. They loan him their power to forgive sins. When he leaves he gives up that power again to the congregation and they call another pastor.

How does the church forgive sins? A. Privately, B. Public worship, the Lord's Supper and baptism. C. Missions. When the pastor does this it is as if Jesus Himself did it.

The church opens heave for whom and closes heaven for whom? Here in the text Jesus does not say exactly. So we must see how Jesus Himself did it. Example, story of the women taken in adultery. (John 8:1-8) Before they were sorry or believed Jesus offered it often. Hearts were touched. Heaven is closed only to the self-righteous or those lacking faith in the crucified one.

Use the keys, that's the work of the church!

Amen.