Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While the verse speaks of divine authority being given to believers, the crucial, easily missed point is that "binding" and "loosing" here primarily refers to declaring things (like whether a certain action is permissible or forbidden) rather than just judging individuals. This means the church’s authority is about faithfully applying God's principles to specific situations, not about arbitrary personal judgments.
Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is instructing his disciples on how to handle conflict and sin within the community, outlining a progressive process of correction. After explaining the steps for confronting a sinning brother, this verse grants the authority of the gathered community, acting in his name, to make decisions that will be recognized and upheld in heaven. This follows directly from the preceding instructions about bringing unresolved issues before the church and precedes Jesus' promise that he will be present wherever two or three are gathered in his name.
What happens when a brother sins against you? Jesus outlines a clear, step-by-step process that moves from personal conversation to the entire community's involvement.
Jesus provides a pathway for addressing sin within the community that values both grace and accountability.
The Three Steps:
What does it mean for the church to 'bind' and 'loose'? Jesus grants His followers a profound authority that reflects God's own decisions.
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The phrases 'bind' and 'loose' were common rabbinic terms, meaning to declare something forbidden or permitted. Jesus applies this to the church's authority in matters of discipline and doctrine, connecting earthly decisions to heavenly ratification.
The Scope of Authority:
Understand the original words
deō · Greek Verb
A rabbinic term for prohibiting an action or declaring a person under church discipline, based on the authority of the Word of God.
lyō · Greek Verb
A rabbinic term for permitting an action or releasing a person from church discipline, based on the authority of the Word of God.
This teaching from Jesus about binding and loosing wasn't given in a vacuum; it drew upon familiar Jewish concepts of rabbinic authority and synagogue discipline, giving His disciples a framework they could understand for the future governance of the Church.
c. 450 BC
Development of Jewish Synagogues
During and after the Babylonian exile, the synagogue emerged as a center for Jewish worship and community life, often with a council of elders responsible for local governance and discipline.
c. 50 BC - AD 30
Rabbinic Judaism Flourishes
The period saw the rise of prominent rabbis and the development of Jewish law, where the terms 'binding' and 'loosing' were commonly used to describe the authority to interpret and apply the Law, including making things permissible or forbidden.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus Teaches and Disciples Form
Jesus gathers a core group of disciples, teaching them about the Kingdom of God and preparing them for future leadership, including the authority to forgive and make judgments within the community.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus Appoints the Twelve Apostles
Jesus formally commissions the twelve apostles, granting them authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons, laying groundwork for their future role in establishing the church and its discipline.
c. AD 40s-50s
Early Church Expansion and Discipline
As the early church grew, apostles like Paul provided guidance and exercised authority in matters of doctrine and discipline, such as the case of the incestuous man in Corinth, demonstrating the 'binding' and 'loosing' in practice.
This passage is the foundational promise of 'binding and loosing' given to Peter, and Matthew 18:18 extends this authority to the broader group of disciples, emphasizing its communal nature in church discipline.
John 20:23Jesus breathes on the disciples and says, 'If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.' This directly parallels the authority to 'bind' and 'loose' sins in Matthew 18:18, highlighting the Church's role in declaring forgiveness.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5This passage shows the practical application of 'binding' by the early church when they were instructed to excommunicate a man for sexual immorality, demonstrating how church discipline, as mentioned in Matthew 18:18, leads to the 'binding' or separation of the unrepentant.
Deuteronomy 19:15Jesus’ teaching about bringing matters before the church and having witnesses echoes the Old Testament law requiring multiple witnesses to establish a case, showing the continuity of seeking justice and order within God’s people.
calvinMatthew 18:15-20: "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."
- But if thy brother hath sinned against thee, go and reprove him between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16. But if he shall not hear thee, take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed: and if he shall not hear them,…
henryMatthew 18:15-20: "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."
18:15-20 If a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often done merely upon report, but to go to the offender privately, state the matter kindly, and show him his conduct. This would generally have all the desired effect with a true Christian, and the parties would b…
While the verse speaks of divine authority being given to believers, the crucial, easily missed point is that "binding" and "loosing" here primarily refers to declaring things (like whether a certain action is permissible or forbidden) rather than just judging individuals. This means the church’s authority is about faithfully applying God's principles to specific situations, not about arbitrary personal judgments.
Jesus is instructing his disciples on how to handle conflict and sin within the community, outlining a progressive process of correction. After explaining the steps for confronting a sinning brother, this verse grants the authority of the gathered community, acting in his name, to make decisions that will be recognized and upheld in heaven. This follows directly from the preceding instructions about bringing unresolved issues before the church and precedes Jesus' promise that he will be present wherever two or three are gathered in his name.
Jesus is instructing his disciples on how to handle conflict and sin within the community, outlining a progressive process of correction. After explaining the steps for confronting a sinning brother, this verse grants the authority of the gathered community, acting in his name, to make decisions that will be recognized and upheld in heaven. This follows directly from the preceding instructions about bringing unresolved issues before the church and precedes Jesus' promise that he will be present wherever two or three are gathered in his name.
"Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." — While the verse speaks of divine authority being given to believers, the crucial, easily missed point is that "binding" and "loosing" here primarily refers to declaring things (like whether a certa…
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Last reviewed October 2026