Rewire: the keys to the kingdom

Barb Ylitalo
Aug 6
8 min read

Rewire: Keys to the Kingdom

Barb Yo, Mdiv

8/6/2025

I have felt called to provide context surrounding specific biblical verses that have been divisive among denominational leaders and even part of the birth of cultish congregations.

The keys to the kingdom given to Peter in Matthew 16 by Jesus have caused controversy and division in the church for centuries.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and

whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

Matthew 16:18-19

In my own life, these keys were believed to have been passed down by the “laying on of hands” from Peter directly to my childhood pseudo-biblical church, and this meant a person needs to receive salvation (not from Christ alone) but from one of the congregants of this small church sect.

Effectively, they added to the simple gospel of grace by requiring an action of man, becoming a high-control community bent on human works to keep the faith and avoid the world.

Common Misinterpretations

Peter at the Gates of Heaven

Most of us have heard jokes and folklore of Peter at the gate of Heaven, judging the dead who come to the gate. Will Peter be involved in judging human souls to heaven or hell?

NO: The book of Revelation solidifies that believers will go through the judgment of Christ (Rev 11:18) and unbelievers will go through the judgment of God (Rev 20:11). There are no human opinions needed for the judgment of our souls. No person, dead or alive, will be asked to give an appeal for our entrance into either heaven or hell.

Peter was the first Pope

Similar to my childhood church, which felt one is saved through generational "laying on of hands." The Catholics have long preached that Peter was the first Pope. This goes back to (Matt 16:18), which states, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church: and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

Let's check out this verse. Peter’s name is changed to a gentile name in this portion of the Word. Peter's name is changed to Petros, which means rock or stone in Greek. Many have felt that Jesus is saying that the church will be built on Peter. But this, too, is not accurate according to the Greek text.

There are two different Greek words in this text. One is Petros, which means rock or stone. Peter receives the new name Petros. The rock on which Jesus will build the church is not the same Greek word, but is Petra, which means cliff, projecting rock, or ledge. Jesus was pointing to a cliff here in Caesarea Philippi and announcing Himself as the cliff (or ledge), which is the foundation stone of the Church.

Later, we see Peter calling all believers living stones and Christ the cornerstone for us all.

Let's review 2 Peter 2:4-8 here, in parentheses, you will see I have added the Greek word either of Lithos (small stone) or Petra (cliff or ledge).

And coming to Him as to a living stone (lithos) which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones (lithos), are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone (lithos), a precious corner stone (lithos),

And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“The stone (lithos) which the builders rejected, This became the very cornerstone (lithos),” A stone of stumbling and a rock (Petra) of offense.”

2 Peter 2:4-8, emphasis mine.

As we can see, all followers of Jesus are stones that are built up into this holy priesthood to which Peter was also a part. Peter is the first stone, but not the cornerstone. Jesus is the rock (Petra) of offense, the chief cornerstone.

From Google Search: The cornerstone is traditionally the first stone laid when constructing a building, often forming the corner of the foundation. It's a crucial element, serving as the reference point for laying other stones and ensuring the building's structural integrity.

Incredibly, the cornerstone serves as the reference point for all the stones added to a building.

First mention: Rock

We need to see the first mentions of a Rock from the Torah, which Apostle Paul says was Christ (1 Cor 10:4). Christ was the rock from which the Israelites drank water in the wilderness in both Exodus 17 and Numbers 20. Christ fulfilled this powerful position of His by becoming the cornerstone and a fount of living water that believers have access to.

The foundation of Christ as the rock is established in the Torah, emphasizing that Jesus is the giver of water and provider of refuge and health in the wilderness.

Is Peter the first Pope? Is he the foundation stone?

NO: There is no implication in the Word that “keys” were passed down from Peter to other believers through the laying on of hands or any other method.

Now it is time to look at the text with more clarity and not preconceptions.

What is happening in this scene of Matthew 16 in Caesarea Philippi? Jesus led the disciples to this location for an important lesson. Caesarea Philippi was a gentile city about 20 miles north of Capernaum (Jesus' Headquarters). The area was known for idol worship and allegiance to the Caesar of Rome. There was even a cliff that the locals believed to be the gates of hell.

This scene is believed to be the starting point of the Church. Peter declares in this portion that Jesus is the Son of God. What is fascinating is that Jesus then tells him that “flesh and blood” did not reveal this to you, but the Father is the one who gave you this revelation.

When Jesus says flesh and blood (Matt 16:17), He is affirming that no man gave Peter this revelation, nor did Peter drum this up himself.

What we see here is the process by which the church will be built.

The church will be built one stone at a time as the Father reveals the Truth regarding His Son to humans who are searching. Peter’s heart was, like ours, a place for truth to be received by God. We do not achieve salvation, but we receive it.

What Peter did here could not be overstated. By saying that Jesus is the Son of God, Peter was risking his very life. Blasphemy was a real deal in this day.

Peter testifying to this truth is precisely what we do as new believers. We receive this truth and confess it with our mouth; it has to spill out. We are reborn and equipped by the Holy Spirit to bring truth to the light, no matter the consequence.

Finally, let's get to Matthew 16:19, where we can investigate the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Here is a repeat of that portion:

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.

Matthew 16:19

By a simple reading of the text, we see the keys either bind something or loosen something. This is a Jewish idiom that was used in their courts. Things were bound (or disallowed) or they were loosed (deemed allowed) according to the Jewish law.

Now we know Peter was a typical Jew, considered an Amharetz or unschooled Jew. The chances anyone would respect his binding and loosing seemed very slim, as the Jewish Sanhedrin, or court of law, did this.

The word key here in Greek, kleis, means opening and shutting as one would picture a key to do. Opening would be loosening, and closing would be binding.

How does this authority work for Peter?

We see in 3 portions of Acts that Peter is present and involved when the Holy Spirit comes on three categories of people. The Jews (Acts 2), the Samaritans (Acts 8), and the Gentiles (Acts 10).

We have to review Acts 1:8, where we see Jesus give the disciples his final command before His ascension. In this incredible scene, Jesus directs the disciples to be witnesses of Christ through all of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the world.

The order in Scripture is always Jew then Gentile. Jesus added Samaria to the mix. Samaria was an area that had a Jewish and gentile mix of people, and a separate belief system from the Jews. The order that Jesus commanded becomes the framework of the book of Acts. After His ascension, the Holy Spirit will come and fill believers with power, purpose, and Christ Himself.

Here is the order of Keys turned in the book of Acts. This is the reason many theologians say Peter had three keys.

Jerusalem and Judea: KEY 1

Acts 2:1-3 describes the Holy Spirit flooding a room where Jews from every nation were gathering, waiting for the Holy Spirit as Christ had directed the disciples. Peter then gives a sermon empowered by the Holy Spirit and many are baptized.

Samaria: KEY 2

Acts 8 describes the disciple Philip going to Samaria and giving the gospel. Many believed, but the Holy Spirit was not filling them. Peter and John go out to Samaria to check it out, and through the laying on of Peter and John’s hands, the people were filled with the Holy Spirit.

The World: KEY 3

Acts 10: describes Peter being led by God and requested by men to the home of Cornelius. As Peter gives the gospel (in the middle of his rendition) the Spirit falls on the guests present.

In each story, Peter (the lead disciple) needed to be present.

Why would God make that a requirement? (Here are a few of my thoughts on that)

Peter was the leader of the disciples (as noted by authors always listing Peter first, and his presence in small groups with Jesus).
Peter would continue to be the leader of the early church (he had to witness the variety of ways the Holy Spirit comes, and especially the salvation of the Samaritans and Gentiles).
Unity was the goal of the early church; there had to be an eyewitness to the work of the Holy Spirit at its coming to all three people groups.
To be an apostle, one needed to have witnessed the entirety of Jesus' ministry - here God chose one man to witness the entire start of the Holy Spirit.

I can hear many reading this asking about Matthew 18:18, where the disciples are given the authority to bind and loose. This portion of the Word is dedicated to church discipline and is somewhat another subject.

In summary:

Peter demonstrates the receiving of truth by declaring Jesus is God Himself. Romans 10:13 teaches that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Peter’s faith announcement reveals the Way all believers will be added to the cornerstone and become part of the body of Christ as he professed that Jesus was Christ the Son of God.

God and not man gave Peter’s faith. In Galatians 1, Apostle Paul emphasizes that he did not receive the gospel from any man, but it was a revelation from Jesus Christ. Some have believed that Ananias laid hands on Paul and he was saved (Acts 9). However, Acts 26:12-18 verifies that Jesus gave Paul his purpose and more in this same scene with Ananias. Jesus saved Paul. Ananias was a witness needed for the church body to believe Paul was saved.

Peter was the stone, we are added stones, and Christ is the cliff and cornerstone. (2 Peter 2)

The Keys to the Kingdom were metaphorically turned when the Holy Spirit came upon the Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles. (Acts 2,8,10)

Following this, the keys were used for Church discipline. (Matthew 18:18)

Unity is still a massive goal of the Church, but in this day, it was beyond imperative. Mixing Jews, Samarians, and Gentiles was an enormous task. Peter was a sound leader for an imperative time in Church history. But he was not a Pope.

Please share and comment. I will also be including this as a podcast - Biblically Wired podcast can be found on Spotify, iHeart, and Apple Podcast.

In honor of my parents - here are 3 Bible Trivia questions: