Keys of the kingdom

I want to talk this morning about one bible verse.

The verse is in the new testament and it is Matthew chapter sixteen verse nineteen. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus had been asking the disciples, who do people say the son of man is?

They replied, some say John the baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

Then he asked them, but what about you?, who do you say I am?

Simon Peter answered, “you are the messiah, the son of the living God.”

It is then that Jesus, as part of his response to Peter says the words in verse nineteen. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

One event-three accounts.

The event I have just spoken about is just one event in the bible.

However there are three accounts of it.

One in Matthew’s gospel, which I have just related.

One in Mark’s gospel, Mark chapter eight.

And one in Luke’s gospel, Luke chapter nine.