Binding and Loosing

Matthew 18:18 ESV

18 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.

God makes the decision, we carry out the orders.

Matthew 18:19 ESV

19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

When two or three believers are gathered to make a decision they are operating under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 18:20 ESV

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

What does it mean to gather in the name of Jesus?

To gather in righteousness

To gather under the blood

If these two things are accomplished then Jesus’ authority is bestowed and approval is given for any decision.

1 Corinthians 5:4 ESV

4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,

Paul uses the same language as Jesus does here when talking about removing a supposed “Christian” from their congregation.

The authority that is given to us is to bind and loose people to the community of believers, but also to forgive sins.

John 20:22–23 ESV

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

We have the authority to bind and loose and to forgive sins. Not only do we have authority to forgive sins, we are commanded to forgive sins.