New International Version “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. New Living Translation “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. English Standard Version 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. Berean Standard Bible Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Berean Literal Bible Truly I say to you⁺, whatever you⁺ shall bind on the earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you⁺ shall loose on the earth will be loosed in heaven. King James Bible Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. New King James Version “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. New American Standard Bible Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. NASB 1995 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. NASB 1977 “Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Legacy Standard Bible Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Amplified Bible I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven. Berean Annotated Bible Truly I tell you⁺, whatever you⁺ bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you⁺ loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Christian Standard Bible Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. Holman Christian Standard Bible I assure you: Whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven. American Standard Version Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Contemporary English Version I promise you God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth, but God will not allow anything you don't allow. English Revised Version Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. GOD'S WORD® Translation I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free. Good News Translation "And so I tell all of you: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. International Standard Version "I tell all of you with certainty, whatever you prohibit on earth will have been prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have been permitted in heaven. NET Bible "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. New Heart English Bible Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Webster's Bible Translation Verily I say to you, Whatever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Weymouth New Testament I solemnly tell you that whatever you as a Church bind on earth will in Heaven be held as bound, and whatever you loose on earth will in Heaven be held to be loosed. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleTruly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. World English Bible Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionTruly I say to you, whatever things you may bind on the earth will be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever things you may loose on the earth will be having been loosed in the heavens. Berean Literal Bible Truly I say to you⁺, whatever you⁺ shall bind on the earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you⁺ shall loose on the earth will be loosed in heaven. Young's Literal Translation 'Verily I say to you, Whatever things ye may bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever things ye may loose on the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens. Smith's Literal Translation Truly I say to you, Whatever things ye should bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever things ye should loose upon earth shall be loosed in heaven. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAmen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven. Catholic Public Domain Version Amen I say to you, whatever you will have bound on earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatever you will have released on earth, shall be released also in heaven. New American Bible Amen, 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. New Revised Standard Version Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTruly I say to you, Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be released in heaven. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And truly I say to you, everything whatsoever you will bind in the earth will have been bound in Heaven, and anything that you will release in the earth will have been released in Heaven. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentVerily, I say to you, my disciples, Whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever things ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever things ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Mace New Testament I declare unto you, "whatever things ye disallow on earth, are disallow'd by heaven: and whatever ye authorize on earth, are authoriz'd by heaven." Weymouth New Testament I solemnly tell you that whatever you as a Church bind on earth will in Heaven be held as bound, and whatever you loose on earth will in Heaven be held to be loosed. Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context A Brother who Sins…17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.… Cross References Truly I tell you, Matthew 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Mark 10:29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel Luke 18:29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God whatever you bind on earth Matthew 16:19 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.” John 20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” Isaiah 22:22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. will be bound in heaven, Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Psalm 135:6 The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths. Daniel 4:35 All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” and whatever you loose on earth John 11:44 The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them. Luke 13:16 Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” Mark 7:35 Immediately the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly. will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. / But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours. Colossians 2:13-14 When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, / having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.” John 16:23-24 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. / Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. Treasury of Scripture Truly I say to you, Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. John 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. Acts 15:23-31 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: … Jump to Previous Bind Bound Church Earth Fixed Free Heaven Heavens Held Loose Release Released Soever Solemnly Truth Verily Whatever WhatsoeverJump to Next Bind Bound Church Earth Fixed Free Heaven Heavens Held Loose Release Released Soever Solemnly Truth Verily Whatever WhatsoeverMatthew 18 1. Jesus warns his disciples to be humble and harmless,7. to avoid offenses, 10. and not to despise the little ones; 15. teaches how we are to deal with our brothers when they offend us, 21. and how often to forgive them; 23. which he sets forth by a parable of the king who took account of his servants, 32. and punished him who showed no mercy to his fellow servant. Truly I tell you, Jesus solemnly confirms the authority He gives His disciples as they guard the holiness, order, and truth of the church. Mat 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, … whatever you bind on earth They are responsible to address sin and make faithful judgments according to Christ’s teaching, binding what is forbidden and loosing what is permissible, including the exclusion of an unrepentant believer from fellowship. Mat 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.… will be bound in heaven, When the church acts in obedience to Christ and according to God’s revealed will, its judgment reflects heaven’s judgment rather than establishing an independent authority. Mat 6:10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is… and whatever you loose on earth The disciples also have authority to restore those who repent, affirming forgiveness and renewed fellowship within the church. Jhn 11:44 The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet… will be loosed in heaven. God confirms such faithful restoration. The church serves as His appointed witness of discipline, forgiveness, and reconciliation, while final authority over judgment remains with Him. Mat 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses,… Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, providing authoritative teaching to His disciples. 2. Disciples The immediate audience of Jesus' teaching, representing the early church and its leadership. 3. Heaven The spiritual realm where God's will is perfectly enacted, contrasted with earthly authority. 4. Earth The physical realm where the church operates and exercises its authority. 5. Binding and Loosing A Jewish idiomatic expression referring to the authority to declare what is permitted or forbidden. Teaching Points Authority of the ChurchJesus grants the church authority to make binding decisions on spiritual matters, reflecting heaven's will. Responsibility in Decision-Making The church must exercise its authority with discernment, aligning decisions with Scripture and God's will. Unity Between Heaven and Earth The church's actions should reflect the unity between heaven and earth, ensuring that earthly decisions resonate with heavenly principles. Role of Community Binding and loosing are communal activities, emphasizing the importance of collective discernment and accountability within the church body. Prayerful Consideration Decisions involving binding and loosing should be approached with prayer, seeking divine guidance and wisdom. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Matthew 18:18?2. How can we apply "bind on earth" in our daily church decisions? 3. What does "loose on earth" mean for personal and communal forgiveness practices? 4. How does Matthew 18:18 connect with church authority in Acts 15:28-29? 5. In what ways can we ensure our actions align with God's will in heaven? 6. How does Matthew 18:18 guide us in resolving conflicts within the church? 7. What does Matthew 18:18 mean by "bind" and "loose" in heaven and on earth? 8. How does Matthew 18:18 relate to church authority and decision-making? 9. Is the authority in Matthew 18:18 given to all believers or just church leaders? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 18? (18) Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth.--(See Note on Matthew 16:19.) The promise before made to Peter is now extended not only to the other Apostles, but to the whole society of which they were the representatives, and is, of course, to be understood as dependent on the same implied, though not expressed, condition. So far as the Ecclesia was true to its Lord, and guided by His Spirit, it was not to think that its decisions depended on any temporal power. They were clothed, as truth and righteousness are ever clothed, with a divine authority. As connected with the treatment of individual offenders, the words "bind" and "loose" may seem here to approximate more closely than in Matthew 16:19, to "condemning" and "absolving" in their force, but there is no ground for setting aside, even here, their received meaning in the language of the scribes. The Christian had to apply general laws to particular instances. The trial of each offender became a ruling case. It was binding or loosing, directly as interpreting the Law, only secondarily and indirectly as punishing or pardoning.Verse 18. - The following words are addressed, not, as the preceding verse, to the offended Christian, but to the apostles, as possessed of some superior powers above those of any individual congregation. Verily I say unto you. The Lord solemnly confers the grant made to Peter (Matthew 16:19) on the whole apostolate. The binding and loosing, in a restricted sense, and in logical connection with what precedes, refer to the confirmation and authorization of the sentence of the Ecclesia, which is not valid, so to speak, in the heavenly court till endorsed by Christ's representatives - the apostles. Whether the verdict was the excommunication of the offender ("bind") or his pardon and restoration ("loose"), the ratification of the apostles was required, and would be made good in heaven. The treatment of the incestuous Christian by St. Paul is a practical comment on this passage. The congregation decides on the man's guilt, but St. Paul "binds" him, retains his sins, and delivers him to Satan (1 Corinthians 5:1-5); and when on his repentance he is forgiven, it is the apostle who "looses" him, acting as the representative of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:10). In a general sense, the judicial and disciplinary powers of the Christian priesthood have been founded on this passage, which from early times has been used in the service of ordination. Each body of Christians has its own way of interpreting the promise. While some opine that, speaking in Christ's name and with his authority, the priest can pronounce or withhold pardon; others believe that external discipline is all that is intended; others again think that the terms are satisfied by the ministration of the Word and sacraments, as a physician gives health by prescribing remedies. Jesus grants His church the solemn authority to announce heaven’s verdict on earth. When believers, guided by Scripture and the Holy Spirit, confront unrepentant sin, their binding stands backed by heaven. When they welcome the repentant, their loosing enjoys the same divine endorsement. This calling demands humility, unity, and unwavering fidelity to God’s Word, assuring that the church’s earthly judgments align with heaven’s perfect justice and mercy. Parallel Commentaries ... Greek TrulyἈμὴν (Amēn) Hebrew Word Strong's 281: Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely. I tell λέγω (legō) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. you, ὑμῖν (hymin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. whatever ὅσα (hosa) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 3745: How much, how great, how many, as great as, as much. By reduplication from hos; as As. you bind δήσητε (dēsēte) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 1210: To bind, tie, fasten; I impel, compel; I declare to be prohibited and unlawful. A primary verb; to bind. on ἐπὶ (epi) Preposition Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at. earth γῆς (gēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe. will be ἔσται (estai) Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. bound δεδεμένα (dedemena) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Plural Strong's 1210: To bind, tie, fasten; I impel, compel; I declare to be prohibited and unlawful. A primary verb; to bind. in ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. heaven, οὐρανῷ (ouranō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. whatever ὅσα (hosa) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 3745: How much, how great, how many, as great as, as much. By reduplication from hos; as As. you loose λύσητε (lysēte) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 3089: A primary verb; to 'loosen'. on ἐπὶ (epi) Preposition Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at. earth γῆς (gēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe. will be ἔσται (estai) Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. loosed λελυμένα (lelymena) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Plural Strong's 3089: A primary verb; to 'loosen'. in ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. heaven. οὐρανῷ (ouranō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel. Additonal Resources Matthew 18:18 Blue Letter BibleMatthew 18:18 Bible Gateway Matthew 18:18 Bible.com Matthew 18:18 NIV |
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