Wetin Be “the Keys of the Kingdom”?
Wetin Bible talk
“The keys of the Kingdom,” wey them still de call “the keys to the kingdom,” na authority wey Jesus give Peter to open way make people “enter the Kingdom of God.” (Matthew 16:19; The New American Bible; Acts 14:22)a This one mean say Jesus give Peter authority to show how faithful people go fit enter God Kingdom after them don receive holy spirit.
Na who Peter use this keys to open way for?
Peter use the authority wey God give-am open way make three groups of people to fit enter the Kingdom. Them be:
Jew people and people wey join Jew religion. Small time after Jesus die, Peter encourage plenty people wey dey Jew people religion to accept Jesus as the person wey God don choose to rule for the Kingdom. Peter show them wetin them need to do to fit get salvation. This one mean say Peter open the way make them fit enter the Kingdom, and about three thousand people “accept im word.”—Acts 2:38-41.
People for Samaria. Them later send Peter go Samaria,b and for there, e use the keys of the kingdom when e and apostle John, “pray for them to get holy spirit.” (Acts 8:14-17) This one make-am possible for Samaria people to fit enter the Kingdom.
People wey no be Jew. Three and half years after Jesus die, God help Peter know say people wey no be Jew fit get the chance to enter the Kingdom. So, Peter use one of the keys as e preach to people wey no be Jew. Peter open the way make them fit get holy spirit, become Christians, and get the hope to be part of the Kingdom.—Acts 10:30-35, 44, 45.
Wetin e mean to “enter the Kingdom”?
To “enter the Kingdom” mean say this people go join Jesus rule for heaven. Bible talk say them go “sitdown ontop thrones” and “rule as kings over the earth.”—Luke 22:29, 30; Revelation 5:9, 10.
Wrong ideas wey people get about the keys of the Kingdom
Wrong idea: Na Peter de decide who fit go heaven.
The truth: Bible talk say na Jesus Christ, no be Peter, “go judge people wey dey alive and wey don die.” (2 Timothy 4:1, 8; John 5:22) In fact, Peter imself talk say na “Jesus God don choose to judge people wey dey alive and wey don die.”—Acts 10:34, 42.
Wrong idea: Na when Peter decide when to use the key of the Kingdom na im them go follow for heaven.
The truth: When Jesus talk about the keys of the Kingdom, e tell Peter say: “Anything wey you bind for earth them go bind-am for heaven; and anything wey you loose for earth, them go loose-am for heaven.” (Matthew 16:19, The New American Bible) Some people understand this verse to mean say anything wey Peter decide for earth na im them go follow for heaven, but the original Greek verb wey them use for this verb show say them go first make decision for heaven and then Peter go follow the decision wey them don already make for heaven.c
Another place for Bible show say na God de direct Peter when e go use the keys of the Kingdom. For example, na God direct Peter when to use the third key of the Kingdom and Peter follow God direction.—Acts 10:19, 20.
a Sometimes, Bible de use the word “key” to show the kind authority and work wey person get.—Isaiah 22:20-22; Revelation 3:7, 8.
b Samaria people religion dey different from Jew people religion but them take some of the things wey them de teach and do from the Law wey God give Moses.
c Check the study note for Matthew 16:19 for the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Bible).