Binding and Loosing

 

I was in a personality cult “church” for a while.

When “church rules” were changed we were told that the “apostle”, the “prophet”, the “king” had the authority to “bind and loose” things as he saw fit. That is to make changes and that god had to honor it. 

Thankfully Yahweh delivered me from that cult. He granted me repentance and gave me understanding. 

I will explain from scriptures that when the bible says someone can bind and loose it does not mean they can change Yahweh's laws or words. I will show from the Bible what it means and the correct translation.

The doctrine that "binding and loosing" gives church leaders authority to change Yahweh's laws, abolish commandments, or create new doctrines is not supported by Scripture. The biblical meaning is quite different.

Where Does "Binding and Loosing" Appear?

Yeshua said:

"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)

And again:

"Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18)

Many assume this means men can change Yahweh's laws. Yet Scripture repeatedly teaches the opposite.

Yahweh's Law Cannot Be Changed By Men

Yahweh said:

"You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it." (Deuteronomy 4:2)

"Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." (Deuteronomy 12:32)

Yeshua said:

"Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law." (Matthew 5:18)

And:

"In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." (Mark 7:7)

If binding and loosing meant changing Yahweh's commandments, these scriptures would contradict one another.

What Did "Bind and Loose" Mean?

In first-century Judaism, "bind" and "loose" were common legal terms.

Bind = forbid, prohibit, declare something not permitted.

Loose = permit, allow, release from an obligation already defined by the Law.

The rabbis used these expressions when applying Torah to specific situations. They were not creating new laws; they were making judgments about how existing law applied.

For example:

• Is this activity lawful on the Sabbath?
• Is this vow still binding?
• How should this commandment be applied in a particular case?

These were matters of interpretation and judgment, not changing Yahweh's commands.

The Greek Grammar Is Important

A more literal rendering of Matthew 16:19 is:

"Whatever you bind on earth shall have already been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have already been loosed in heaven."

The idea is not that heaven follows man's decision.

The idea is that disciples must determine and uphold what heaven has already decided.

Heaven leads; earth follows.

Evidence From Acts 15

A good example is the council in Jerusalem.

The apostles did not invent new laws.

Instead, they examined Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to determine how Gentile believers should begin their walk.

They concluded:

"It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us..." (Acts 15:28)

Their authority was to discern Yahweh's will, not replace it.

The Context of Matthew 18

In Matthew 18, Yeshua is discussing resolving disputes among believers.

Immediately before speaking of binding and loosing He describes:

1. Confronting a brother who sins.
2. Bringing witnesses.
3. Bringing the matter before the assembly.

The subject is judgment and discipline within the congregation.

Thus binding and loosing refers to making righteous judgments according to Yahweh's standards.

Peter Did Not Receive Authority To Change Torah

The "keys of the kingdom" given to Peter did not authorize him to alter Yahweh's law.

Peter himself later said:

"We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)

And years after Yeshua's resurrection Peter still lived according to biblical food laws (Acts 10:14), showing he did not believe he had authority to abolish Yahweh's commandments.

Summary

The biblical evidence shows that:

• "Bind" means to prohibit, restrict, or hold accountable according to Yahweh's law.
• "Loose" means to permit, release, or free according to Yahweh's law.
• The phrases were common Jewish legal terms.
• The Greek wording indicates heaven's decision comes first.
• Neither Peter nor the apostles were given authority to change Yahweh's commandments.
• Men are forbidden to add to or take away from Yahweh's words.
• Binding and loosing concerns applying, enforcing, and judging according to Yahweh's law—not rewriting it.

The authority Yeshua gave His disciples was the authority to teach, judge, and apply the truth already established in heaven, not the authority to alter the laws of Yahweh.

BINDING & LOOSING

DOES NOT MEAN
CHANGING YAHWEH'S LAW

✓ HEAVEN DECIDES FIRST
✓ EARTH FOLLOWS

"Whatever you bind on earth
shall have already been bound
in heaven."

"Whatever you loose on earth
shall have already been loosed
in heaven."

— Matthew 16:19 (literal sense)

BIND = FORBID OR ENFORCE
WHAT YAHWEH HAS COMMANDED

LOOSE = PERMIT OR RELEASE
AS YAHWEH HAS ALREADY ALLOWED

MEN CANNOT:
✗ Add to Yahweh's Word
✗ Take Away from Yahweh's Word
✗ Change Yahweh's Law

"Do not add to it nor take away from it."
— Deuteronomy 12:32

Yeshua gave authority to APPLY
Yahweh's Law, not CHANGE it.