The Meaning of the Keys
Matthew 16:19
The Key - Lock
metaphor that Jesus used as Caesarea Philippi
How to explain
the meaning of the Keys in Matthew 16.
Some Protestants
who reject the Papacy will say that they all get the symbolic “Key”
that Jesus gave to Peter. However, if that is what Jesus had
intended then He used a metaphor that does not fit. This is
explained below.
They will also
contend that the Key does not represent authority over others as
vicar, or representative, of Christ. Instead they will contend
something like
“that
Jesus gave Peter the keys to unlock the divine knowledge of
God’s ways”
Now, if Jesus had
intended what Protestants propose above it would have been much more
fitting for Him to have used the metaphor of a “looking glass”
rather than a “Key.” There would be nothing inconsistent or out of place if Jesus
had wanted to give everyone a looking glass.
Some of the text
below might seem slow at first, but if one works logically and
methodically, step-by-step, the meaning will be clear to all.
So, we have to
ask, “What is the meaning of the Keys ?”
A key has no
meaning or purpose without a lock. So, we must also ask,
“What is the meaning and purpose of a lock ?”
A lock secures
the contents of the thing being locked so that only the person who
has the key designed for that lock can have access. The key must be
unique from all other keys. Because, if everybody’s key
fit that lock, then it would serve no purpose. It would keep no one
out. A lock only has value because only one specially designed key
works. Only one particular key (or set of duplicate keys,) out of
the whole range of different possibilities of possible keys, can
work.
Similarly, if
everyone had that unique key designed for that lock then the lock
would also have no meaning and serve no purpose.
However, every
word that Jesus spoke had meaning and purpose.
Therefore, for
the metaphor of the key that Jesus spoke of implies a power that is
unique for the one individual Jesus gave it to.
Notice that Jesus
does not break or destroy the lock, so that everyone has access.
Rather Jesus gives to Peter singularly the Key.
That is why Jesus
switched from second person plural, “You” in Matthew 16:15, to
second person singular in Matthew chapter 16 verses 17, 18, and 19.
The symbol below
was written on Peter’s grave in Rome. The early Christians used this
symbol to show the close connection between Jesus Christ, Peter, and
the Keys Jesus gave to Peter.
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