Binding and Loosing: What Did Jesus Mean?

Binding and Loosing- Introduction
In Matthew 18:18 Jesus said, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Some people today claim that Jesus was telling us that we have power to “bind” the devil and his demons. Others claim that he was talking about “binding” sickness and poverty and “loosing” health and wealth.

Binding and Loosing- Church Discipline?
Nor did Jesus mean that we can loose wealth and health or bind poverty and sickness. In context, Jesus was clearly talking about church discipline. Those members of the church who sin and repent are to be “loosed” or in other words, restored to fellowship, while those who are unrepentant are to be “bound” or removed from fellowship (Matt. 18:15-17). Sickness, poverty, and demons are totally foreign to the context. 

Binding and Loosing- Conclusion
Although we can greatly affect our physical and material well being through things like prudence, planning, and proper stewardship, ultimately we are dependent in every aspect of our lives on the sovereignty of God. In fact, the sovereignty of God is an overreaching principle of Scripture. When it comes to “binding and loosing”, let me urge Christians everywhere to loose themselves from a serious misunderstanding of the context of Matt. 18:18. Conversely, they should bind themselves to the clear teaching of Scripture. As always, when interpreting the Bible, remember — context – context – context.On “binding and loosing,” that’s the CRI Perspective. I’m Hank Hanegraaff. (equip.org & bottradionetwork.com)