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An Exegetical Study of Matthew 16:19: The Periphrastic Future Perfect and Its Theological Implications
This exegetical study of “hOUTOS/hAUTH Word Order” and “Questions about questions” Mt. 16:19 is based on a b-greek discussion from Sun Jun 24 13:49:34 2001. The initial query sought opinions on a specific translation of Matthew 16:19: “And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven. And whatever you bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven. And whatever you may loose on the earth shall be, having been loosed in Heaven.” This rendering, from an interlinear Greek New Testament, prompted a nuanced discussion among scholars regarding the precise grammatical structure and theological implications of the Greek text.
The main exegetical issue revolves around the interpretation of the Greek future perfect periphrastic construction, specifically ἔσται δεδεμένον (“shall be having been bound”) and ἔσται λελυμένον (“shall be having been loosed”). The central question is whether this construction indicates that an earthly action is ratified in heaven *after* it occurs, or if the earthly action is merely a declaration of what has *already* been bound or loosed in heaven. This distinction profoundly impacts the understanding of ecclesiastical authority and the nature of divine decree.
Greek text (Nestle 1904):
καὶ δώσω σοι τὰς κλεῖδας τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν, καὶ ὃ ἐὰν δήσῃς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔσται δεδεμένον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, καὶ ὃ ἐὰν λύσῃς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔσται λελυμένον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- There are no significant textual differences between the Nestle 1904 edition and the SBLGNT (2010) for Matthew 16:19, indicating strong textual stability for this passage. The text of NA28 also aligns with these editions for this verse.
Textual criticism (NA28), lexical notes (KITTEL, BDAG):
The textual critical apparatus of NA28 offers no variants that impact the core grammatical structure or lexical choices relevant to this discussion. The stability of the Greek text allows for a focused analysis on morphology and syntax.
Lexically, the verbs δέω (bind) and λύω (loose) are crucial. BDAG defines δέω as “to bind, tie” (physically) or “to prohibit, forbid” (metaphorically). Similarly, λύω means “to loose, untie” (physically) or “to permit, declare lawful” (metaphorically). KITTEL (TDNT, s.v. δέω and λύω) highlights their use in Jewish legal and rabbinic discourse, where “binding” refers to declaring something forbidden or imposing an obligation, and “loosing” refers to declaring something permitted or releasing from an obligation. This background underscores the authoritative nature of the actions described in Matthew 16:19.
The periphrastic future perfect construction, comprising ἔσται (the future indicative of εἰμί, “to be”) and a perfect passive participle (δεδεμένον, λελυμένον), describes a future state resulting from a past action. The primary debate centers on the *temporal relationship* between the earthly “binding/loosing” and the heavenly “having been bound/loosed.” Does the earthly act *cause* the heavenly state, or does the earthly act *reflect* a pre-existent heavenly state?
Translation Variants
The discussion highlights a variety of translation approaches, demonstrating the exegetical tension inherent in the verse. These can be broadly categorized by their interpretation of the future perfect periphrastic:
- Jay Green’s Interlinear: “And whatever you bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven. And whatever you may loose on the earth shall be, having been loosed in Heaven.” This translation emphasizes a prior heavenly action, suggesting earthly decisions align with what is already established in heaven.
- Charles Williams: “and whatever you forbid on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.” Similar to Green, this rendering stresses the pre-existent heavenly status.
- NASU (New American Standard Updated): “whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” This explicitly renders the future perfect passive, indicating that the earthly action aligns with a heavenly state that *will have already occurred* by the time of the earthly decision. This implies heavenly precedence.
- WEY (Weymouth New Testament): “whatever you bind on earth shall remain bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall remain loosed in Heaven.” This interpretation, by using “remain bound,” also suggests a state that precedes or is independent of the earthly action, enduring through it.
- YLT (Young’s Literal Translation): “and whatever thou mayest bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever thou mayest loose upon the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens.” This translation, while literal, maintains the sense of a prior heavenly condition, similar to NASU.
- HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible): “whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven.” This is one of the clearest expressions of the “pre-existent heavenly decree” interpretation, making the temporal priority explicit.
- NIV (New International Version) (with footnote): “whatever you bind on earth will be {[19] Or have been} bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be {[19] Or have been} loosed in heaven.” The NIV’s main text leans towards ratification, but its footnote acknowledges the alternative “have been bound,” indicating scholarly awareness of the temporal ambiguity.
- NKJV (New King James Version), NLT (New Living Translation), NET (New English Translation), ESV (English Standard Version), WEB (World English Bible), NASB (New American Standard Bible): These translations generally render the clauses as “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” This common rendering suggests that the earthly act is *ratified* or *confirmed* in heaven, implying a sequence where the earthly decision leads to a heavenly consequence.
- BBE (Bible in Basic English): “whatever is fixed by you on earth will be fixed in heaven: and whatever you make free on earth will be made free in heaven.” This also falls into the “ratification” category.
Grammatically, the future perfect periphrastic points to a state that exists in the future but results from a prior completed action. The core of the debate is whether that “prior completed action” in heaven occurs *before* the earthly action (i.e., a pre-existing decree) or *coincides with/follows immediately after* the earthly action, reflecting its ratification. Those arguing for heavenly precedence (e.g., NASU, HCSB, WEY) suggest that the human agent, Peter, is empowered to declare what God has *already* determined. This emphasizes God’s sovereign initiative and the church’s prophetic role. Conversely, those arguing for heavenly ratification (e.g., NKJV, NLT, ESV) imply that Peter’s authoritative decisions on earth are *subsequently endorsed* by heaven. This highlights the delegated authority of the church, allowing its decisions to have divine backing.
Rhetorically, the choice of translation significantly impacts the theological understanding of Matthew 16:19. The interpretation favoring pre-existent heavenly decrees mitigates the notion of human initiative, presenting Peter’s (and the church’s) role as declaratory rather than originative. The ratification view, while still acknowledging heavenly authority, grants a more active, initiating role to the earthly church, whose faithful decisions are then affirmed by God. The broader context of Matthew, especially the “keys to the kingdom,” generally supports a robust, delegated authority for Peter and the apostles, leaning towards the idea of divine ratification of faithful earthly decisions.
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
The grammatical structure of Matthew 16:19 strongly suggests a future perfect periphrastic, emphasizing a state resulting from a prior action. While a strict rendering of “shall have been bound/loosed” accurately captures the tense, the broader theological implication, supported by the context of delegated authority, leans towards heavenly ratification rather than merely declaring pre-existing decrees. The church’s actions on earth, when exercised faithfully according to divine will, are understood to be congruent with and affirmed by heavenly authority.
Based on this analysis, the following translation suggestions are offered, each emphasizing a slightly different nuance:
- “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will stand bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will stand loosed in heaven.”
This translation emphasizes the enduring validity and established state in heaven as a consequence of the earthly action, leaning towards ratification and a resultant state. - “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you forbid on earth will have been forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have been permitted in heaven.”
This rendering prioritizes the exact future perfect tense, suggesting that the heavenly action precedes and validates the earthly one, thus highlighting the declarative nature of the church’s authority. - “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you declare binding on earth will be ratified as binding in heaven, and whatever you declare permissible on earth will be ratified as permissible in heaven.”
This translation foregrounds the concept of divine endorsement, making explicit the sense of heavenly affirmation for the faithful exercise of authority on earth.
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Derrick Stokes Matthew 16:19 is one of the verse often quoted
What did JESUS say His disciples could bind here?
The book of Acts shows us this process at work. By his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40), Peter opened the door of the kingdom for the first time. The expressions “bind” and “loose” were common to Jewish legal phraseology meaning to declare something forbidden or to declare it allowed Who did Jesus mean in this verse?
Started work for the day sorry gotta run
Would whatsoever include satan too? Derrick Stokes
https://wp.me/p6M9VV-xM
Ive written on it here.
Also is Satan in heaven?
Derrick Stokes how do you interpret the phrase “whatsoever” ?
Actions or teachings/doctrine incorporated in the church body. Acts is full of it. We even see Paul doing it in 1 Corinthians. Even of sins (John 20:23). We can’t say “whatsoever” means whatsoever we choose it means. I choose to let scripture interpret scripture and if God says Jesus is the one that binds Satan, then I’m going to let Jesus be Jesus.
I read your points in your article but am more interested in the actual text of the Bible – in the original Greek it says whatsoever. How does whatsoever, in your opinion, exclude demons or satan?
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:
Does all the power of the enemy not include satan the chief enemy? Is he protected from us? Has God given him immunity from the church? Joseph D. Absher Brody Pope Joseph Castillo Robbie Asbury Why do you think people want to limit the power of God?
Troy Day the believer has power over the weather if he or she truly believes.
The gift of faith is like a flickering candle in our Churches today, and as soon as the slightest wind blows the flame of faith is put out.
I had tested fate with the blood poisoning that I had a few years back.
And the main reason for me doing so was because I had promised the Lord that I would not seek medical help if something would happen to me again.
After what was believed to be a heart attack is when I made a vow unto the Lord.
The vow was between the Lord and I.
My son enlaw had said to me, “Melvin I don’t believe that the Lord will hold it against you for going to the hospital to have the blood poisoning looked after.
I said in return, “It is either life or death with me, but you will see that the Lord will see me through this.
The Son enlaw couldn’t sleep that night and he had awakened the daughter up to come and talk me into going too the hospital.
She said, “go back to sleep, he isn’t going to listen to you.
You see his father had blood poisoning three different times in his life, so he was familiar with what the outcome could be.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
I for one wanted to honor my vow unto the Lord and in my mind I had seen only deliverance with Satan defeated.
Pentecostal is only a name much like Methodist, Baptist.
The binding and loosing is a figment of imagination to many believers.
It is only a statement with no action.
I made a new friend on Facebook that has such experiences in his own life.
I even went to the church where he pastor’s to meet him personally.
This gentleman has some crazy experiences where he had trusted in the Lord for the impossible.
Derrick Stokes Matthew 16:19 is one of the verse often quoted
What did JESUS say His disciples could bind here?
The book of Acts shows us this process at work. By his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40), Peter opened the door of the kingdom for the first time. The expressions “bind” and “loose” were common to Jewish legal phraseology meaning to declare something forbidden or to declare it allowed Who did Jesus mean in this verse?
Started work for the day sorry gotta run
Would whatsoever include satan too? Derrick Stokes
https://wp.me/p6M9VV-xM
Ive written on it here.
Also is Satan in heaven?
Melvin I think the question they asked was if the believer has power over satan
Derrick Stokes how do you interpret the phrase “whatsoever” ?
Actions or teachings/doctrine incorporated in the church body. Acts is full of it. We even see Paul doing it in 1 Corinthians. Even of sins (John 20:23). We can’t say “whatsoever” means whatsoever we choose it means. I choose to let scripture interpret scripture and if God says Jesus is the one that binds Satan, then I’m going to let Jesus be Jesus.
I read your points in your article but am more interested in the actual text of the Bible – in the original Greek it says whatsoever. How does whatsoever, in your opinion, exclude demons or satan?
If Ya don’t you are in a heep of trouble
Satan can take your health or any other weaknesses one might have in their lives if they don’t have power over the devil.
Christ surely had the power, and he had handed the same authority over to the believer to have power over the devil
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:
Does all the power of the enemy not include satan the chief enemy? Is he protected from us? Has God given him immunity from the church? Joseph D. Absher Brody Pope Joseph Castillo Robbie Asbury Why do you think people want to limit the power of God?
Ray E Horton We’ve discussed it in detail here and other places, but the question asked earlier was IF satan is the strong man bound in the parable of Jesus What do you think about that?
Does satan himself personally enter every demonized person?
What about Judas, Ananias and Sapphira? Joseph D. Absher Anthony McCabe BTW The phrase bind the strong man (or strongman) is a reference to a passage in the book of Mark, where Jesus is responding to some Jewish scribes who were accusing Him of being possessed by Beelzebul. Jim Price
Troy Day the believer has power over the weather if he or she truly believes.
The gift of faith is like a flickering candle in our Churches today, and as soon as the slightest wind blows the flame of faith is put out.
I had tested fate with the blood poisoning that I had a few years back.
And the main reason for me doing so was because I had promised the Lord that I would not seek medical help if something would happen to me again.
After what was believed to be a heart attack is when I made a vow unto the Lord.
The vow was between the Lord and I.
My son enlaw had said to me, “Melvin I don’t believe that the Lord will hold it against you for going to the hospital to have the blood poisoning looked after.
I said in return, “It is either life or death with me, but you will see that the Lord will see me through this.
The Son enlaw couldn’t sleep that night and he had awakened the daughter up to come and talk me into going too the hospital.
She said, “go back to sleep, he isn’t going to listen to you.
You see his father had blood poisoning three different times in his life, so he was familiar with what the outcome could be.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
I for one wanted to honor my vow unto the Lord and in my mind I had seen only deliverance with Satan defeated.
Pentecostal is only a name much like Methodist, Baptist.
The binding and loosing is a figment of imagination to many believers.
It is only a statement with no action.
I made a new friend on Facebook that has such experiences in his own life.
I even went to the church where he pastor’s to meet him personally.
This gentleman has some crazy experiences where he had trusted in the Lord for the impossible.
Melvin I think the question they asked was if the believer has power over satan
If Ya don’t you are in a heep of trouble
Satan can take your health or any other weaknesses one might have in their lives if they don’t have power over the devil.
Christ surely had the power, and he had handed the same authority over to the believer to have power over the devil
No, not personally, since He is a created being and can’t be everywhere at once.
Ray E Horton We’ve discussed it in detail here and other places, but the question asked earlier was IF satan is the strong man bound in the parable of Jesus What do you think about that?
Does satan himself personally enter every demonized person?
What about Judas, Ananias and Sapphira? Joseph D. Absher Anthony McCabe BTW The phrase bind the strong man (or strongman) is a reference to a passage in the book of Mark, where Jesus is responding to some Jewish scribes who were accusing Him of being possessed by Beelzebul. Jim Price
No, not personally, since He is a created being and can’t be everywhere at once.
So does this give my immunity not to be bound by the believers? Ray E Horton I think the Greek is pretty clear Derrick Stokes
So does this give my immunity not to be bound by the believers? Ray E Horton I think the Greek is pretty clear Derrick Stokes
Not as I see it. We can bind the enemy in any situation whether it is Satan himself (likely pretty rare) or his demons.
What do you think about that Joseph D. Absher
Not as I see it. We can bind the enemy in any situation whether it is Satan himself (likely pretty rare) or his demons.
What do you think about that Joseph D. Absher
It is a very radical idea that the Lord Jesus Christ commissions Peter Immediately with authority to stand against, limit, and resist, bind, and hinder evil and encourage, release, loose and facilitate good. Submitted to God and serving him. Loving the things he loves and hating the the things he hates.
This is just the plain sense of the verse as far as I’m concerned. Knowing the Lord Jesus Christ by revelation and being bold enough and morally fit enough to stand on the promises of God.
Knowing right from wrong and choosing to do right and stand against evil. In Jesus name, devil I resist you, I stand against you. I’m telling you, oh no you don’t you can’t have my family. I bind you in Jesus name!
And I believe God according to his promise to pour out a spirit of grace and supplication, the liberty of the spirit to seek God turn from sin and offer a sacrifice of praise and i thank you for a spirit of faith to believe God for great and mighty things.
All things in obedience to Thee oh God and for the glory in Jesus mighty name!
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18). The Catholics use this scripture to say that the church was built on Peter, but actually, it is built on Peter’s confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Vs. 16). Note that two different words are used that mean rock. Peter’s name, Petros, means a little piece of rock, whereas the rock being built on is “petra,” meaning a projecting or mass of rock or large stone. Jesus Himself is the “chief corner stone.”
It is a very radical idea that the Lord Jesus Christ commissions Peter Immediately with authority to stand against, limit, and resist, bind, and hinder evil and encourage, release, loose and facilitate good. Submitted to God and serving him. Loving the things he loves and hating the the things he hates.
This is just the plain sense of the verse as far as I’m concerned. Knowing the Lord Jesus Christ by revelation and being bold enough and morally fit enough to stand on the promises of God.
Knowing right from wrong and choosing to do right and stand against evil. In Jesus name, devil I resist you, I stand against you. I’m telling you, oh no you don’t you can’t have my family. I bind you in Jesus name!
And I believe God according to his promise to pour out a spirit of grace and supplication, the liberty of the spirit to seek God turn from sin and offer a sacrifice of praise and i thank you for a spirit of faith to believe God for great and mighty things.
All things in obedience to Thee oh God and for the glory in Jesus mighty name!
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18). The Catholics use this scripture to say that the church was built on Peter, but actually, it is built on Peter’s confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Vs. 16). Note that two different words are used that mean rock. Peter’s name, Petros, means a little piece of rock, whereas the rock being built on is “petra,” meaning a projecting or mass of rock or large stone. Jesus Himself is the “chief corner stone.”
This is the way I too believe, that the church is built on the revelation of Jesus Christ. His nature, his character he is the son if the living God. The Saviour.
This is the way I too believe, that the church is built on the revelation of Jesus Christ. His nature, his character he is the son if the living God. The Saviour.
Ray E Horton we know what the Catholics say about the rock. The question was IF we can bind Satan. Seems the general consensus agrees that Yes we can in the name of Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVMJ8ZuMZCE
We fight the evil and sin of this world best on a personal level. In Jesus name and in submission to God.
Ray E Horton we know what the Catholics say about the rock. The question was IF we can bind Satan. Seems the general consensus agrees that Yes we can in the name of Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVMJ8ZuMZCE
We fight the evil and sin of this world best on a personal level. In Jesus name and in submission to God.
Matthew 16:19
In Christ’s new program Peter (you is singular) was given “the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” These keys have to do with disclosure of spiritual truth that affects one’s eternal destiny (Luke 11:52; Rev 1:18). Peter, who was entrusted as a steward with the knowledge of the gospel, had authority as an apostle to state whether people would be admitted into or excluded from the kingdom of God. Peter first used the keys of his authority on the Day of Pentecost to open the kingdom to the Jews (Acts 2:38-42), then in Samaria for the Samaritans (Acts 8:14-17), and later to Cornelius, a Gentile (Acts 10:34-48).
While hypothetically only Peter had these keys, the reality is that all the apostles and indeed every believer does as well. The Book of Acts clearly shows that others, like Philip, Barnabas, and Paul, were opening the kingdom to many.
Binding and loosing were common rabbinic terms that meant to include or exclude, to permit or forbid, to declare a precept not binding, or to impose an obligation. Peter and the other apostles would make decisions for God’s new community that would prohibit or permit certain teaching and practices in the newly formed Church. His leadership would impact the Church’s direction throughout the age. Later Jesus delegated this authority to other apostles as well (Matt 18:18). The Book of Acts shows Peter and the other apostles making important decisions under the guidance of the Holy Spirit at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:6-29). The validity of the Church’s decisions in any age are only as valid as the extent to which they conform to Scripture.
So this is important – when you say
Peter (you is singular) was given
do you mean like in the Catholic tradition or what?
not ‘catholic’ importance, but more dispensational importance in transition of gospel to Jews, Samaritans and Gentiles.
Here we go snooping Steve A very open and indepth discussion on your OFF topic question with some of my colleagues some 20yrs go Lets start with Mt. 16:19 I am curious to know how others feel about the following translation of Mt.16:19: “And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven. Andwhatever you bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven. Andwhatever you may loose on the earth shall be, having been loosed in Heaven.”This is from Jay P. Green’s Interlinear Greek NT (3rd Ed.)
You may of course recognize some of the names if you’ve got the proper training. What did JESUS say His disciples could bind here?
The book of Acts shows us this process at work. By his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40), Peter opened the door of the kingdom for the first time. The expressions “bind” and “loose” were common to Jewish legal phraseology meaning to declare something forbidden or to declare it allowed Who did Jesus mean in this verse?
Isara Mo Ray E Horton William DeArteaga I would like to poll our group on an ALL TIME favorite subject of binding demons Some questionable profile by the name of Steve Forsberg has expressed the notion of a wrong heremeneutics on the subject As a response the discussion above was offered from the archive WHILE the said profile seems to be taking the passage out of context and eisegesising it I believe this OP explains the Greek in great detail http://probible.net/matthew-1619/ Your personal take would be greatly welcomed
Troy Day
Give a little time..
Thanks
My NASB translates the verse: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Not too different!
Yours and the NASB rendering is saying we bind and loose on earth whatever has already been bound and loosed in heaven. Thus we apply the heavenly to the earthly situation.
Ray E Horton I would very much wanna hear RichardAnna Boyce on this BIBLE study or his/her commentary
What you are talking about has been well covered many times before.