The words translated “yes” and “no,” are more commonly translated “bind” and “loose.” They are from the Greek deo and lyo, which are translations of the Aramaic asar and sera. This was a formula for excommunication and reinstatement.
The way it is commonly translated in English versions gives the appearance that the binding is future in reference. But this is not the case. The Greek perfect tense views the action as being completed in the past, but with continuing effects, reaching into the present. A more correct translation, then, although awkward in the English, would be “is having been declared ‘yes’” and “is having been declared ‘no’.”
Jesus’ point is that the work of the Church includes locking or unlocking in the present something that was already locked or unlocked in the past and continues to remain locked or unlocked by God in heaven. Whatever was to be bound or loosed would not begin with our initiative, but with the initiative of heaven (used here as a euphemism for God).
Thus, the Church is to carry out the decisions made by God. God is not obliged to ratify the Church’s decisions. Jesus was not giving us the authority to arbitrarily allow some people into the kingdom of heaven and prohibit others. Our task is to pronounce those as “admitted” whom the Father had already admitted because of their faith in Jesus Christ and pronounced as “barred” those whom the Father has barred because of their unbelief.
The responsibility of Christian disciples is to proclaim God’s truth as it is, not as we would like it to be. II Peter 3:9 reminds us that salvation is God’s desire for all of us: “He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. Instead, He wants all people to turn away from their sins.” Yet, His truth is that a standard—faith in Jesus Christ—must be met for those who are locked out to become locked in.
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