MATHEW 18:18 EXPLAINED: WHAT YOU BIND ON EARTH (PART I)

Beyond the church that I minister to every weekend, there is another bigger church I fellowship with on social media and recently, one of the members asked me the meaning of Mathew 18:18. I don’t know what motivated the question but I can guess that it came from two backgrounds:

The first one is that of the traditional religions whose exegesis (text analysis) biases this passage to the right to discipline believers in their churches that flout the church’s moral policies and the other background is that of the charismatic Pentecostals whose exegesis subjects the verses to the spiritual warfare against demons.

To many in the Pentecostal churches, this verse applies to demonology warfare and the belief is that demons are bound in heaven as they are bound on Earth. It is Heaven that follows the pattern of Earth, not the reverse. I think this is poor exegesis and an abuse of the text.

I used to belong to a religion that used the same verse to put people on church discipline and actually I too fell victim when my son was born outside of wedlock. I was accused of fornication and my son was pilloried as a product of sin and the poor boy was denied the pastoral baby prayers of dedication and annunciations and in protest, I named my son: DIVINE. I was then subjected to church discipline for one and a half years.

It was not easy for me through that period for as a religious man, I knew what was done was not just at the level of my local Church but a universal (Heaven inclusive) judgement. I was not bound just at church but bound internationally and in heaven as well.

That was the only time I prayed that I don’t die bound for I knew my eternal life was at stake. It was clear to me that I was a branch on the vine but had failed to bear fruit and therefore my fate was to be bound and finally be cast into the fire (John 15:6) I couldn’t afford death then for my fate would be sealed if I died in these chains.

I was told it was not just the church board under the supervision of the senior pastor that had bound me, but the Heavenly host had initiated the act and actually stamped in my being bound in heaven too.

It was a period in my life when I knew God heard my prayers because he hears everything after-all but did not expect him to be attentive to what I prayed for since a guilty and bound criminal or at least a patient under rehab like me, had no right to ask for anything. God was not only disappointed in me but he was pissed as well.

I ran into spiritual depression and my whole life was shattered until one of the Elders that I considered my God-father (Kiguli Herbert) looked into my eyes and encouraged me by saying:

My son, I want you to know that in every war and battle, it is always the strongest that are targeted. The devil aimed at you because you are a strong Christian among the people of your age. Don’t give up, do not despair, you are bound for 1.5yrs and after that, the church and heaven will let you lose after you have fixed your marital status. You can do this, heaven wants you to fix your life before it sets you free.

He told me this because he knew I was not just a churchgoer but an active and a serious church member who did not just participate in church activities but a leader and one of the best teachers of religious business and quarterlies.

Church discipline did not mean a thing to lukewarm religious people and actually, while I was running into depression, many other culprits who were on the same charge for even more years were alright and comfortable for they did not care as I did. They did not take it as seriously as I did. I can tell you right now that religion is a safe haven if you don’t take it seriously.

However, those who take it seriously with its poor and wrong exegesis suffer many atrocities in the name of THE BIBLE SAYS…… It matters then that next, we look at the context of this text and what really Jesus meant and why he said what he said before we run into various conclusions and meanings that might motivate unlikely belief systems and practices. Click here for part 2.

God bless you and: THINK about what I am saying. The LORD will help you UNDERSTAND all these things. (2Tim 2:7 NLT)

Pr WHITE
The Gospel Hawker
iTiS Well of Worship Ministries (John 4:24)