Matthew 16:19

Matthew 16:19: Jesus said, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Imagine the despair felt by Adam and Eve when their paradise was closed to them. The way was barred by an angel with a flaming sword, so that they had no access to God’s richest blessings any longer. Or in the parable of Jesus in which he described the foolish virgins who came too late to the wedding feast: “the door was shut,” and they begged the Bridegroom, “‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you’” (Matt. 25:10-12). Sin locks the door to heaven. Adam and Eve had the promise of restoration, though. And here it came in Jesus. He won the way to reenter Paradise. His blood purchased the redemption of your sins. And that forgiveness is pronounced to you through the words of mere human beings. This is why God tells you to confess your sins, and to be told by those who serve you the Gospel, your pastors and teachers, that your sins are forgiven. Jesus serves you and opens the way to heaven for you by this gift of absolution or forgiveness. Amen. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forevermore. Amen.