Binding and loosing

Q. What do the terms"binding and loosing" mean in Mt 18.18?

A. This is another misunderstood verse that has really confused people over the years. In these verse, Yeshua is giving authority to His followers to make "halachic" decisions. Each sect in the first century had courts called a "beit din" which means "house of judgement". When issues came up about the commandments and what to do, decisions could be made by these judges on exactly what to do.

They were legal interpretations on "how to walk", which is the Hebrew term "halachah". So, these halachic decisions would be reached, hopefully clarifying the matter. These decisions were valid as long as they did not contradict the written scripture. In Mt 18, Yeshua is giving His followers the authority to make these decisions. The term "bind" means to prohibit or to forbid. The term "loose" means to allow or to permit. So, what He is saying is that He gives these congregational "beit dins" the authority to allow or to prohit certain things as they come up in the lives of the people, as long as those decisions do not go against the Torah. In Mt 5.17-19, it says that Yeshua did not come to "destroy the Law", but to" fulfill" it. The term for destroy means to "misinterpret" the Torah. A misinterpretation destroys the original instruction. The term "fulfill" means to interpret it correctly. Yeshua came not to misinterpret the Torah, but to interpret it correctly, thus giving it meaning.

When people say that Sunday is the L-rd's Day, they have destroyed the commandment of the Sabbath by misinterpretation. When people say it is allowable to eat pork or catfish and other things forbidden by scripture, they have destroyed that commanment by their incorrect interpretation. So, let's put this together now. Yeshua did not come to misinterpret the Torah, but to give it the correct interpretation. He then gives His followers authority to make decisions or legal judgements as they come up. Whatever is allowed (loosed) should be in line with the Scriptures, as Yeshua would have done it.

Whatever is disallowed(bind) should also be in line with how Yeshua would have decided it. We know He was Torah observant, all the Apostles were Torah observant and all the 1st century believers were Torah observant, so our decisions today should be in line with the Torah. For example, when some comes to me and asks if they can eat pork. I would say no, thus "binding" or disallowing it, in line with the Torah and the New Testament.If someone asks if they can eat chicken, I would say yes, thus "loosing" or permitting it. The terms do not have anything to do with "binding" Satan or "loosing" angels.

This is a very common practice among many today but it is a misunderstanding of this verse. Now, there may be times where something is allowable under certain circumstances, but due to other circumstances it would not be a good idea. You see Paul "binding" or forbiding certain persons to marry because of some persecution going on which he called "this present distress." He thought that it would be better to not marry than have a family to worry about at that time (1Cor 7.25-40). That is a good example of a halachic decision. Now, go and study!