Keys of the Kingdom - What do they bind or loose?

Scripture: Exodus 1:8-2:10 and Psalm 124  • Isaiah 51:1-6 and Psalm 138  • Romans 12:1-8  • Matthew 16:13-20

In this week's gospel reading, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and Jesus tells him that this can only be revealed by God, not man. He  tells Peter that upon this rock (Petros - Πέτρος) he will build his church. Jesus told Peter he would give him the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the authority to bind, and to loose? What kind of power is this? How is it to be used? Is it to be used to separate, divide? To include or exclude? To favor, or punish? What is to be loosed? Who do we say Jesus is - not only in our words, or as we recite the Nicene Creed, but in our hearts, and works? Does that have anything to do with loosing? What do we open, close, bind or loose? What do we use as "keys?"

Consider The Rev. Janet Hunt's "The Rock of Forgiveness: Binding and Loosing," and Professor Alyce MacKenzie's "Peter's Confession and Ours." (2 short web pages).