23 January

Psalm 14

David describes this corruption in general terms (v.1b), but he also gives two specific examples:

• Denying the existence of God
  ‘Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God”’ (v.1).

• Failing to help the poor
  ‘You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor’ (v.6).

The kingdom of God involves seeking God and seeking justice for the poor, and that is exactly the note on which this psalm ends. David cries out to God, asking, ‘Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!’ (v.7a).

Matthew 16:1-20

You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.[a] 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

  Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 

But it is not only Peter who has the keys of the kingdom. Later on in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus gives the disciples a similar authority: ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven’ (Matthew 18:18).

This is the extraordinary responsibility and privilege that Jesus gives to us, his church. He gives us the keys of the kingdom. ‘You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is a yes in heaven. A no on earth is a no in heaven’ (16:19, MSG).

Jesus says, in effect, that the powers of hell will ‘not overcome’ the person who has faith in him (v.18). Rather, the church, armed with the keys of the kingdom, can storm the gates of hell and set the prisoners free.

The ‘gates of Hades’ will not hold out against the church. Gates are defensive, not offensive, it is the church that is on the offensive and you can be assured of victory against the defences of the enemy.

You can have the amazing privilege of seeing people set free through the preaching of the good news of the kingdom. You can have the joy of seeing people set free from drug addiction, alcoholism, crime and every other bondage. You can approach challenges with confidence, fearing no evil, knowing that you share in a remarkable spiritual authority.

Joseph totally forgave his brothers (v.5). In his book Total Forgiveness, R.T. Kendall describes this as one of the hardest things he had ever been asked to do, but also the greatest thing he’d ever been asked to do: ‘An unexpected blessing emerged as I began to forgive: a peace came into my heart that I hadn’t felt for years.’

Joseph is able to see that despite all the hardships he has been through, he has been used by God to ‘save lives’ (v.5). Three times he says it was God who sent him (vv.5,7–8).

The hero of flight 1549 saved the lives of 155 people and was given the keys of New York. Joseph saved the lives of the people of God and was made lord of all Egypt. Jesus saved the world and is given the keys of the kingdom, which he hands on to his church. What an amazing privilege you have.