Why does culture believe that Saint Peter waits for us at the gates of heaven? Does he actually hold the keys that let people into heaven and keeps them out? This article will explain this belief by observing what Jesus actually told Peter, in Matthew 16:18-19.
Where does the imagery come from?
First, let’s learn where the idea of pearly gates comes from in the Bible. Fortunately, the Bible does give us some detail about the gates of Heaven. Or, at least, it tells us about the gates in the New city of Jerusalem that come down out of heaven. We observe that:
“(The new city of Jerusalem) had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the name of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
Revelation 21:12-14
In verse 21 it describes,
“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”
It is unclear in this imagery which gate Peter could possibly guard, or whether Peter guardS all 12 gates to God’s presence in the city. Maybe there is a different gate to enter the kingdom of heaven itself. Regardless, this is where the concept of pearly gates comes from.
Now that we know where the idea comes from, lets observe the main text in Matthew 16:18-19. Here, Jesus said:
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
This is the most detail we get from the Bible on the concept of keys to heaven. And out of this passage comes two interpretations.
First Interpretation of the Keys to Heaven
The first, is the belief that Peter stands at the gates of heaven and is the arbiter of who goes in or doesn’t. Meaning, he physically holds the keys to the entrance. Perhaps he goes off a list which says who qualified to enter? Or maybe Peter has the authority to make the judgment call on a person’s destiny after hearing their testimony and evaluating their life?
This interpretation leaves many unanswered questions. Even some people believe that you can simply ask for forgiveness when to arrive at the pearly gates. But how can Peter grant people into heaven, or accept the forgiveness needed to enter heaven where the Father dwells? Isn’t that just through Jesus?
For example:
- In John 6:68-69, Peter declares,
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
- And also, in Acts 4:12, Peter says that,
“There is no other name under heaven given among men that a person can be saved,”
- In Revelation 21:27 we see that,
“Nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into the New Jerusalem, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
- The apostle Paul also taught the same thing in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. He said,
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
Second Interpretation of the Keys to Heaven
Jesus is going to build His Church and He is laying the foundations through the apostles. Christ, himself, is the cornerstone according to Peter and the prophets (1 Peter 2:6-8; c.f. Ephesians 2:19-21).
The second interpretation, then, and the one that I believe is correct, is that Peter receives the keys to heaven because Jesus gave him the Gospel message. That message is what Peter preached when we read the book of Acts.
The church is built by spreading the Gospel message and people coming to faith in Jesus. According to John 3:3, Jesus said that:
“Unless you are born from above, you will not see the kingdom of heaven.”
I think it is also important to note that, in Matthew 16:19, Jesus is specifically addressing Peter. This is significant because, in the book of Acts, Peter is the key to “opening the doors” to three different groups of people. These people groups were able to enter the Kingdom through the Gospel message.
Peter is given the keys to heaven because Jesus gave him the Gospel message
Matthew 16:18-19
We see in Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached in Jerusalem and over 3,000 Jews got saved by the Gospel message. The keys to the door of heaven were “unlocked” for the Jews.
In Acts 8, the Samaritans believed in the gospel and received the Holy Spirit. Again, the door was “unlocked” for the Samaritans.
Finally, in chapter 10, a Roman centurion and his family receive the Gospel message and are saved. The door was “unlocked” for the Gentiles.
Ending Thoughts
Jesus gave Peter and the apostles what they needed to fulfill His commission to them in Acts 1:8,
“To be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the remotest part of the earth.”
And heaven’s gates continue to be opened for people today as they hear the Gospel message and receive Christ as their Savior.
Now, the Matthew 16 passage also talks about ‘Binding’ and ‘Loosing,’ and you can read about that in this article “What Does Binding and Loosing Mean in the Bible?”
You can also check out other great articles I wrote, and books that I use by following the links below. The books are Amazon affiliate links which helps support this site and mission to teach that Jesus is the only Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:6).
The Creation of Nations – Tower of Babel (article)
How to Study the Bible for All It’s Worth (article)
The New Origin of Species – Chromosomes and DNA (article)
Understanding the End Times Prophecy — Paul N. Benware – Check it out!
Basic Theology — Charles C. Ryrie – Check it out!
Theory and Truth: Analysis of the “Lost Art of Listening” — Benjamin hill – Check it out!
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