What does Binding and Loosing mean in the Bible, and how do we apply it?

One of my friends visited my house a few weeks ago. He brought us lunch and we hung out on my front porch and chatted. As I shared the challenges me and our family have been facing and situations with abhorrent people, he provided a Spiritual Warfare Solution. He said, when you face situations that you need immediate help with, you can offer God a simple prayer and ask Him to Bind Satan. It simply looks like this:

“Father God, I ask that you Bind satan in the name of Jesus.”

Now that is USEFUL! 

After he told me about this useful tool that Jesus gave to Peter and to US, I had FULL intentions of finding the source of this concept in the Scripture. Over the course of the next week, duos of evil continued to circle and rattle and try to bait us. I was just doing my best to keep up with the day to day. Therefore, I never got to my investigation on this Biblical concept.

Last week, I was sitting with a colleague who also shares the LOVE OF CHRIST with US. I was telling her about this prayer I had learned, that I could ask God to Bind satan in the name of Jesus. It sounded like something that would come from the book of Revelation. She then shared this with me:

She said:

“Well, not only can you ask God to Bind satan, You can pray and ask God to Loose Angels.” 

Say now what? I was taken aback. What in the world does that mean?

She went on to describe in more detail how after we pray to God, asking Him to Bind satan in the name of Jesus, we can also pray and ask for God to Loosen the Angels from heaven to come and influence and assist those who truly want to be more like Jesus in the Gospel.

After hearing this, Now! I really knew I needed to unpack these two Biblical concepts. So, let’s UNPACK this!

For simple clarity: Binding means to forbid, Loosing means to permit.

First, this is where I found reference to Binding and Loosing in the Bible – Jesus is speaking to Peter and later other Apostles:

Mathew 16:19 NIV

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Second, we need to interpret this with GREAT CARE. Jesus is giving Authority to Spiritual leaders. Not Authority over heaven, but rather Authority to lead, teach, and guide a community of BELIEVERS to make STRONG CHRISTIANS. 

Heaven backs the authority of leaders who act in alignment with Christ.

Third, it needs to be understood that the keys of the kingdom = authority to announce and apply the Gospel to the kingdom. 

Fourth, we are NOT to make demands of God to Bind Satan. We are Not to make Demands of God to send Angels. If we made such demands, we would then be just like the Pharisees and the Sadducees. We should NOT talk to Satan directly. 

Fifth, perhaps there is a better way to explain Binding and Loosing than in the stories I shared. Not that they are necessarily incorrect explanations, however what I found that may better methods of exercising Binding and Loosing, has biblical backing:

God can Restrain satan. Job 1-2 

God puts limits on demonic power. Mathew 12:28-29

Jesus teaches us to pray, “deliver us from the evil one.” Mathew 6:13

WE CAN:

• Pray for God’s protection.
• Ask God for help.
• Trust in God’s methods/purpose/Will (Aka you might pray for Angels and you get a cop instead.)

JESUS WILL