The Binding and Loosing Authority of the Catholic Magisterium

The Catholic Church teaches that Christ entrusted His Church with a real authority to bind and loose, which refers to the authority to teach and govern. This authority, exercised by the Magisterium, is rooted in Scripture.

In Matthew 16:19, Christ declares to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The imagery of the keys signifies governing authority, echoing Isaiah 22:22 and the office of the steward in the house of David.

This authority is also shared with the apostles collectively when Jesus says to all of them: “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18). Here Christ affirms that the Church’s judgments carry heavenly ratification.

We see this authority in practice in Acts 15, where the apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit, resolve a major controversy in the early Church, declaring: “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” (Acts 15:28).

Thus, the Magisterium is not merely human leadership but Christ’s own authority exercised through His Church for the sake of unity and truth.