Answer:
Jesus’s declaration to Peter was: I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 16:19a). Again, He referred to an Old Testament concept. When used symbolically in the Hebrew Scriptures, the word key represents authority (Is. 22:20-24), including the authority to open and close doors. In the context of Matthew 16, Jesus (Yeshua) was dealing with the church facet of God’s kingdom program, and Peter would be authorized to open the door of the church. The church is part of the spiritual kingdom, [all who have experienced the new birth from Adam until the end of the millennial kingdom.] This statement predicts Peter’s special role in the book of Acts. In Old Testament times, humanity was divided into two groups: Jews and Gentiles. In the Gospel period, there were three groups: Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles. Matthew gave an example of the three groups: Go not into any way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mt. 10:5-6).
Peter would be responsible for opening the doors of the church facet of the kingdom program for all three groups. Once he opened the door for one group, it stayed open for that group. The church is the body of the Messiah (Col. 1:18), and the means of entering the church is Spirit baptism (I Cor. 12:13). There is an inseparable connection between this baptism and the existence of the church; one cannot exist without the other. Peter, the keys, and Spirit baptism would all come together for each of the three groups.
In Acts 2, Peter opened the door for the Jews. Once he opened the door for the Jews, it stayed open. From then on, the moment a Jew believed, the Spirit baptized them into the body.
In Acts 8, Philip entered Samaria and preached the gospel to the Samaritans, and many Samaritans believed, were regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and received salvation. However, the Spirit did not baptize them into the body, because while Philip had the gospel, he did not have the keys. So, the church of Jerusalem sent Peter to Samaria, and by the laying on of hands, the Spirit baptized the Samaritans into the body (Acts 8:17). Once Peter opened the door for the Samaritans, it stayed open. From then on, every time a Samaritan believed, the Spirit baptized him into the body.
In Acts 9, Paul was saved and God commissioned him to be the apostle to the Gentiles. However, he did not have the keys, either. So before Paul could start his missionary work, God had to send Peter to the house of Cornelius. By his preaching, the Gentiles believed and the Spirit baptized them into the body (Acts 10:44-48). Once the door opened for the Gentiles, it stayed open. From then on, the Spirit baptized every Gentile who believed into the body. Once Peter opened all three doors, I Corinthians 12:13 became the doctrinal point: For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, and were all made to drink of one Spirit. Now, the Spirit baptizes all who believe into the body.
Arnold G Fruchtenbaum, Ariel’s Yeshua, The Life of Messiah from a Messianic Jewish Perspective Abridged Version (San Antonio, TX: Ariel Ministries, 2018) Para 85 pg. 289.
