In prayer, what is binding and loosing?  What is Jesus talking about?

I was privileged to be invited to a setting of a group of Christian men this week, to introduce the ministry and talk about the effectual work of intercessory prayer.   What a great discussion that followed!  Men wanting more of God!

One emphasis shared regarding intercessory prayer was the power of “agreement”.   Jesus taught we are to agree in prayer. 

Agreeing is not asking with a question mark tied to it.  Will it happen, will it not happen?  Agreeing implies a decision has been made.  By who?  By you and another.  Too often we think we can’t make judgments, that we can’t decide on a matter.  This is NOT what scripture says at all.  We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16, Romans 12:2) so we can make righteous decisions that agree with the heart of Christ.  We are also to do it together, (1 Corinthians 1:10).    

Jesus makes clear that agreement needs 2 or more.  Read chapter 18 of the book of Matthew in verses 15-20.  You will find Christ promising that if two or more agree for anything they ask for, it will be done for them.   Of late I’ve had several internal promptings reminding me that I need to stop asking and just stand firm in “agreement” because a decision has already been made!  

How do we know what we can firmly agree on? 

Well from what I see within this context of Matthew 18, he references new believers who go astray, a Christian hurting or offending another Christian, an unrepentant believer, and a need to forgive a “repeat” offender.  In the middle of this chapter, in regards to how to respond to an unrepentant believer, Jesus instructs 2 or more to bind and loose, as a means of agreeing and that it will be done for them.  What is binding and loosing? 

Matthew 18: 18 Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Do you see how Jesus goes from talk of binding and loosing things in heaven and earth to talking about agreeing? He talks about “touching” that thing they’ve asked for.   What they collectively touch, this is what will be done. 

Looking back into the Old Testament gives some clarity on binding and loosing.  It references priestly authority.  The high priest wore a breastplate of decision that contained 12 stones to symbolically represent all tribes of Israel and therefore, all of God’s people.  This breastplate was “bound” around his waist to keep it in place>>>>> OVER HIS HEART>>>>> BEFORE THE LORD>>>>>>> CONTINUALLY. 

Exodus 18: 28 And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod. 29 And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually. 30 And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually.

Binding the breastplate of names to the HOLY high priest garment, keeping those names positioned over his heart, going into the presence of God, bringing those names before the LORD continually… this is intercession. 

Yet it is not a full enough picture.  It is not a complete picture as described in Exodus.  There are two other things referenced that are to be upon the high priest’s heart.  The Urim and the Thummim.  Strange words, ones I have glossed over always, too lazy to dig deeper. 

But not this week.  It finally bugged me that I didn’t know what those words meant.  The Urim and Thummim are referenced in other scriptures and indicate these items were put into, hidden within the breastplate of judgment.  It appears they were stones hidden under the breastplate.  One stone, the Urim, means lights, i.e. brilliancy, indicating revelation and divine wisdom over the heart of the high priest.  And the other stone, the Thummim, indicates innocence and means perfection, i.e. complete truth.  Brilliant light, holy revelation, divine wisdom combined with innocence, perfection, and complete truth born on the heart of the high priest…  That is beautiful.

Who said He was the light of the world?  Who was transformed into the brilliancy of God’s glory?  Who claimed to be divine revelation?  Who was hidden from view in the Old Testament, but always positioned between judgment and the heart of God?  Who transformed the breastplate from one of judgment to a breastplate of righteousness, Ephesians 6:14?  Who binds this breastplate on you with a belt of truth?  Who shares his authority with His children, now giving them the priestly office?  Who transformed a religious priesthood it into a ROYAL priesthood, 1 Peter 2:9 and Revelation 5:10?  Who tore down the dividing wall that kept us from God’s presence?  Who opened up the way for us to boldly enter His presence anytime we want?  CHRIST!   He is the Urim and Thummim!

You symbolically see him in every piece of the high priest garment!  The GOSPEL message is evident  in just the breastplate bound continually upon the heart of the high priest!  Christ continues to this day to bear and intercede…

Hebrews 7:25- 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

So back to our part.  Back to binding and loosing and touching any thing.  If you are a Christian, you have an amazing amount of authority bound around your waist and on your heart.  You can carry names into the presence of God with another brother or sister in Christ.  You can both make a holy judgment agreeing through the light and truth of Christ what shall be done in relation to those needing to be transformed into little children.  You can agree on God’s will for the stray sheep, the one who causes others to stumble, the unrepentant brother, the one needing to forgive a repeat offender.  The answers are in scripture.  We know what to pray.  We know what to bind (allow) and loose (forbid).  It will be done for us by a good Father in Heaven! 

Touch Christ’s heart in your asking.  Intercession is lighting upon, striking, falling upon with force, meeting.  He is touched by the prayers of those who are poor in spirit, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the humble, the merciful, those who mourn, the peacemakers, those persecuted for His Name, those who love Him with all their heart, mind, and soul.  His ears are tuned and He agrees in Heaven.  Those are prayers bound on earth, reaching His throne and bound in Heaven.  They loose chains that bind.

I pray you will be open to God giving you His heart for those He himself is reaching for.  If you respond to God’s love for another, His love will transform YOU too.  You will love in His strength.  You will increasingly see with divine light and truth, the Urim and Thummim of Christ over your heart. 

Find someone with whom you can agree in prayer.  Be patient.  Persevere.  May you boldly carry the office of intercession and battle for the souls of those God loves.  In the process, you will grow to love them too. 

Agree with God; stand in the gap for another with a prayer partner.  God says YES!  It will be done!