Jewish Background: Binding and Loosing; Authority
"Jesus best fit the type of rabbi believed to have s'mikhah, the authority to make new interpretations of the Torah. Whereas most teachers of the law could only teach accepted interpretations, teachers with authority could make new interpretations and pass legal judgments. Crowds were amazed because Jesus taught with authority (Matt. 7:28?29), and some people questioned his authority (Matt. 21:23?27)." -- Followtherabbi.com
One with this authority had the ability to bind and loose. To bind was to forbid a practice and to loose was to allow a practice (Jewish New Testament commentary). Here he seems to be granting the same level of authority to his followers.
Created over 3 years ago
