I’ve heard it argued that Jesus did not give the Keys of the kingdom to every Christian, because when Jesus gave the Keys, only the apostles were present.

There are numerous problems with this argument. For example, when Jesus actually gives the Keys in John 20:22-23, John does not make clear who exactly was present. He tells us the “disciples” were present. This term is not used in John to refer only to the twelve, but also to others (e.g. 6:60, 66; 8:31; 19:38).

The women who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection were with the twelve that morning (20:18). John simply doesn’t tell us whether they left or stayed until evening.

We do know that Thomas was not with them, because 20:24 explicitly tells us this, and there refers to him as “one of the twelve,” and not “one of the disciples.” But in what follows Jesus doesn’t repeat his giving of the Keys explicitly to Thomas.

Arguments about precisely who was physically present when Jesus gave the Keys therefore go beyond the explicit words of the text. John does not tell us that the Keys were given only to the apostles. A doctrine that restricts the Keys to a particular group should not rest on an inference that the text itself does not make. Our faith does not rest on inference.

A more helpful way to quickly understand who has been given the power of the Keys is to look at all the passages that clearly explain the giving of the Keys and ask how they interpret each other. Because Scripture interprets Scripture.

Martin Luther did exactly this. Part of his essay on Church and Ministry, available in the American Edition of his works (39:86-87) is very helpful:

Christ says to St. Peter in Matthew 16[:18–19], “You are Peter and on this petra (that is, on this rock) I will build my church. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

On the basis of these words they have attributed the keys to St. Peter alone. But the same St. Matthew, in Matthew 18[:18], has barred such an erroneous interpretation, for Christ says to all of them in general, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Here it is clear that Christ is interpreting himself, explaining chapter 16[:18] in this chapter 18[:18], that the keys are given to St. Peter in place of the entire community, and not to his person alone. Thus also John, in the last chapter [John 20:22–23]: “He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; but if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ ” Many people have tried to reconcile the sole authority of St. Peter with these two passages which are opposed by only the one [Matt. 16:18–19]. But the gospel is only too clear. Up to now they have had to concede that nothing particular is given to St. Peter as a person in the first passage. Many of the ancient holy fathers also understood it this way. This is also proven by Christ’s words when he asked not only Peter, but all of them together, before he gave St. Peter the keys, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter replied for them all, saying, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God” [Matt. 16:15–16]. That is why the words of Christ in chapter 16 are to be understood according to the words in chapter 18 and in the last chapter of John; the one passage is not to be considered stronger than the other two. Instead, the one is to be properly explained through the other two. Two [passages] are stronger proof than one, and it is only proper that the one should follow or give way to the two, and not vice versa. (Luther’s Works 39:86-87)

In other words:

In Matthew 16, Jesus promised the Keys to Peter as a representative of “the whole community,” i.e. everyone who makes the same confession as him. In Matthew 18, Jesus himself explains how all Christians are to use the Keys as though they were given to be exercised by everyone in the church. In John 20, Jesus actually gives the Keys as he gives the Spirit—everyone who receives the Spirit receives the Keys.

The Keys aren’t given just to the Pope, as some claim from Matthew 16. As Peter is not singled out in Matthew 18 or John 20.

The Keys aren’t given just to the Apostles, as some claim from John 20. As Matthew 16 is addressed only to Peter, not to all the Apostles, and Matthew 18 is addressed to the whole church, not only the Apostles.

The Keys aren’t given just to the elders of the church, as some claim from Matthew 18. As they’re not mentioned in Matthew 16 or John 20.

No, the simplest explanation of all three passages taken together is also the simplest explanation of each individual passage looked at separately: Jesus gave the power of the Keys to the church, which means to each individual Christian.

Jesus gave the Keys:

• to everyone who shares Peter’s confession of Christ, which is the Word of Christ (and thus Peter represents them in Matthew 16);
• to all those who gather around this Word of Christ (as demonstrated in Matthew 18); and
• to those who are given the Spirit through this Word of Christ (John 20).

All those who gather in faith to receive the Keys are those with the power to wield the Keys. The Keys are something we exercise together, in an orderly way, in private with one another (Matthew 18:15), but if necessary in public by those rightly Called to represent the church (Matthew 18:17). This gathering of Christians around Christ’s Word to receive and exercise the Keys is the church. As Jesus said:

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (Matthew 18:20)

Manchester Lutheran Church gathers in Christ’s name in person each Sunday to exercise and receive these Keys through Christ’s Word publicly given to us in Word and Sacrament. Come, gather with us at 10:45 for coffee, 11:00 for the service: https://mcrlt.ch/sundays/

If you live outside Greater Manchester, you can gather online with the Confessional Lutheran Church every Wednesday at 6pm to wield and receive these Keys with others from all over: https://lutheran.ch/online-service/