Keys to The Kingdom and The Cross

Description of Coloring Page: Keys to The Kingdom, cross of Christ, This symbol has roots in both the Bible and in papal history. This symbol connects several ideas simultaneously:

From the Bible: Matthew Chapter 16, Jesus asks his disciples, " "Who do you say I am?" they are standing around in a group, Peter replies to him, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." and then Jesus replies back to the group "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." The term 'rock' not only refers to Peter which means 'rock' but also to one that is more important, Jesus who resurrects the dead and is Himself referred to as The Rock of Salvation in scripture: Psalm 118:22, Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, 1 Peter 2:7, Acts 4:11, Isaiah 8:14, Romans 9:33, 1 Peter 2:8, Matthew 21:44, Isaiah 28:16, 1 Peter 2:6, Daniel 2:34, Daniel 2:45, Daniel 2: 35, 1 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Peter 2:4

(Son of Jonah refers to all those who are resurrected from the dead. In the original Bible texts, Jonah was swallowed up by a fish and was technically dead until God made the fish spit him out. Then God resurrected him, Jonah, in order that he might preach to the citizens of Nineveh.)

In ecclesiastical heraldry, papal coats of arms (those of individual popes) and those of the Holy See and Vatican City State include an image of crossed keys to represent the metaphorical keys of the office of Saint Peter, the keys of heaven, or the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, that, according to Roman Catholic teaching, Jesus promised to Saint Peter, empowering him to take binding actions. In the Gospel of Matthew 16:19, Jesus says to Peter, "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." Read more . . . 

 

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