At what moment and to whom did Jesus give the keys to the Kingdom? What do

the keys represent?

Answer: The key represents his sacrafice.

One of the most dramatic moments in Jesus' life is recorded in Matthew 16:13-20. After asking his disciples who they thought he was, Peter rightly identifies him as "the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (16:16). Moments later Jesus says this 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" (16:19). So what are the keys of the kingdom?

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "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,[1]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." Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. - Matthew 16:13-20