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Matthew 18 (NIV):

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

 

In Matthew 18, the main theme is welcoming people into the community of faith and restoring those who have wandered from it. In our verses, Jesus talks about what that looks like on a personal level. “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault”, but start one-on-one. If they won’t agree, take one or two others along – NOT for the purposes of “piling on”, but so that everything is heard fairly. Maybe the one observing a sin is misreading the situation. But, if the situation appears to have been read correctly, and the one in error will not change, tell it to the assembly – again, not to pile on, but to be sure the collected wisdom among the people of God is brought to bear on the situation. If the assembly agrees, and the one being corrected does not, “treat them as you would a pagan or tax collector”. That’s shorthand for someone who is not a part of the assembly.

 

Verses 18 and 19 are frequently broken up, if not in print, then often in interpretation. But vv.18-20 goes right along with the rest of the passage. (Verses 21-35 back that up.) The main point Jesus is making here is not a general assurance about what happens when we pray together. It is that Jesus is at work in disciples’ good-faith efforts to keep each other accountable to follow him, and to restore those who are wandering away from his paths. The “anything they ask for” here can indicate a case brought before a judge for resolution. If the assembly is in agreement on a case, the Father will “bind” or “loose” accordingly. The “two or three gathered in My name” are the two or three that are attempting to resolve the issue in good faith.

 

Most importantly, the goal here is not condemnation, but restoration. ‘It is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost” (v.14). The Shepherd rejoices in the restoration of the one who wandered.

 

Lord, grant us the graceful and merciful spirit we need, not only to personally follow your word, but to help each other humbly to walk as you have called us, in community with each other, and with you. Amen.

 

Damon Glassmoyer

jwl1040@gmail.com

 

Prayer Concern: That we all may be peacemakers wherever we are, restoring relationships and assisting those who need our help to meet their needs.