Matthew 18:15-20, If Your Brother Sins Against You

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 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. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Comments

Some debate if this is more about pointing out the sin to the brother or about the concern of the breakdown of a relationship. I believe it addresses both. Disciples are not to ignore the faults of other disciples but discuss them. If one won’t listen to another, then perhaps other disciples will help that person see things differently. Finally, and, only if necessary, it should be spoken to the church. Jesus is not calling the church to act and discipline the person. His concern is that the person listens. After all persuasion has failed, perhaps a cold shoulder will work.

The authority to bind and loose that Jesus gave Peter extends here to other disciples. The basis of the church’s appeal to the sinner was their united conviction of what was right or wrong conduct for a disciple. There was a Rabbinic belief that when two sat together and words of the Law were between them, then the Shekinah, the presence of God, rested between them. Now the divine presence is Jesus himself.

Prayers

Come, Lord, work upon us, set us on fire and clasp us close, be fragrant to us, draw us to thy love, let us run to thee.

(Augustine, 354-430)