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Matthew
18:15-20
15
And if your brother sin against you, go, reprove him between you and
him alone: if he hears you, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he
hears [you] not, take with you one or two more, that at the mouth of
two witnesses or three every word may be established.
17 And if he
refuses to hear them, tell it unto the assembly: and if he refuses
to hear the assembly also, let him be unto you as the Gentile and
the publican. 18
Verily I say unto you, what things so ever you shall bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven; and what things so ever you shall loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto
you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything
that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is
in heaven. 20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I
in the midst of them.
This portion of Matthew’s Gospel has often been
expounded in a way which defends the exercise of authority by the
church. Often this exercise of authority has resulted in harm to the
individuals involved and at times even resulted in a church split.
This portion should never contribute to such results. Negative
results must result from misinterpretation and abuse of the implied
authority.
Let us consider these verses from another angle. The actions taken
according to this portion are meant to restore; not to alienate. All
the steps taken must be with a heart of love with the intention of
helping, restoring, and gaining the sinning brother.
Study the context of the entire chapter. Verses 1-10 deal with the
matter of wanting to be great in God’s kingdom and the Lord unveils
that one must become as a little child and to be careful of
stumbling one of these little ones.
Verses 11-14 reveals the extent to which the Lord will be put out to
rescue one little-one which is lost.
Then verses 15-20 tell us how to help and restore a sinning one.
And finally verses 21-35 show that our heart must be forgiving way
beyond our human capacity and in duplication of our Lord’s forgiving
heart.
So, should we stress the matter of authority; or, should we focus on
how to restore the weaker ones? I believe we need to understand and
expound this portion out of a heart of love.
Kittle in his 10 vol. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
defines the word “reprove” by stating “The word does not only mean
‘to blame’ or ‘to reprove,’ nor ‘to convince’ in the sense of proof,
nor ‘to reveal’ or ‘expose,’ but ‘to set right,’ namely, ‘to
point away from sin to repentance.’ It implies educative
discipline.” (Vol. 2; 474)
Henry Alford in Alford’s Greek Testament states, “The
first attempt of brotherly love is to heal the wound, to remove
the offence, in secrecy: to cover the sin: but if this cannot
be done, the next step is, to take two or three, still, in
case of an adjustment, preventing publicity;...” and as
related to the assembly “it cannot mean the Church as represented
by her rulers,” but the assembly “where any collection of
believers is gifted with the power of deciding in such cases.” And
finally, “let him no longer be accounted as a brother,...Yet even
then not with hatred,...” (Vol. 1; Part 1; 187-8)
The goal is restoration, not the exercise of spiritual authority.
Now a few thoughts on the verses themselves:
15—...between you and him alone... What a heart of
love is this! No one else is to know. You must take the time. You
must place yourself in this awkward position. You must avoid
contention and try to remain in an atmosphere of peace to gain your
brother. Yes, you address the sin; but, with the view of restoration
of your fellowship with him. You love him, which is why you are
going. You are not going to deal with his sin per se. You are
going to restore.
16—...take with you one or two more... Who should be
the one or two? The elders, the pastor, or someone you know would
agree with you? I don’t think so! How about one or two others who
are closely related to the sinning one, ones who would have a true
love for him, ones to whom he may listen to out of trust and
respect? Remember, you are going and trying to restore this one.
If this also fails, the one or two then become witnesses with you of
the attempt at restoration. What a testimony this will be when you
are forced to go to the assembly to resolve the matter; you went
with those closest to the sinning one. You went in love to restore.
17—...tell it unto the assembly... Tell it, not to the
elders, the pastors, a board, a committee or some other governing
body; but, to the assembly. There is no organization or
hierarchy involved in this matter. The two or three go directly to
the assembly.
Why the whole assembly? Is this to intimidate, to overpower, and to
subdue? I don’t think so!
The goal is to restore. You are hoping to find someone who can
restore the sinning one. Yes, his sin must be so great that it is
going to affect the entire assembly, or why else would you bring it
to them. Yet, you are struggling out of a heart of love to restore.
Bring him into Philadelphia, the assembly of brotherly love, not to
the Great White Throne. If the assembly has a heart of love, that
may turn the sinning one when he sees their love and concern.
And how can you be sure that the two or three had the right words,
attitude or view. Maybe one or two seemingly little insignificant
lambs of the Lord may have the salted words and the balm, the oil
and the wine to pour on the wounds, which would restore the sinning
one to the fellowship in the Body.
Then ...if he refuses to hear...let him be.... Be what? Let
him be one who, as the Gentile and the publican, needs your prayers.
Following this thorough attempt to restore the sinning one; verses
18-19 show the authority invested in the entire assembly when
it walks in love and righteousness in dealing with a sinning one.
But why verse 20? Why come back to the two or three gathered;
and, also reveal the Lord in their midst?
I believe, that the two or three who originally, out of love, tried
to restore the sinning one, will be the most effective and personal
unit to pray for the restoration. The Lord will be with them in a
special way to carry out this intercession. The matter is not
dropped and forgotten after it has been presented to the whole
assembly; and, it is not necessarily the whole assembly’s
responsibility. Now, the two or three, out of love for the brother,
and with the special presence of their loving Lord will bear the
burden of this sinning one. |