Notes on Church Discipline from Matthew Chapter 18

Notes at Matthew 18:15-18

Verse 15 - "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee...."

This is a personal offense, not a publicly known sin, for which see I Corinthians 5, or a private sin of which you are aware, for which see Galatians 6.

Verse 15 - "Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone."

GO AND GO ALONE!  This cannot be stressed enough!  Not wait for him to come to you; not start a telephone campaign to justify yourself; not ask others for advice on what to do; etc.

One other valid and wise option: Let love cover it, I Peter 4:8.

Verse 15 - "If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

This the sole aim!  Same in Galatians 6; I Corinthians 5.  Not to make yourself feel better.  Not to put him in his place.  Not to be justified before others.  The aim is restoration.  Any manner of dealing with it that does not have that goal is wrong.

Verse 16 - But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

"A just & sensible O.T. law established for the benefit of the N.T. church."  - quoted, source presently unknown.

"Witnesses" are brought in view of testifying of the meeting at the potential full church hearing later.  For "every word" to be "established" requires no advance talk to the witnesses.  Do not lay out your case to them first.  Proverbs 18:17 - "He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him."

Verse 17 - And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

"Tell it unto the church", not to denominational headquarters, private deacon board meeting, elder tribunal, etc.  Compare I Corinthians 5:4, where power of Christ is present when full church assembled together in His name.

Verse 18 - Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

"Heaven ratifies what the church does on earth in compliance with Christ's law and in the spirit of it."  - B. H. Carroll, in his sermon "Little Christians."

VM