notes
Main point summary
Jesus teaches His disciples a three step plan for discipline if a Christian sins, explaining the authority disciples have to bind and loose as well as the results of an agreement in Christ on such an issue.
Arc
editing
NT
Matthew 18:15-20
nasb
“ a If your brother sins 1 ,
go and 2 show him his fault 3 in private;
conditional
if he listens to you,
you have won your brother.
But if he does not listen to you,
take one or two more with you,
so that a by the mouth of two or three witnesses every 1 fact may be confirmed .
ground
If he refuses to listen to them,
a tell it to the church;
and if he refuses to listen even to the church,
b let him be to you as 1 a Gentile and 1 a tax collector.
progression
alternative
Truly I say to you, a whatever you 1 bind on earth 2 shall have been bound in heaven;
and whatever you 3 loose on earth 2 shall have been loosed in heaven.
series
“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask,
a it shall be done for them 1 by My Father who is in heaven.
For where two or three have gathered together in My name,
a I am there in their midst.”
actionresult
All conditionals in this pericope are third class conditional implying future action.
discourse
Phrase
Matthew 18:15-20
Three Step Approach to Discipline
“If your brother sins,
go and show him his fault in private;
if he listens to you,
you have won your brother.
But if he does not listen to you,
take one or two more with you,
so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.
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.
Authority to Bind and Loose
Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
Results of an Agreement in Christ
“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask,
it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
For where two or three have gathered together in My name,
I am there in their midst.”
phrasing