The Life of Christ

• The Jerusalem Bible says, "Go have it out with him."

• The temptation of many believers is to instead share the offense with someone else, other than the offender. This becomes gossip and leads to the spreading of an evil report.

• If after going to the offender, that person hears you, this means he or she acknowledges the fault and repents.

• Lk. 17:3 reads, “If he repents, forgive him.”

Mt. 18:16 “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 the offender does not hear you, it means he or she disagrees with your assessment and stands by what was said or done.

In this case, the offense still lingers.

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• Resolution can only occur by the two parties agreeing to bring in one or two other neutral parties to also hear the case and make judgment.

• It is vital that the offended and the offender both agree to the selection of those neutral parties.

Mt. 18:17 “And 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- gatherer.”

If after hearing the case, and the neutral party(ies) sides with the offended party, the offender still has one more course of appeal.

The issue is taken to the church.

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• For all practical purposes, this would include a selection of about twelve individuals proposed by the pastor to hear the matter.

Their verdict will remain final.

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If the offender refuses to accept their decision, and still does not repent, he or she is to be excommunicated from the church and treated as an unbeliever until repentance is evidenced.

Mt. 18:18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The placement of this verse immediately after the subject of excommunication shows that what has been done on earth goes into effect in heaven.

• The context of this verse also deals specifically with excommunication, rather than an assortment of other occasions often brought under the canopy of this promise.

Mt. 18:19 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.

Once again, the context of this verse is in reference to clearing up offenses, rather than agreement in prayer for other items.

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