Mercy Filled Servants
Matthew 18:15-22
Matthew 18:15–22 (ESV): 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.”
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
*ἐκκλησία (ekklesia)- simply means a group of people that gather. The term “church” in not the intention as the church would be a later term used for those who followed Jesus as Messiah when they gathered.
Tucked in between the parables of lost sheep and unmerciful servant is this passage.
How did Jesus treat the Gentile (or Pagan in some translations) and tax collectors?
Earlier translations of Matthew 18:15 lack the words “against you”.
The issue here, in context, is not about church discipline, by repentance, unity, and forgiveness which all fall under the idea of being “merciful servants” helping “lost sheep”.
Matthew 16:17–19 (NIV): 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church*, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
* ἐκκλησία (ekklesia)… again!
Matthew 18:20 speaks of something profound that often gets misused. Jesus is making an inference about Himself. While away from his Father, Jesus was still God who was also being guided by the Holy Spirit who is also God. In His name is not just about invoking the name of Jesus, but invoking the WHOLE and COMPLETE God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When two (Jesus and Holy Spirit which is there amongst them as Jesus teaches) or three (this is why Jesus always consulted His Father in heaven).
Matthew 6:9–13 (NKJV): 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.