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NASB | Matthew 18:17 "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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 18:17 "If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile (unbeliever) and a tax collector. [Lev 19:17; Deut 19:15] |
Bible Question: Good answer! Tell me, does the above scripture also say 1) what kind of sin is punishable by banishment? and 2)would the whole church be privy to the information leading to this judgment? I am not being petulant, it simply seems to me that the verse is fairly clear that this is 1) a pretty bad sin, and 2) the church should be made aware of the circumstances of their brother's demise. It appears that the whole point of going through 4 steps (vs.15-17) is to do whatever possible to 'win your brother,' but if it doesn't work, all must know why, in order to cleanse the church without causing division. It seems that this also works as a Biblical safeguard to protect the church from ministers who might abuse their authority to boot out someone they disliked for personal reasons. Your answer implies that 1) the person is apostate, outside the Kingdom (even salvation?), and 2) the church officers wield the authority of judgment, AND forgiveness, and that the congregation is not privy to the reasons. Thoughts? In Jesus' name. |
Bible Answer: Matt 18:15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. Matt 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. Matt 18:17 "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. Matt 18:18 "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. Matt 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. Matt 18:20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Matt 18:21 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Matt 18:22 Jesus *said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. *********** This section covers all your concerns. 1) "if your brother sins against you" - it doesn't specify type of sin, it just says "sins" 2) the church should be informed about the matter -- maybe not every gory detail, but the main thrust of the issue; the verse explicitly says it should be made known to the church; I'm just inferring that the church not be told so much that it might lead to gossip or an ungodly disdain toward someone they ought all should desire to see come to repentance vv. 18-20 show clearly that there is an ecclesiastical authority; an authority the church leaders -- ministers and elders -- have that the laity does not have vv. 21-22 is paradoxical. Jesus tells Peter he should forgive the brother basically without any limit, (i.e., the hyperbole seventy times seven). I think this is resolved though by taking the view that while we might forgive the brother, we -- the church -- ought not let him profess to be a Christian if he lives in sin and will not repent. The excommunication is to cause him to desire repentance, just as the exile of Israel was meant to cause them to desire to return to their God. |