Matthew 18:15-20

14th Sunday after Pentecost

September 6, 2009

 

 

Matthew 18:15-20 (New International Version)

A Brother Who Sins Against You

 15"If your brother sins against you,[a] go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'[b] 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

 18"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be[c]bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.

 19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

 

 

 

YOU HAVE CHRIST’S BACKING!

 

What a blessing it is when people back one another.  How wonderful when the boss backs the employee providing a stable, comfortable work environment.  How about in the home?  The family runs smoothly when father and mother back one another and children are provided the blessing of a stable, consistent family.  Today we are reminded that we have the promise of blessing…blessing in our relationships with one another, EVEN when we deal with the difficult matter of one another’s sins.  First and foremost when someone sins against us personally. Today we hear Jesus’ promise of blessing that when we deal with one another’s sins HIS way we have his backing…the very backing of heaven itself!

 

In the previous chapter, Jesus taught his disciples a lesson regarding relationships to one another.  There had just been a question raised.  “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  Jesus pointed them to a child.  Jesus’ point was that those who believe unquestioningly and humbly like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  This is not the only time this question had come up.  There were more times when arguments arose among the disciples as to who was greater or who would get seats of prominence in heaven.  Can you imagine the bad blood that must have brought among these brothers in the faith?  So now what?  What do they do when a brother in the faith sins against them?  What do WE do? In Matthew 18, Jesus lays out guidelines for discipline among fellow believers.  These guidelines are not just for a church…they are for all of us.  These are one-on-one relationship commands for sinful Christians dealing with other sinful Christians.  This is personal ministry to be practiced every day.

It is no secret to us that we sin.  Earlier in the service we confessed our sins before God.  Sometimes we sin privately and no one but God knows.  But sometimes we sin publicly and often those sins are against those close to us, yes even fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  What do we do if someone sins against us personally?  Jesus gives us the answer.   “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 

 

Go and show.  That is Jesus’ command.  Your sinning brother needs to come face-to-face with his sin and be convicted.  But how often don’t we take a different approach.   Often we harbor a grudge.  We tell everyone else out in the parking lot.  We broadcast it over Facebook or our MySpace page.  We may even try to take a high road thinking we shouldn’t get involved or try to tell ourselves, “It’s none of my business.”  Go to him.  Show him his sin…just between the two of you.  It IS your business.  Jesus MAKES it your business.  Your brother’s sin is the sin Jesus lived and died to pay for.    Who of us would just sit by and casually watch a friend drink a glass full of poison?  How much more dangerous to simply sit back and watch a Christian drink of Satan’s poison of damnation?  Your brother’s eternal welfare rests on his knowing his sin and finding forgiveness through his Savior Jesus.  What a blessing when your brother sees his sin, confesses, and repents trusting in full forgiveness in Christ!  If only this was always the case!

 

Jesus also commanded further action if your brother chooses NOT to confess and repent.  Jesus goes on, “But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.  It may very likely be that going once one-on-one may not be enough.  Your brother may need to see his sin from the perspective of other loving brothers or sisters in Christ.  The sinful human nature is well-practiced at NOT taking ownership of his sins.  It may very well take the loving admonition of one or two more to drive home the point.  Perhaps it may take the unified work of a group of Christians-much like our Board of Elders-entrusted with the privilege of administering church discipline in the name of Jesus. Unfortunately there are times when our brother simply will NOT listen to the Word of God.  The Old Adam has won.  They are no longer our brother.  Gentiles or pagans were considered outsiders by Jesus’ society.  Tax collectors were thought of as traitors.  That is what those who refuse to repent are to God.  Outsiders to the brotherhood of believers.  Traitors to Jesus.  They are lost in impenitence to their eternal judgment.  But what a blessing to see God’s law convict and much more so the gospel heal and save!  Your brother is truly your brother again! 

 

This is a command straight from Jesus himself.  Don’t be afraid to deal with sin.  You are not judging…you are announcing.  It is God’s law which judges.  It is God’s gospel which saves.  Jesus is giving you the command to announce in his name and by his command.  You have Jesus’ word that when you proclaim these truths you are speaking in and for him.  Jesus continued,  “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  When the sinning brother sees his sin and repents, the gospel loosens the chains of sin and damnation from him.  He is free.  He is forgiven.  When your brother refuses, his is bound to his sin and will pay with his soul for eternity.  He carries those sins and their consequences like the chains of Jacob Marley. Be sure…you DO have Christ’s backing when you deal with sin.

 

And if you still have any doubts about what Jesus asks you to do in his name, he concludes this lesson with his personal assurance of blessing. “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”  What a power and right God gives to his children!  He not only extends to us the privilege to approach God’s throne of grace in prayer for your brothers and sisters in the faith, but he also gives you the right to expect his answer of blessing! 

 

We see each individual fellow Christian as brother and our congregation of believers as family.  We are the family of the forgiven.  We are the people with whom Jesus has chosen to walk and live.  God has entrusted the ministry of his Word to us – those for whom Jesus lived and died.  We are Jesus’ mouth. Lovingly, we serve one another with that Word.  God gives us the privilege to pray for the spiritual welfare of each other, and what is more, he attaches his promise to hear and answer those prayers.  We do have Christ’s backing…when we deal with sin and when we expect his blessing!

 

Amen.