SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 18:15-20
If your brother sins against you, confront him. If he will not listen, take witnesses. If that fails, take it to the church. If that fails, treat him as a pagan or tax collector. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Where two or more people congregate in Jesus’s name, God and Jesus will be there, too.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 19, Day 4: Matthew 18:15-20
10a) If your brother sins against you, confront him. If he will not listen, take witnesses. If that fails, take it to the church. If that fails, treat him as a pagan or tax collector.
b) It gives the parties involved time to work things out. It also provides different perspectives that can help, too.
c) Confronting others is never fun, no matter what it’s about. It’s easier to let things simmer than to work them out. This is when the problem grows and becomes bigger. Here, Jesus says to work out your problems promptly.
11a) When it affects you.
b) The right attitude involves taking everything to God and having others come alongside to support and guide you. The ultimate goal is forgiveness and moving on with your life to do God’s purpose, not to be bogged down in anger and bitterness.
12) To handle disputes and those who offended others. Whatever their decision they made (so long as it’s two or more and they are gathered in Jesus’s name) is binding. It shows the process Christians are to go through to handle disputes.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 19, Day 4: Matthew 18:15-20
I like the simplicity of this arrangement. It’s much better than just not talking to those who have offended you or resorting to suing people and legal action.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 19, Day 4: Matthew 18:15-20
Steps to Solving Disputes
- When someone offends you, you must go to them first. Gossiping is not the way to go. However, this does not mean you go to people with every little sin. Just those that bother you tremendously.
- If someone does not listen, two or three witnesses must try to help.
- If step 2 does not work, then the entire church becomes involved. Then, they are to be refused fellowship with other Christians. (1 Corinthians 5:1-8) Still, they must be treated with love and compassion like everyone else.
- If this process of working out disagreements is followed, then whatever the result is on earth is the result in heaven, too.
- If two or more agree, it will be done. Gathering in Jesus’s name is most important.