March 11, 2013
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:15-20
OBSERVATIONS
1. There will always be times in a fellowship that someone’s behaviour is inappropriate, harmful to the community, unloving or immoral. Jesus points out that it is important that we handle it in a loving, honourable way.
2. Keep it secret, don’t gossip or spread the story, deal with it in a way that restoration or reconciliation can be attained in the least harmful, least destructive way.
3. ‘Point out their fault’ is a very brief way of saying share your concern in a loving, gentle way. It needs to be done without judgment, and always aware of our own weakness.
4. The more serious the charge, the more important it is to handle it well. Find some third parties (not witness for your viewpoint, but witnesses for both of you), and make sure that both sides are heard, weighed and discerned.
5. If after all this, the concern is confirmed yet they still refuse to deal with it, ask the fellowship of Jesus followers to help out. Let the wisdom and counsel of the community help you to resolve the issue, great! This is not a court to vindicate you, but an opportunity to heal and strengthen the whole community.
6. Worse case scenario, if the person who is committing this offence still does not admit it, then let the whole community… no, not ostracize or disfellowship them… rather treat them as Jesus did. How did Jesus treat the pagans and the tax collectors? He loved them, hung out with them, ate with them, included them, and thereby restored them!
7. Isn’t binding something that is done to a wound, to heal it? And isn’t loosing something that is done with those who are in bondage? Healing and setting the captives free. In other words, our efforts to heal and release will be backed by God!
8. When a community prays and works and agrees together, God is present in a personal, powerful way. This is about God’s grace in action, how God deals with sin and how we do.
What do you notice in this passage?
APPLICATION
I used to think this was a ‘church order’ process for dealing with sinners.
But now as I read it with Jesus in mind, I see it as healing process.
How did Jesus treat pagans and tax collectors?
It seems to me He was more gracious with them than with the religious people.
The key is the heart, do I love the person I am concerned about or am I just trying to beat them or prove them wrong.
Reconciliation demands a price: God did not demand the price of us, He absorbed it Himself, through Jesus.
Am I willing to do the same thing?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, give me a heart like Yours, more concerned about the other person than about myself, willing to pay a price to help them find their way back.
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Disagreements. Every once in a while we come across them. They usually involve money, in-laws, or power. Jesus describes a process that makes perfect sense. You don’t start out with the big guns. You go and try to talk to one another to resolve your differences. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you may want to bring others in others who have witnessed a wrong. If this doesn’t resolve the issue you can bring in a larger gathering, and finally, you may want to just walk away from the relationship. This process shows real effort in attempting resolution, and also shows that we live in an imperfect world, where not everyone loves everyone.
The verses stating that whatever you bind and loose on earth will be bound and loosed in heaven confuses me. Do we live in a parallel universe? Earth and heaven? Apparently this is an important concept, as the verse starts with “I tell you the truth…”
After this verse, we learn of the power of two or more agreeing about anything, that God, our father will do this for us. This is a powerful statement and means that corporate prayer and agreement is vital. God is with us when we get together. When we meet, his power and peace is there with us. We should not go through life alone. We are stronger when we are together with others.
I pray that I will not neglect relationships with others. I pray that God will be with me as I work out conflict, and as I meet with others. Help me to utilize the fact that God is with us as we meet.
Observation:
The passage starts out with the word ‘if.’ If your brother sins against you go and tell him. It is e the two of you. Interestingly the different versions of the Bible leave out the word ‘against.’ If the brother does not listen, then take other witnesses with you who were present – something that the Lord had told His people to do already in the OT.
If the sinner refuses to listen, treat him as a Gentile or a tax collector. Things bound on earth and heaven. Where is the emphasis?
Application:
Matthew was a tax collector but when he accepted Jesus’ call, he left all. When we speak to a brother, that too is our hearts desire. The Jews did not want to listen to the Gospel, so it was proclaimed to the Gentiles. God’s love and mercy was for all people. And I must have the courage and faith to do the same.
Prayer:
Help me each day Lord to be an instrument of your peace.
1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul – .
4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.