https://odb.org/MY/2023/06/07/a-loving-warning
Matthew 18:15-20 is regarded as a model on how to correct a brother or sister who has sinned. For example, by way of illustration, a brother who commits adultery and has an affair outside of marriage. The passage is special in my view as it is taught by the Lord Himself and not Peter, John, or Paul. The approach taught by Jesus is to first confront the believer one on one, via private counsel. If that works and he or she repents, we leave it as that. No one else needs to know. The sin or offence is kept private. Ultimately, the goal is repentance and not punishment. However, if the believer refuses to repent and turn away from his wicked ways (as the Psalmists like to say), Jesus then teaches that we bring one or two other believers to confront him so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. And if he still refuses to repent, we only tell it to the church, and if he refuses to listen to the church, then we will treat him as a non-believer in the sense that he is no longer part of the community of believers in the church. Thus, everything that two or three bind on earth will be bound in heaven – meaning to say, the power of two or three witnesses that leads to the spiritual authority of the church being exercised here on earth will be backed up in heaven by God. Thus, the context of Matthew 8:18-20 is Matthew 8:15-17. Jesus is saying that the LORD will support and back the decision of the church to “excommunicate” a believer who refuses to repent from his sin on the account of two or three witnesses.
In practice, we generally find it difficult to confront a believer of his sin as the modern world is very much a “mind your own business” world. But as leaders and for the salvation of the believer and the good of the larger community of believers, we can not avoid such a confrontation. We need to bring him back to the narrow path and not allow him to be led astray into the path that leads to destruction.
The practical application of this morning’s message is to first counsel privately before bringing an issue of sin to the attention of others or the leaders of the church. Of course, we need to be mindful that we are not speaking of new believers, who will be given time to mature in their faith and to adapt to their new life in Christ. For example, a couple living together that comes to faith will be counselled to get married and seal their union formally before heaven and the congregation.
Ronnie's Thoughts 