Church Discipline and Prayer
Matthew 18:15-20
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Matt.18.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Εαν: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- αμαρτηση: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αδελφος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- υπαγε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- ελεγξον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- μεταξυ: PREP
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- μονου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- εαν: CONJ
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ακουση: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- εκερδησας: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αδελφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- σου·: PRON,gen,sg,2
Parallels
- Luke 17:3 (verbal): Jesus likewise commands: 'If your brother sins, rebuke him,' with the follow-up that if he repents you should forgive—close verbal and ethical parallel to private confrontation and restoration in Matthew 18:15.
- Galatians 6:1 (thematic): Paul urges restoring one 'overtaken in any trespass' in a spirit of gentleness—echoes Matthew's concern for correcting and restoring a brother rather than public shaming.
- James 5:19-20 (thematic): James emphasizes turning a sinner from error so their soul is saved, paralleling Matthew's goal of 'gaining' or restoring the erring brother through confrontation.
- Matthew 5:23-24 (structural): Earlier Matthean teaching instructs leaving an offering to be reconciled with a brother first—both passages stress personal initiative and private reconciliation before other acts.
- Leviticus 19:17 (allusion): The OT injunction 'you shall surely rebuke your neighbor' provides the ethical background for Jesus' instruction to confront a sinning brother rather than harboring silent resentment.
Alternative generated candidates
- If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, between you and him alone; if he listens, you have gained your brother.
- If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone; if he listens, you have gained your brother.
Matt.18.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- μη: PART
- ακουση: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- παραλαβε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- μετα: PREP
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ετι: ADV
- ενα: NUM,acc,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δυο: NUM,card
- ινα: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- στοματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- δυο: NUM,card
- μαρτυρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- τριων: NUM,gen,pl
- σταθη: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- παν: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- ρημα·: NOUN,nom,sg,n
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 19:15 (quotation): The Old Testament law that 'on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be established' is the direct legal source Jesus echoes for verifying accusations.
- Deuteronomy 17:6 (allusion): A parallel legal formulation requiring two or three witnesses (here in the context of capital cases); provides broader Torah background for Matthew's rule.
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 (quotation): Paul explicitly cites the same rule ('On the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter shall be established') when discussing disciplinary testimony, echoing Deuteronomy and Matthew's usage.
- 1 Timothy 5:19 (verbal): A New Testament application of the same evidentiary principle: do not admit an accusation against an elder except on the testimony of two or three witnesses, paralleling Matthew's procedure for church discipline.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if he will not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every charge may be established.
- But if he will not listen, take one or two others with you, that every charge may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Matt.18.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- παρακουση: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
- ειπον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- εκκλησια·εαν: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- εκκλησιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- παρακουση: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- εστω: VERB,pres,act,imp,3,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- ωσπερ: ADV
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εθνικος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- τελωνης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 18:15-16 (structural): Immediate context: lays out the stepwise church discipline procedure (private rebuke, witnesses, then tell the church) that culminates in treating the unrepentant as 'a Gentile and a tax collector.'
- Matthew 16:19 (structural): Jesus grants the church authority to bind and loose—background theological basis for communal disciplinary decisions referenced in 18:17.
- 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 (verbal): Paul instructs believers not to associate with sexually immoral brothers and to 'hand such a one over to Satan' / expel him from the community—parallel practice of excluding the unrepentant from the assembly.
- Titus 3:10 (verbal): Command to warn a divisive person twice and then have nothing more to do with him—resembles Matthew 18's escalating steps leading to exclusion.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14 (thematic): Instruction to take note of anyone who does not obey and to avoid association with them—echoes the disciplinary outcome of treating an unrepentant person as outside the covenant community.
Alternative generated candidates
- If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
- 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 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αμην: PART
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- οσα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- εαν: CONJ
- δησητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- δεδεμενα: PART,perf,pass,nom/acc,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- ουρανω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- οσα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- εαν: CONJ
- λυσητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- λελυμενα: PART,perf,pass,nom/acc,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- ουρανω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 16:19 (verbal): Nearly identical binding/loosing formula applied to Peter (the 'keys' context); both verses ascribe authority on earth that corresponds with heaven.
- John 20:23 (thematic): Gives the risen disciples authority to forgive or retain sins ('if you forgive... they are forgiven'), paralleling the functional effect of binding and loosing in Matthew 18:18.
- Matthew 18:15-17 (structural): Immediate context outlining the process of church discipline (private rebuke → witnesses → church), culminating in v.18’s promise that communal decisions will have heavenly confirmation.
- Isaiah 22:22 (allusion): OT precedent for the imagery of authority to 'open and shut' (keys, binding/loosing) — a background motif for New Testament language of authority and decision.
Alternative generated candidates
- Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
- Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Matt.18.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Παλιν: ADV
- αμην: PART
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- δυο: NUM,card
- συμφωνησωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- εξ: PREP
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- περι: PREP
- παντος: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- πραγματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- ου: PART
- εαν: CONJ
- αιτησωνται: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- γενησεται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- παρα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Matt.18.20 (structural): Directly follows 18:19 and forms a unit: the promise of answered prayer is tied to corporate presence—'For where two or three are gathered...'.
- Matt.21.22 (verbal): Repeats the general promise that whatever is asked in prayer will be granted, reinforcing Matthew's theme of effective prayer.
- John 15:7 (verbal): Similar conditional promise—if believers abide in Jesus and his words abide in them, ask whatever you wish and it will be done—connecting relationship/accord with answered prayer.
- John 16:23-24 (verbal): Jesus promises that in the Father's name believers may ask and receive; emphasizes asking the Father and the efficacy of prayer in the Johannine tradition.
- James 5:16-18 (thematic): Highlights the power of communal/faithful prayer (including an example of Elijah) and the efficacy of righteous, united petition—paralleling Matthew's assurance about agreed requests.
Alternative generated candidates
- Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask, it will be granted to them by my Father in heaven.
- Again I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
Matt.18.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART
- γαρ: CONJ
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- δυο: NUM,card
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- τρεις: NUM,acc,pl,f
- συνηγμενοι: PART,perf,pass,nom,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- εμον: PRON,poss,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εκει: ADV
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- εν: PREP
- μεσω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
Parallels
- Matthew 18:19 (structural): Immediate context—18:19–20 form a pair: agreement in prayer among two or three and the accompanying promise of a heavenly response and Christ's presence.
- Matthew 28:20 (verbal): Jesus' final promise 'I am with you always' echoes 18:20's assurance of his presence among his followers.
- John 20:19-20 (verbal): The risen Jesus 'stood among them' when the disciples were gathered, a narrative example of Christ's presence with assembled believers.
- Acts 2:1-4 (thematic): At Pentecost the gathered believers experience the coming of the Spirit—an instance of divine presence occurring when the community is assembled.
- Hebrews 10:24-25 (thematic): The exhortation not to neglect meeting together underscores the significance of communal gathering that Matthew 18:20 links with Christ's presence.
Alternative generated candidates
- For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.
- For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst.
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along with you, that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
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.
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.