DEALING WITH SIN

Passage: Matthew 18:15-20

Key verse: 15

NIV

Dealing With Sin in the Church

15 “If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point out their fault,(A) just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[c](B) 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church;(C) and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.(D)

18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.(E)

19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them(F) by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”(G)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 18:15 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verses 21 and 35.
  2. Matthew 18:15 Some manuscripts sins against you
  3. Matthew 18:16 Deut. 19:15
  4. Matthew 18:18 Or will have been
  5. Matthew 18:18 Or will have been
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

If Your Brother Sins Against You

15 (A)“If your brother sins against you, (B)go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have (C)gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established (D)by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, (E)tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, (F)let him be to you as (G)a Gentile and (H)a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, (I)whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[a] in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you (J)agree on earth about anything they ask, (K)it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are (L)gathered in my name, (M)there am I among them.”

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 18:18 Or shall have been bound… shall have been loosed
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Sin thrives when it is kept secret, ignored, or tolerated. Shame often keeps sin a secret from others and fear of confrontation may keep it ignored or tolerated. But when sin thrives, it destroys people’s lives from the inside out and spreads to others like a virus.

Jesus says to confront sin. He gives a proper way to do this. One should not talk to others and spread rumors and gossip, but talk to the person who sinned, just between the two of you. The goal is repentance and restoration, not shame or to point out wrongs as the Pharisees did. It must come from love and care, not from a place of power over someone.

Others can help, and if necessary, the whole church can offer support for the one person. To know that all care for even one person’s life is a powerful act of love when done right. Repentance can really only come through the personal acceptance of God’s love and mercy. Sometimes we must let go of our own desire to change someone and pray for God to work. The prayers of the church are powerful.

Prayer: Lord, you are the healer of those wounded by sin and shame. May we be agents of your love and mercy to others as you have shown love and mercy to us. Give us courage to confront sin and to pray for those who are in sin and shame.

One Word: Confront sin with love.