Matthew 18:18-20

Matthew 18:18-20
This text should be connected closely with verses 15-17. Jesus is giving instructions on the problem of sin between two brothers. If a brother will not rectify his sin after being confronted by the whole church, he is to be treated as a heathen and tax collector. He can no longer be considered as a brother in Christ. In verses 18-20, Jesus is confirming that this judgment made by men is established in heaven. In other words, God has put His stamp of approval on this action against an unrepentant brother. Paul gives similar instructions concerning a man in the church at Corinth who was living with his father’s wife: “When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan…” (1 Cor. 5:4-5). The statement concerning “two of you agreeing” refers to the confirmation of the sin of the unrepentant brother – “every charge is to be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses” (Mt. 18:16).Verse 20 has often been misused to teach that wherever two are three Christians are gathered, then that constitutes a church. While it is true that two or three Christians could be the beginnings of a church, such an idea has no part in this context. We have already noted that verses 15-17 show that an individual Christian has obligations separate from the local church. Two or three Christians can even work together without engaging the church. Therefore, this context clearly shows that simply having three Christians together does not constitute a church.

Instead, Jesus is teaching that in matters of judgment (referring to things other than what the Lord has legislated), especially in matters relating to withdrawing from a sinful brother, when two or three are gathered to establish the facts of the matter, Jesus is then in the midst. In other words, the Lord has placed His stamp of approval on their actions.
Berry Kercheville