The Lesson - 27
Earl Radmacher was masterful
Here is the questionnaire again.
As you may have noticed, I did not put a check by any of the subjects #1 through #9. I just waited to see what he would do. The answer Earl Radmacher was looking for was #8. None of these. None of the subjects can be developed from this passage because the passage refers to only one subject: Discipline in the Church.
Here it the text from Matthew 18:15-20
15“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. 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If 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. 18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Radmacher was masterful. First, he explained the point of Jesus’ words throughout the entire text. They all had to do with the subject of church discipline – how to correct a sinning brother.
He unpacked each verse to show us the context. Jesus begins with, “If your brother sins against you...”. Then he explains the proper way to correct him (to fix what is broken). You go to him in private. Who knows, he may agree with you and repent without need for further correction. You too will be satisfied.
If he remains stubborn and refuses your effort, then you take a person or two along with you as others who witnessed him in his wrongdoing. In fact, here, Jesus adds, “That every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”
Jesus is referencing Deuteronomy 19:15, where Moses wrote, “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”1
In other words, one person is insufficient to testify against another’s guilt. One is not enough to establish guilt in court. If you lack witnesses (although the person may have done the wrong) the charge may have to be left to rest. Merely one person’s accusation against another is insufficient, for the one witness may be a malicious witness – only out to get the person!
1If you can find the time, pull out your bible and read from Deuteronomy 19:15-21. It adds greatly to passage at hand. Jesus was dealing with church discipline just as Moses was dealing with it.
I marked #4, which is church discipline.