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Matthew 18:15-20: Gaining Back a Brother

 “If he has listens to you, you have gained a brother.” Jesus in Matthew 18:15

“It is no exaggeration to say that this [Matthew chapter 18] is the single greatest discourse our Lord ever gave on life among the redeemed people in His church. Sadly, because it has been largely misinterpreted, its profound riches often have been lost.”  John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Matthew 16-23)  

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.  You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:17-18)

Our Lord is passionate about his followers; his church was “obtained by his own blood,” (Acts 20:28).  He expects us to not despise any within his church (v. 10). But life is messy.  Even in his church, we hurt others and sin against one another.   Our Lord, fully aware of this, gives us steps for correction if your brother sins against you (v. 15).    

It must be emphasized that the goal is forgiveness and restoration. Our Lord pursues and brings back the lost sheep; he doesn’t shoot his wounded or let the enemy steal them away.   However, there is great danger when confronting a brother.  Part of it appeals to our fleshly desires for pride, gossip and even retribution.   That is why Paul in his letter to the Galatians gave these instructions: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.  Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted,” (Galatians 6:1-2).

Our first step is to go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.  If he listens to you, you have gained a brother (v. 15).   I have been confronted several times because, honestly, I tend to talk before I think.  And I have the utmost respect for those several men who have come to talk to me in private about this.    They have earned my trust and, I hope, my repentance.  I would be disappointed to learn that I had sinned yet no one talked to me about it. 

Jesus continued, “But 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.   If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church,” (vv. 16-17a).   Notice the three-step progression before any hint of discipline or punishment is required.  Every attempt is made at reconciliation, not expulsion. But some hearts remain hard, even after being confronted as instructed in God’s Word.

Therefore if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector (v. 17b).   A sinning brother is like “a little leaven (which) leavens the whole lump,” (Galatians 5:9). And a brother who unrepentantly abuses his freedom in Christ, will cause others to stumble and should be treated as an outsider by the church. 

Church discipline is a difficult but necessary task.   But our Lord has equipped us to do the job.  The same promise he gave to Peter in 16:19, he then gave to his church: “Truly 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,” (v. 18).   As the body of believers acts in a “spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1), they will also act with the full authority of the heavenly Godhead behind them. 

Likewise, Jesus added, “Again 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.  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them,” (vv. 19-20).    Unfortunately these two verses are frequently misused (albeit innocently) by some Christians who apply these verses as some sort of magic formula that manipulates God into giving you whatever you want.  But if accurately examined, these verses continue the themes of two promises: 1) the authority to act and 2) God is always with us.  This second promise runs throughout Matthew’s gospel from 1:23 (“God is with us”) to 28:20 (“I am with you always to the end of the age.”)

Wolves in sheep’s clothing will infiltrate the church (see Acts 20:28-30). Today where Christianity is growing rapidly, like the global south, Africa, and China, this problem is especially acute.    Most pastors have little theological training and their flocks are easily preyed upon by “ravenous wolves” disguised “in sheep’s clothing” (7:15).    And the Christian west, even though rich in resources and training, unfortunately is not immune to these ravenous wolves.  Within our churches we must continually examine ourselves, our teaching and our flocks.  For Jesus is protective of his little ones.

Matthew 18:10-14: The God Who Pursues

“See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones.”  Jesus in Matthew 18:10

This is a mosaic in the Mausoleum of Galla Placida in Ravenna, Italy.  This mosaic dates back to 425 AD.  Notice the refined Christology in this mosaic.  This is not an ordinary shepherd; this shepherd is ordained in royal robes with a luminating halo.  No doubt that this shepherd is depicted as the Good Shepherd. 

"In 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed; perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. I did not see then what is now the most shining and obvious thing: the divine humility which will accept a convert on even such terms." (C.S. Lewis from his autobiography, Surprised by Joy. 

“I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind and in the mist of tears… All which thy child's mistake fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home.  Rise, clasp My hand, and come." (Francis Thompson, “Hound of Heaven,” first and last lines)

These verses continue Jesus’ passionate teaching, which is spread out across  all of chapter 18.  The grand theme of this chapter can be found here in the first part of verse 10.   Jesus instructs, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones,” (v. 10).  The phrase these little ones is a reference to any and all throughout the ages who follow him.  

“For I tell you” calls attention to what is to follow and may be synonymous with “here is why” or “let me explain.”   “That In heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”  Most scholars point out that this does not teach that each person has one appointed guardian angel.   However, other verses teach that angels minster and serve “those who are to inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14; see also Psalm 91:11).   The angels who serve his followers also gaze upon the very face of the Father.   May we not make them stumble or allow them to wander.  This is the first reason of two mentioned in this passage why we should not despise any of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

In the ESV translation, the verse count skips verse 11.  The oldest and most reliable manuscripts of Matthew’s gospel do not contain this verse. It may not be authentic but the message is still true and beautiful:  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  Since it is nearly identical to Luke 19:10, we can be confident in the truth of verse 11. 

Jesus continues on the theme of why it is vital that we do not despise one of these little ones (v. 10).   Here is the second reason: “What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?  And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety nine that never went astray,” (vv. 12-13).

This parable illustrates why Jesus has captured my heart.  Our God is a pursuing God. In other religions God Is distant and indifferent.  In those faiths man strives to become like God. In Christianity God intently and humbly becomes a man. He paid the sin penalty in His body that we all owe and that is demanded by divine justice.   “No greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends,” (John 15:13).

In Luke 15:1-7 the same parable is used but for a different purpose.    In Luke’s gospel, the lost sheep are those outside of the family of Christ, those who are truly lost.  While here in Matthew 18, the lost sheep are those among his little ones who have wandered.   Together these two uses of the same parable paint a beautiful picture of the heart of God; our Lord pursues all men of all nations at all times with the same vigor and passion. “It is the will of our Father who is in heaven that none of these little ones perish,” (v. 14).  This glorious truth is both a call to worship and a call to missions!

A modern parable goes like this:  A man falls into a pit and cannot get out.   Someone wanders up to the edge of the pit, peers down at the man and says, “This must be God’s will.  If you pray real hard and do good works, maybe you can get out.” He turns and walks away.  Another man approaches, looks down on the helpless man and declares, “You must have done something really bad; now you must die and work it off in your next life.”  He also turns and leaves.

Another man, different from the others, approaches the pit.  “Do you want to get out?” he calls down.   “Of course,” is the weak reply.   The man lowers a ladder, climbs into the pit and rescues the dying man.  The strong man rejoices over the one he has saved!  While others walk away, the Good Shepherd “lays down his life for the sheep,” (John 10:11).