Does Matthew 18:15 apply to all sins or specific ones? Text Of Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” Immediate Context (Matthew 18:1-35) The verse stands within a discourse addressed to disciples (18:1), framed by teaching on child-like humility (vv. 1-14) and forgiveness (vv. 21-35). Verses 15-17 supply a three-step pattern for restoring a sinning brother, climaxing in church involvement. The aim is always recovery, never humiliation (v. 14; v. 17b). Parallel Passages Confirming Scope • Luke 17:3-4—Christ commands private rebuke “if your brother sins,” omitting “against you,” yet includes the same forgiveness motif. • Galatians 6:1—“If someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him.” No personal offense is in view; the focus is any detectable sin. • 1 Corinthians 5—Paul instructs corporate action toward blatant immorality harming the body, not a private grievance. Together these passages show a trans-personal principle: visible sin in a believer’s life warrants loving confrontation for the sake of the individual and the community’s purity. Purpose Statements Within The Passage 1. “You have won your brother over” (v. 15)—goal is reconciliation, whether relational or spiritual. 2. “Treat him as a pagan or tax collector” (v. 17)—a communal remedy when repentance is refused, indicating public impact beyond an interpersonal quarrel. Historical Interpretation • Didache 15 (c. A.D. 80-120) echoes Matthew 18’s pattern for resolving “any wrongdoing” within the assembly. • Augustine (Letter 211) applies the text to “all manner of sins by which a brother may endanger his soul.” • Reformation confessions (e.g., Westminster Confession 30.4) cite Matthew 18 for church discipline regarding “offence public or private.” Systematic Implications 1. Love motivates confrontation (Proverbs 27:6; Ephesians 4:15). 2. Holiness of the church requires addressing any manifest sin (Hebrews 12:14-15). 3. Forgiveness must parallel confrontation (Matthew 18:21-22); unresolved bitterness itself becomes sin (Ephesians 4:26-27). Practical Guidelines 1. Examine personal motives (Matthew 7:5). 2. Approach privately first, whether the sin is personal or otherwise. 3. Escalate only with humility and evidence (Deuteronomy 19:15; 1 Timothy 5:19). 4. Keep restoration the objective at every stage (2 Corinthians 2:7-8). Conclusion The textual variant does not restrict the passage. Internal context, lexical breadth, parallel Scriptures, and historic usage show that Matthew 18:15 provides Jesus’ universal template for addressing any observable sin among believers—particularly, though not exclusively, sins that fracture personal relationship. |
    |