How does this verse connect with Matthew 18:15-17 on addressing sin? Framing the Two Passages Together • Matthew 18:15-17 lays out Jesus’ clear, step-by-step pattern for dealing with sin inside the church family. • 1 Corinthians 5:5 shows Paul putting the final step of that pattern into action with a believer who refused to repent. • The same heartbeat runs through both texts: protect Christ’s name, safeguard the flock, and win the straying believer back. Matthew 18:15-17—Jesus’ Four-Step Path 1. “If your brother sins against you, go and point out his fault, just between the two of you.” 2. “If he will not listen, take one or two others along.” 3. “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.” 4. “If he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Goal at every point: repentance and restoration (compare Galatians 6:1). 1 Corinthians 5:5—Paul Enacts the Final Step • “Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.” • Paul reaches step 4 immediately because the sin (ongoing sexual immorality, vv. 1-2) is public and brazen, already contaminating the whole church (v. 6). • “Hand over” = remove from fellowship; it exposes him to the world’s domain (“Satan”), yet still aims at his ultimate salvation. Parallel Purposes in Both Passages • Protect the purity of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 5:6-7; Ephesians 5:27). • Call the sinner to repentance (James 5:19-20). • Demonstrate loving obedience to Christ’s authority (John 14:15). Why Exclusion Can Be Loving • Sin’s “destruction of the flesh” breaks self-reliance, driving the person back to Christ. • The temporary loss of community underscores the seriousness of sin (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). • Restoration is always envisioned—see 2 Corinthians 2:6-8, where Paul urges forgiveness and comfort for this same man after he repents. Church Discipline: A Continuum, Not a One-Time Event Step 1: Private conversation (Matthew 18:15). Step 2: Small-group confirmation (Matthew 18:16). Step 3: Congregational appeal (Matthew 18:17a). Step 4: Removal from fellowship (Matthew 18:17b; 1 Corinthians 5:5). Step 5: Restoration upon repentance (2 Corinthians 2:7-8). Key Takeaways for Today • Both passages demand courageous, compassionate action—never gossip, never harshness. • The church must balance purity and mercy, mirroring God’s own character (Psalm 85:10). • Final removal is not the first move; it’s the last resort when every earlier plea is rejected. • When genuine repentance appears, welcome and restoration must be just as public and deliberate as the discipline (Luke 15:20-24). Living the Pattern • Approach sin first in quiet humility (Galatians 6:1). • Involve others only when needed, following Jesus’ sequence. • If the church must exclude, do so with tears, prayer, and a door held wide for return. • Celebrate repentance as loudly as you mourned the sin, reflecting heaven’s joy over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). |
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