How can Matthew 18:17 guide us in maintaining church purity today? Setting the Scene Matthew 18:17: “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Principle of Progressive Accountability • Verse 17 is the climax of a three-step process (vv. 15-17). • Each step widens the circle of witnesses, underscoring patience and fairness. • The goal is always restoration, never humiliation (cf. Galatians 6:1). Tell It to the Church—Corporate Responsibility • “Tell it to the church” mandates congregational involvement, not private grievance-harboring. • The entire body becomes a loving witness, affirming truth and offering support. • 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 shows Paul applying this principle by gathering “in the name of our Lord Jesus.” Regard Him as a Pagan or Tax Collector—What Does That Mean? • It signals a formal recognition that the person is living outside covenant fellowship. • The church withdraws normal privileges of membership (2 Thessalonians 3:6). • Yet believers still extend evangelistic love, just as Jesus did toward actual tax collectors (Matthew 9:10-13). Church Discipline and Purity • Purity is preserved when sin is neither ignored nor mishandled. • Sin, left unchecked, spreads “like yeast through the dough” (1 Corinthians 5:6). • Discipline protects the Lord’s reputation (1 Peter 2:12) and safeguards vulnerable believers. Protecting the Flock • Shepherds must guard against wolves (Acts 20:28-30). • A disciplined member is removed from teaching or leadership influence, preventing doctrinal or moral contagion. • Such action models holiness for younger believers (1 Timothy 4:12). Practical Steps for Today 1. Teach the congregation Matthew 18:15-17 regularly, so everyone knows the process. 2. Keep written, biblically grounded policies for discipline. 3. Ensure ample private confrontation before any public step. 4. When public, communicate facts with grace, avoiding gossip. 5. After removal, maintain contact points for repentance (2 Corinthians 2:7-8). 6. Reaffirm forgiveness and full restoration upon genuine repentance. The Heart Behind Discipline • Love drives the process: “The Lord disciplines the one He loves” (Hebrews 12:6). • Purity without love breeds legalism; love without purity tolerates sin. • Discipline mirrors the Father’s heart—firm yet redemptive. Promises and Warnings • Promise: Obedience leads to a cleansed, powerful witness (Ephesians 5:25-27). • Warning: Neglect invites spiritual decay and divine rebuke (Revelation 2:14-16). |
    |