How does Matthew 18:17 align with 1 Corinthians 5:11 on church discipline? Setting the Context • Matthew 18:15-17 lays out Jesus’ process for handling personal sin within the body. • 1 Corinthians 5 addresses public, scandalous sin that threatens the purity of the congregation. • Both passages presume regenerate, professing believers are in view and that Christ’s church must remain holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). Key Passages • Matthew 18:17 — “If he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” • 1 Corinthians 5:11 — “I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” Shared Principles • Sin must be addressed, never ignored (James 5:19-20). • The whole church bears responsibility for purity (Ephesians 5:25-27). • Final separation from unrepentant members is commanded for the protection of the flock (Acts 20:28-30). • The goal is restoration, not mere punishment (Galatians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8). Step-by-Step Comparison 1. Initial Confrontation – Matthew 18:15-16 describes private, escalating appeals. – 1 Corinthians 5 skips this stage because the sin is already public and notorious. – Alignment: both affirm confrontation but differ on where the process begins. 2. Corporate Involvement – Matthew 18:17a: “tell it to the church.” – 1 Corinthians 5:4-5: Paul commands the assembled church to act “in the name of our Lord Jesus.” – Alignment: discipline is never a solo effort; congregational authority is invoked. 3. Exclusion of the Unrepentant – Matthew 18:17b: “treat him as a pagan or a tax collector.” – 1 Corinthians 5:11: “do not associate… do not even eat.” – Alignment: visible removal from fellowship, signaling the person is outside the covenant community (see 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14). 4. Protective Purpose – Matthew implies protection by removing dangerous leaven (echoed in v. 18-20 about binding and loosing). – 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 explicitly warns, “A little leaven leavens the whole batch.” – Alignment: safeguarding holiness and preventing contagion of sin. 5. Evangelistic and Restorative Aim – Treating someone “as a pagan” positions him as an object of evangelism, hopeful for repentance (Matthew 18:17; cf. Matthew 9:13). – Paul anticipates restoration: “so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 5:5). – Alignment: separation is medicinal, not vindictive. Practical Application for Today • Follow Christ’s ordered steps; skip none, rush none. • Document each stage—private, small group, then church—unless the sin is public and egregious (1 Timothy 5:20). • When exclusion becomes necessary: – Withdraw social meals and ministry involvement. – Maintain loving, gospel-centered contact aimed at repentance. • Celebrate repentance quickly and publicly (Luke 15:7; 2 Corinthians 2:7-8). • Keep watch over your own heart, lest pride enter (Galatians 6:1-2). Balancing Grace and Truth • Grace: we confront because Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). • Truth: we confront because Christ demands holiness (Hebrews 12:14). • The cross holds both together; church discipline merely applies that same gospel logic in community life. Restoration as the Goal • Every step aims for reconciliation with God and His people. • Joy erupts when a brother or sister returns (James 5:19-20). • The church mirrors Christ’s shepherd heart, pursuing the straying sheep while guarding the flock (John 10:11, 27-28). |
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