How does Matthew 18:18 guide us in resolving conflicts within the church? Setting the scene in Matthew 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18) • This promise sits in the middle of Jesus’ step-by-step teaching on handling sin between believers (vv. 15-17). • It follows His call to confront privately, then with witnesses, then before the church, and finally to treat the unrepentant one as “a Gentile and a tax collector.” • Verse 18 gives divine weight and heavenly endorsement to the church’s faithful application of those steps. Understanding “bind” and “loose” • “Bind” means to prohibit, restrict, or declare guilt. • “Loose” means to permit, release, or declare freedom. • The verbs are perfect passives in Greek: “will have been bound/loosed in heaven,” underscoring that the church’s rightful decision echoes what God has already ordained. • Jesus grants His assembled followers real authority, echoed in Matthew 16:19 and John 20:23. Practical steps for church conflict resolution 1. Private conversation (Matthew 18:15) • Go in humility (Galatians 6:1). • Aim to “win your brother,” not to score points. 2. One or two witnesses (Matthew 18:16) • Escalate only if the offender refuses to listen. • Witnesses ensure facts are confirmed (Deuteronomy 19:15). 3. Tell it to the church (Matthew 18:17) • Bring the matter before the gathered body or its leaders. • The goal is repentance and restoration, not humiliation. 4. Treat as an outsider (Matthew 18:17) • If unrepentance persists, place the person outside full fellowship (1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 13). • Continue to “warn him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). 5. Bind or loose with confidence (Matthew 18:18) • When the church acts in line with Scripture, heaven backs the verdict. • Decisions must be rooted in God’s Word, not personal vendettas. Accountability and authority • Jesus’ presence: “For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) • Leaders must weigh cases prayerfully, seeking unity with God’s revealed will. • The promise of verse 18 encourages decisive, loving action rather than passive avoidance. A gospel-centered outcome • Discipline aims at repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation, mirroring Christ’s redemption (2 Corinthians 2:6-8). • When the church obeys Matthew 18:18, conflicts become opportunities to display God’s holiness and grace. • The congregation grows in purity, the offender gains a pathway back, and the watching world sees the gospel lived out. |
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