Matthew 18:17 - If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.
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What does "Matthew 18:17" mean?
Matthew 18:17 outlines a process for dealing with conflict within a community of believers. Let's break down the verse and understand its meaning:
"If he refuses to listen to them..." This refers back to the previous verses (15-16), which describe a process for addressing a sin or offense one believer commits against another. The process starts with a private conversation. If that fails, you bring one or two witnesses to mediate. "Them" refers to these initial attempts at private reconciliation.
"...tell it to the assembly." If the individual still refuses to acknowledge their wrong-doing or reconcile after the initial private attempts, the issue is brought to the broader community of believers, often interpreted as the church or congregation. The goal is for the larger community to encourage repentance and reconciliation. This is not necessarily a public shaming, but rather an appeal to the individual's accountability within the group.
"If he refuses to hear the assembly also..." If the person still refuses to listen, even after the community as a whole has intervened and attempted to help them see their wrong-doing, then a final step is taken.
"...let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector." This is the most debated part of the verse. To understand it, we need to consider the context in which Jesus was speaking.
Gentiles: In that time, Jews often had limited social interaction with Gentiles due to cultural and religious differences. This doesn't necessarily mean hatred or disdain, but rather a separation due to different ways of life and beliefs.
Tax Collectors: Jewish tax collectors were often seen as collaborators with the Roman authorities and were generally despised for extorting their own people. They were often considered outcasts.
Therefore, this phrase likely means:
Limited Fellowship/Social Separation: The person is no longer considered to be in full fellowship with the believing community. Believers are expected to limit social interaction with them in the same way that they would limit it with those outside of the faith (Gentiles) or known sinners (tax collectors).
Discipline, Not Condemnation: The primary goal is not to condemn or hate the person but rather to bring them to repentance. By excluding them from the full benefits of fellowship, the community hopes to make them realize the seriousness of their sin and motivate them to seek reconciliation. This is a form of tough love, with the goal of restoration.
Acknowledgement of a Broken Relationship: It acknowledges that the relationship has been severely damaged by the person's unwillingness to reconcile and indicates that the community can no longer treat the person as if they were in good standing.
No Judgment of Eternal Salvation: This verse speaks to church discipline and relational boundaries within the community. It doesn't mean the person is automatically condemned to hell. Salvation is between the individual and God.
Important Considerations:
Context is Key: This verse should not be taken out of context. It is part of a specific process for dealing with sin and conflict within a believing community. It is not a license to ostracize people for minor disagreements or personal preferences.
Focus on Restoration: The entire process outlined in Matthew 18 is ultimately aimed at reconciliation and restoration. The "Gentile or tax collector" statement is a last resort, and the community should always be open to welcoming the person back if they repent and seek reconciliation.
Love and Compassion: Even when applying this difficult teaching, believers are called to act with love, compassion, and humility. The goal is not to punish or condemn but to help the person see the error of their ways and return to a right relationship with God and the community.
Discernment and Wisdom: Applying this verse requires careful discernment and wisdom, guided by the Holy Spirit and in consultation with other mature believers. It should not be undertaken lightly or without prayerful consideration.
In summary, Matthew 18:17 describes a process for dealing with unrepentant sin within a community of believers. If all attempts at private and communal reconciliation fail, the individual is to be treated as someone outside the fellowship, not as an act of hatred but as a disciplinary measure aimed at bringing them to repentance and restoring the broken relationship. However, the focus is always on reconciliation and showing love and compassion, with the ultimate goal of welcoming the person back into the community.
Matthew 18:17 - If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.
What does "Matthew 18:17" mean?
Matthew 18:17 outlines a process for dealing with conflict within a community of believers. Let's break down the verse and understand its meaning:
"If he refuses to listen to them..." This refers back to the previous verses (15-16), which describe a process for addressing a sin or offense one believer commits against another. The process starts with a private conversation. If that fails, you bring one or two witnesses to mediate. "Them" refers to these initial attempts at private reconciliation.
"...tell it to the assembly." If the individual still refuses to acknowledge their wrong-doing or reconcile after the initial private attempts, the issue is brought to the broader community of believers, often interpreted as the church or congregation. The goal is for the larger community to encourage repentance and reconciliation. This is not necessarily a public shaming, but rather an appeal to the individual's accountability within the group.
"If he refuses to hear the assembly also..." If the person still refuses to listen, even after the community as a whole has intervened and attempted to help them see their wrong-doing, then a final step is taken.
"...let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector." This is the most debated part of the verse. To understand it, we need to consider the context in which Jesus was speaking.
Gentiles: In that time, Jews often had limited social interaction with Gentiles due to cultural and religious differences. This doesn't necessarily mean hatred or disdain, but rather a separation due to different ways of life and beliefs.
Tax Collectors: Jewish tax collectors were often seen as collaborators with the Roman authorities and were generally despised for extorting their own people. They were often considered outcasts.
Therefore, this phrase likely means:
Limited Fellowship/Social Separation: The person is no longer considered to be in full fellowship with the believing community. Believers are expected to limit social interaction with them in the same way that they would limit it with those outside of the faith (Gentiles) or known sinners (tax collectors).
Discipline, Not Condemnation: The primary goal is not to condemn or hate the person but rather to bring them to repentance. By excluding them from the full benefits of fellowship, the community hopes to make them realize the seriousness of their sin and motivate them to seek reconciliation. This is a form of tough love, with the goal of restoration.
Acknowledgement of a Broken Relationship: It acknowledges that the relationship has been severely damaged by the person's unwillingness to reconcile and indicates that the community can no longer treat the person as if they were in good standing.
No Judgment of Eternal Salvation: This verse speaks to church discipline and relational boundaries within the community. It doesn't mean the person is automatically condemned to hell. Salvation is between the individual and God.
Important Considerations:
Context is Key: This verse should not be taken out of context. It is part of a specific process for dealing with sin and conflict within a believing community. It is not a license to ostracize people for minor disagreements or personal preferences.
Focus on Restoration: The entire process outlined in Matthew 18 is ultimately aimed at reconciliation and restoration. The "Gentile or tax collector" statement is a last resort, and the community should always be open to welcoming the person back if they repent and seek reconciliation.
Love and Compassion: Even when applying this difficult teaching, believers are called to act with love, compassion, and humility. The goal is not to punish or condemn but to help the person see the error of their ways and return to a right relationship with God and the community.
Discernment and Wisdom: Applying this verse requires careful discernment and wisdom, guided by the Holy Spirit and in consultation with other mature believers. It should not be undertaken lightly or without prayerful consideration.
In summary, Matthew 18:17 describes a process for dealing with unrepentant sin within a community of believers. If all attempts at private and communal reconciliation fail, the individual is to be treated as someone outside the fellowship, not as an act of hatred but as a disciplinary measure aimed at bringing them to repentance and restoring the broken relationship. However, the focus is always on reconciliation and showing love and compassion, with the ultimate goal of welcoming the person back into the community.