Solving Friendship Drama Prep

Matthew 18:15-20

Preparation

Pray

Lord, give me clarity of thought. Let this teaching be meaningful and powerful. Give me your power and authority.

Just Meditate

Questions for the passage / first illumination

many fail to reach the first step - go. / 15

When you say the fault. Be clear and keep it simple. / 15

If they “listen” that is the win. Before they even take action on mending the wrongdoing, listening is the first step toward healing. / 15

You need evidence so it doesn’t become muddied with “he said, she said.” / 16

Bring in those who are spiritual. / 17

What does he mean by viewing them as a gentile or tax collector? He was merciful to gentiles and invited tax collectors to follow him. / 17

Our authority is delegated and supported.

Verse 20 is rooted in the context of resolving relational conflict.

Mood/Emotion of the Passage

Practical, clear, helpful

Word-studies

None for now

Cross References / Passages that illustrate

Matt. 18:21-35

You who are spiritual

What causes fights and quarrels verse

Commentary

Context / Overview

“The purpose of the process is not to punish, but to restore”Charles L. Quarles, “Matthew,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1532.

“Our attitude should not be that of a policeman out to arrest a criminal, but rather that of a physician seeking to heal a wound in the body of Christ, a wound that will spread sickness and death if left alone” Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 68–69.

Versus

15

“If a matter can be settled without getting others involved, that will keep rumors and misunderstandings from multiplying and will keep the conflict from spreading.” - ESV Study

“Moreover, the concern is a brother’s sins. It has nothing to do with a clash of personal preferences. The issue is a violation of God’s standards.” Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible, 2019), 1122.

“Second, you have gained him because you have not wronged your brother by going to others with gossip and half the side of a dispute.” - guzik

16

“not necessarily an eye witness to the original offense” - ESV Study

17

“It can be understood in retrospect as a reference to a gathering of Christians.” John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Mt 18:17.

“Gentile and tax collector describes those who are deliberately rebellious against God.” - ESV study

“If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.” - The Message

“In the narrative’s Jewish context, Gentiles and tax collectors would be regarded as outsiders” John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Mt 18:17.

18

(binding and loosing can mean “forbidding and permitting” Alan Hultberg, “Matthew,” in CSB Apologetics Study Bible, ed. Ted Cabal (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1198.

19

“A common but mistaken interpretation holds that these verses promise that God will do whatever two or more believers ask. This violates the context. There is a clear connection with the immediately preceding discussion about restoring a sinning disciple. Verses 18–19 relate the restoration/disciplinary actions of Jesus’s disciples on earth to the decisions of the Father in heaven. The word again at the beginning of v. 19 suggests that this verse restates the principle of v. 18. The two or three mentioned in v. 20 are thus the two or three witnesses that were first mentioned in v. 16. Christ is present with his disciples when they gather and seek his leadership about troubling behavior among disciples. He will answer their prayer for the sinning believer’s restoration.” Charles L. Quarles, “Matthew,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1533.

“In the ancient Greek, agree is literally “to symphonize.” Jesus wants us to complement each other like a great orchestra. “It is a metaphor taken from a number of musical instruments set to the same key, and playing the same tune: here, it means a perfect agreement of the hearts, desires, wishes, and voices, of two or more persons praying to God.” (Clarke)”

20

“Jesus affirms that he will be divinely present among his disciples as they seek unity in rendering decisions.” - ESV Study

Application

Relational application (love your neighbor)

“We can say that Jesus gives us two options when your brother sins against you. You can go to him directly and deal with it; or you can drop the matter under Christian longsuffering and bearing with one another. Other options — holding onto bitterness, retaliation, gossiping to others about the problem — are not allowed.” - guzik

Thinking application (mind)

Feeling application (heart, soul)

Action application (strength)

Illustration

Verbal Illustrations

The difference between a doctors aim and a police officers goal

Putting a dog leash on a wild dog / 18

Locking and unlocking a door with keys / 18

Being the only one out of tune in a symphony / 19

“The word restore in Galatians 6:1 is a Greek medical word that means “to set a broken bone.”” Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 65.

Visual Illustrations

Audience

pains/problems

passions/purposes

Questions/arguments they may have for the text

Pre outline

Main Ideas of the text

So what?

What would this look like lived out?

Title ideas

Potential Outlines

Restoration is the goal. Go alone. Go together. Involve the community. Change your perspective.