Two or Three Gathered Together
Notes
Transcript
Intro; This morning in our “Out of Context” series, we come to the most recklessly used scripture in all the Bible. This is the #1 out of context scripture used by christians and pastors more than any other.
Text; Mt. 18:20
20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Prayer
I don’t believe our motive of using this scripture out of context intentionally is to hurt or deceive others, but we do it in ignorance. Let me explain;
When we come to church and the crowd is small [especially on Wednesday and Sunday night] we make ourselves feel better by quoting this verse. It’s kind of like others will miss out on the blessing we will receive by being here!
In reality this is the most absurd statement a christian can make! Think about that for a minute.
If it takes two or three to be gathered together before Jesus will be there with us, then the following scriptures must be a lie.
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
It’s amazing that any prayers get answered at all if it takes two or three to be gathered together in Jesus’ name before he will be with us or respond to our supplications and intercessions!
It’s a wonder that people get saved at all, because there are many who are by themselves when they call on the name of Jesus in faith! According to this scripture out of context means two have to be together before one can be saved!
I know that there is great joy when two or three gather in the name of Jesus. Matter of fact, it should be our desire to gather in the name of Jesus.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:
2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
So what is the true context of this scripture and what does it mean?
This scripture is nestled between Jesus talking about how to deal with a sinning brother and instructions on forgiveness. It specifically deals with how to properly engage in church discipline to restore a brother in Christ.
1. The Issue; 15
1. The Issue; 15
Sin has taken place between two believers and that issue must be settled so sin can be forgiven and fellowship restored between God and men and men with man.
First check ourselves to make sure we are not the cause of the issue!
3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Second, go to the one who has sinned privately, in humility, explaining the fault with the intent of restoration
20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
If we will follow the Lord’s blueprint for restoration and forgiveness, we may very well re-gain a friendship before things have to be carried to the next stage.
2. Two or More Witnesses; 16
2. Two or More Witnesses; 16
If the first attempt in reconciliation fails, Jesus says to carry with you two or more witnesses that the sin committed is established by fact and that the brother cannot deny it.
Witness- a person who sees an event take place; one who has information and knowledge of a situation.
A witness is not someone who has heard from a friend that told their sisters uncle about something someone did. That’s gossip!
Jesus refers to Old Testament precedent of witnesses of fact;
15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.
In Jesus’ trials there were many false witnesses that came forward to testify against Him, but even their false testimony didn’t agree. Jesus wants us to make sure that if we are to engage in church discipline for one’s sin, we better be sure of what we are talking about!
3. Bring it Before the Church; 17
3. Bring it Before the Church; 17
When Jesus says to tell the church, I believe He means to go to the pastor/elder and inform him first, why? Because the pastor is to shepherd the flock of God as an “overseer”, keeping order so things don’t get out of hand and people don’t get hurt or ruined.
Matter’s of Christians should be handled in the confines of Christianity and not the world.
Hopefully, christians would respect the God given authority of the pastor in measures of discipline and reconciliation.
17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
If these three steps have failed, then the pastor is to bring the unrepentant sinner before the church and reveal their sin to the congregation, praying for repentance and restoration.
“Treat as a Gentile and tax gatherer”. Treat this person as you would a lost person trying to bring him to repentance in Christ. Why? Because like a lost person, your brother does not see the error of his ways!
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
4. Authority of Scripture; 18
4. Authority of Scripture; 18
To Bind and Loose are actions taken by the [Apostles, pastors, church] on earth through heavenly direction.
Bind- to prohibit, not allow, not permit; according to the Word of God.
Loose- release, to permit, to allow; forgive; according to the Word of God
Whatever discipline is imposed by the church must be in line with the Word of God, as is the same in forgiveness!
Biblical example of church discipline and forgiveness;
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!
2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.
10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.
6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,
7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
5. Bathed in Prayer; 19-20
5. Bathed in Prayer; 19-20
These two verses intent are anchored in prayer. When a congregation acts in accordance with Scripture to promote God’s glory and the good of an erring brother, heaven backs up the church.
If two or three under the umbrella of the church gather, “agree”, and pray about a matter—based on the application of God’s Word—the Son of God will show up and validate it. This “agreement” is specifically about disciplining church members for offenses done toward other members in the church. Anything God has authorized to be bound or loosed in heaven will be bound and loosed when the church makes an earthly request for heavenly intervention.
Evans, T. (2019). The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (p. 898). Holman Bible Publishers.
Close;
First of all, God is with us and in us, every individual believer in the Person of the Holy Spirit! I am in God’s presence without you.
Secondly, it is a command of God that we gather together in His name, but it is also a celebration when we do!
Thirdly, no one likes to administer discipline to another, especially in the church. But without Godly discipline there will be chaos and confusion and everyone will do what is right in their own eyes. And we know what that got the children of Israel.
Fourth, we are to seek reconciliation as often as we can instead of seeking to condemn a brother. In doing so we bring glory to God and peace among one another.
The ends in view in discipline are: that the church be not dishonored, the good not corrupted, and offenders brought to repentance.
John Calvin (French Reformer)
