Sermon Tone Analysis
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Announcements:
Welcome
The text today is significant as it related to interpersonal conflict, sin, and what we do when we’re sinned against.
It addresses the question, “what do we do when problems arise amongst Christians?
How do we appropriately confront and address each other’s concerns?”
So as I said, this is a significant and also a difficult subject.
Because I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being in the midst of people’s problems.
I DON’T TYPICALLY ENJOY MY OWN PROBLEMS!
But inevitably, we find ourselves in the midst of interpersonal struggle.
What I means by that: is we find ourselves offended by someone, being the one who offended, or being in the middle…
Let’s first note, that this is almost always hard.
There are several reasons for this: (1) These are typically emotional experiences — whether we feel we’ve been wronged or someone is accusing us of being wrong… (2) when this is the case, our ego is often attacked and we can become defensive, angry, and combative… (3) if we are wrong, guilt and shame can cause us to retreat… So regardless, this is hard!
So it goes without saying, but I think this is important for us to recognize this was a reality in the early church, as I am sure interpersonal conflict and sin have always existed.
And I think we can heed Jesus’ advice to the people he is speaking to here.
So if you’re able, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word.
This is the word of the Lord.
Let’s first be reminded of the context of this passage… Jesus just made reference to the parable of the lost sheep — reminding us of the reality that believers will struggle with sin and unbelief… and that it is important to pursue them!
It’s important to pursue those who have wandered off...
And so it’s in that context, that Jesus speaks of interpersonal sin and conflict… it makes sense, because a lot of the time this “walking away”, as it were, leads to or involves interpersonal conflict and struggle — so Jesus gives direction for how to handle this!
And then interestingly, after this passage Jesus speaks of forgiveness.
All of this goes together, doesn’t it?
natthew 18:12
that sounds so kind and nice of Jesus!
In reality, this is hard!
Especially when that lost sheep was a total jerk… or when they hurt you, spoke ill of you, or offended you…!
SO THEN — verses 15-20, Jesus talks about how to approach someone who has sinned against us… and just in case we get self-righteous or bitter or unforgiving… he then goes on to say in verses 21 and 22, directly following:
Wow!
the recognition here is that: (1) Those within the community of faith will struggle with falling away from faith & community (parable of the lost sheep) (2) we should pursue those people and aim to restore them in love and honesty (vs.
15-20) (3) We always forgive as Christ has forgiven us!
If we learned to own these passages as a way of life — it would change everything!
How remarkable it would be!
But it takes a radical amount of HUMILITY & INTEGRITY!!!
It takes a radical amount of PATIENCE!
And I think what often happens is we forget how gracious God has been to us that we treat others with contempt!
>>>When we mess up, we want grace!
When others mess up, we want justice!<<<
It’s so hypocritical of us, but it’s true!
>>>When we mess up, we want grace!
When others mess up, we want justice!<<<
Like Peter, we have denied Jesus to his face… whether literally or in our sinful actions… and Jesus response with, “forgive them, for they know not what they’re doing...”
And yet, we want others to PAY, to SUFFER, for their sins.
We want BLOOD… and Jesus says, “there was BLOOD!
MY BLOOD!
My sacrifice, my life!”
With that said, let’s begin:
Between you and him (her) alone (v.
15)
Gossip
Application:
First, a disciple must admonish his or her fellow privately before taking any other steps (18:15).
Second, although disciples seek reconciliation, they must gather evidence in the proper order in case they later need proof of what transpired (18:16).
z
Third, if all else fails, the messianic community must publicly dissociate itself from a habitually sinning professed disciple (18:17).
Community Group reflection:
Communion:
Benediction:
notes:
15
18:15 go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.
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 (cf.
Prov.
25:9).
gained.
The ultimate objective is restoration of the offending brother or sister to the path of discipleship.
18:15 between you and him alone Approaching the offender in private would avoid bringing shame on that person.
It also would minimize the opportunity for misunderstanding and gossip.
Given standard ancient usage for “brother,” the sinning “brother” here is a member of one’s religious community, the church (Manson 1979: 210).19
Disciples must pursue the straying sheep (18:10–14), but certain very exceptional circumstances demand expulsion of wolves in sheep’s clothing who may not wish to leave (18:15–20; cf.
7:15–23).
In this context of forgiveness to the fullest possible extent (18:21–27), however, even in the case of expulsion the ultimate goal remains restoration (cf.
18:19–20; 1 Cor 5:5; 2 Cor 2:5–11; 1 Tim 1:20; cf.
also, e.g., Pfitzner 1982).
The unpardonable sin of this context is being a continuing stumbling block to others (18:6–7, 15),20 unwilling to accept them (18:28–33; cf.
18:1–14)—a sin that results in damnation (18:34–35).
Presumably it is an unrepentant and continuing sin against the community or members of the community.
“Go” means taking the initiative; the person in the clear is not to wait for the sinner to come to him.
The aim is not to score points over him but to win him over (GK 3045; cf.
1Co 9:19–22; 1Pe 3:1), for all discipline, even this private kind, must begin with redemptive purposes (cf.
Lk 17:3–4; 2Th 3:14–15; Jas 5:19–20).
Jesus assumes that the individual who personally confronts a brother will do so with true humility (vv.
3–4; cf.
Gal 6:1): if it is hard to accept a rebuke, even a private one, it is harder still to administer one in loving humility.
The word restore in Galatians 6:1 is a Greek medical word that means “to set a broken bone.”
Think of the patience and tenderness that requires!
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16
So he is to take with him47 a small number of others (one or two does not specify the number, but clearly a small group is meant; the matter is to be kept as quiet as possible).
If private confrontation does not work, the next step (backed by regulation regarding civil cases in Dt 19:15) is to take two or three witnesses.
Jesus perceives a link joining his messianic community with ancient Israel.
The function of the witnesses is likely to provide witnesses to the confrontation if the case were to go before the whole church.
When sin is not dealt with honestly, it always spreads.
What was once a matter between two people has now grown to involve four or five people.
No wonder Jesus and Paul both compared sin to leaven (yeast), because leaven spreads.
18:16 This procedure comes from Deut 19:15.
Taking “one or two” people with you adds up to “two or three.”
witnesses.
Not eyewitnesses of the sin, but those who can testify as to how the attempt at reconciliation goes.
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17
Gentile and tax collector describes those who are deliberately rebellious against God.
“Church” can mean the whole body of Christians, but it can also refer to a local group, and that is surely what is meant here.
Yet this is still by way of appeal, for Jesus goes on to what is to be done if he does not heed the church.
The implication is that the church will try to bring him to his senses.
Ultimately, if the sinner remains recalcitrant, the entire church community must in some sense be made aware of the offense so that the rebellious individual has nowhere to hide.
18:17 pagan … tax collector.
Jesus regularly treats them with remarkable compassion.
But he does not treat them as disciples until they repent.
The removal of fellowship depicted here does not mean having no further contact with a person; rather it means not allowing them to retain positions reserved for Christians until they repent.
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