Pentecost 15

Matthew 18:15–20 (NIV): 15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 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. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Jesus begins this segment with an all too common occurance which is just as prevalent today as it was when he taught how to deal with it. “If your brother or sister sins (some manuscripts include “against you”.)” We must remember that we don’t have the original manuscripts of the books of the Bible and they were preserved by hand copying them. Therefore, careful study of multiple copies of the manuscripts will demonstrate from time to time either inclusions or exclusions of certain words and some mispelling. This would be one example. For our application today we will focus on the inclusion of the more personal experience of when someone sins against us and not just someone whom we have witnessed sinning.

Has this ever happened to you?

You have been attacked either verbally or physically.

Someone has stolen items from you by force or by theft.

Someone has damaged your property.

Someone spreads lies about you or lies to you.

The range of sins against us can go from the slight offense to the most severe cases of abuse.

Here Jesus does not qualify the type or severity of the sin. In this way, we can all relate to what he is teaching.

A sin committed against us creates an emotional response (unless we dont’ really care and that is not good either). How do you feel when someone sins against you?

Indignant.

Hurt.

Angry.

Vengeful.

Offended.

Sad.

Concerned for the other person.

One of the most common responses is a sense of vengence in which we devise ways of retaliating, getting even, or even harming the one who has sinned against us. St. Paul addresses this when he commands: Romans 12:17–21 (NIV): 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. This is an explanation of the command in Leviticus 19:18 (NIV): 18 “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Jesus had taught about how to respond to sins against us in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5:38–48 (NIV): 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

It seems quite clear that if we are sinned against, we should not take the law into our own hands and seek revenge or retaliation but use this as an opportunity to overcome evil with good.

Here Jesus tells us to begin this process individually and privately. Understood is what we are prone to do instead.

Because our feelings are hurt and we have this tempation to repay evil for evil and because we want to “form a posse” of like sympathizers, we often avoid the confrontation of addressing the issue privately and begin to broadcast to anyone or everyone who will listen what a horrible thing this person has done to us. In the “Old Days” this was whispered over the back fence, announced on the party line, and deciminated by letters and impassioned speeches at family gatherings. Now it is almost immediately posted on social media for all our friends and followers to see. We want people to agree with our views and support us in our anguish.

The media is guilty of this as well. Recent violent events have been incited because the actions of certain people in authority have been publicized before those individuals were confronted privately. “Innocent until proven guilty” in the court room is not the norm when it comes to sinful actions. Not only is the person judged, but the entire group that person represents is judged in the court of public opinion.

Jesus suffered the receiving end of negative public opinion as well. It was considered a sin (although it wasn’t) for righteous teachers like him to associate with tax collectors and sinners. He was to keep his distance. And yet, it was discovered that he would go to their home and eat with them (an outward display of acceptance and toleration). He was thought to be condoning their actions. But it is one thing to interact with such people in an effort to restore them and another to support their lifestyle. But instead of speaking to Jesus about this, the rumors spread. Matthew 9:10–13 (NIV): 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus teaches us to speak privately first to clear up the situation and when necessary, to lead the sinner to repentance with the goal of winning that person over. To mend the fences as it were. Many a sinner has been brought to repentance and healed in this way.

What if they don’t listen? Well, are they really sinning or are you mistaken? Jesus says take along two or three witnesses not to gang up on the person but to verify that it is indeed a sin. Again with the goal of winning the person over.

What if it is verified that it is a sin and they refuse to repent? Take it to church. This is in reference to a fellow member of the religious group you belong to in the hope of bringing them around. It is not how to deal with those outside the fellowship of believers because the church means nothing to them. St. Paul comments on this later in regard to a man who was being expelled from the church for sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 5:9–13 (NIV): 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

St. Paul’s explanation is in regard to the type of situation Jesus was using an example. A man in the Corinthian congregation was sinning by sleeping with his step mother. But instead of confronting him, the congregation was turning a blind eye. Paul commands them to listen to Jesus with the goal of leading him to repentance. They listened and expelled him (treated him like a tax collector and sinner meaning they no longer associated with him.) As a result, the man did repent and in II Corinthians St. Paul urged them to welcome back this repentant sinner.

Jesus concludes his teaching here with the assurance that when we follow his procedures (and each step can be repeated), he is in agreement with us and we are doing this by his authority.

It is in this way that we can help and restore and be helped and restored when sins are committed against each other.

But what about that guy who keeps on sinning against us? We confronted him and he apologized and stopped for a little while but then does it again? How long do we have to put up with that? Next week we will explore St. Peter’s question regarding this and Jesus’ answer. Amen.