If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Matthew 18:15-17
BSB
Read Matthew 18 in a modern translation BSB
Read the whole chapter (Matthew 18)
Just the two of you
These steps weren't new. The law of Moses already required two or three witnesses for any case. Jesus starts small: first the two of you, without an audience. Only if that doesn't work does the circle grow. The aim is to win back your brother or sister, not to prove yourself right.
The ending sounds harsh: treat that person like a tax collector or a pagan. But how did Jesus treat tax collectors? He ate with them. Perhaps it means: start again. Interpreters don't agree on that.
Question for today
Is there someone I talk about with others, when I should first be talking to them?
Prayer
Father, I'd rather avoid a difficult conversation. Give me the courage to go to the other person, honestly and gently. Amen.
My prayer
With your own thought · only on this deviceOne of the 491 words of Jesus on this site, from the temple to Revelation. See all the words in order →