¹² The Israelites sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What a terrible thing has been done among you!

¹⁴ In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find that the report is true and such a detestable act has been committed among you,

¹⁸ Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Correcting Another Believer

¹⁵ “If another believer^[a] sins against you,^[b] go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. ¹⁶ But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

¹⁸ “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid^[c] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit^[d] on earth will be permitted in heaven.

¹³ First, however, they sent a delegation led by Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to talk with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. ¹⁴ In this delegation were ten leaders of Israel, one from each of the ten tribes, and each the head of his family within the clans of Israel.

¹⁵ When they arrived in the land of Gilead, they said to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, ¹⁶ “The whole community of the Lord demands to know why you are betraying the God of Israel. How could you turn away from the Lord and build an altar for yourselves in rebellion against him?

¹⁰ “As you approach a town to attack it, you must first offer its people terms for peace.