Restoring a Brother

15 “If your brother sins against you,[a] go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.(A) 16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony[b] of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.[c](B) 17 If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church.[d](C) If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you.(D) 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound[e] in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed[f] in heaven.(E) 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you[g] pray for, it will be done for you[h] by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

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Footnotes

  1. 18:15 Other mss omit against you
  2. 18:16 Lit mouth
  3. 18:16 Dt 19:15
  4. 18:17 Or congregation
  5. 18:18 Or earth will be bound
  6. 18:18 Or earth will be loosed
  7. 18:19 Lit they
  8. 18:19 Lit for them

Sinning brother or sister

15 “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and correct them when you are alone together. If they listen to you, then you’ve won over your brother or sister. 16 But if they won’t listen, take with you one or two others so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses.[a] 17 But if they still won’t pay attention, report it to the church. If they won’t pay attention even to the church, treat them as you would a Gentile and tax collector. 18 I assure you that whatever you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. And whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven. 19 Again I assure you that if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, then my Father who is in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.”

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