Add parallel Print Page Options

Dealing with a Brother who Sins(A)

15 “If your brother sins against you,[a] go and confront him while the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. 16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two others with you so that ‘every word may be confirmed by the testimony[b] of two or three witnesses.’[c] 17 If, however, he ignores them, tell it to the congregation.[d] If he also ignores the congregation,[e] regard him as an unbeliever[f] and a tax collector.

18 “I tell all of you[g] with certainty, whatever you prohibit on earth will have been prohibited[h] in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have been permitted[i] in heaven. 19 Furthermore, I tell all of you[j] with certainty that if two of you agree on earth about anything you request, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven, 20 because where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:15 Other mss. lack against you
  2. Matthew 18:16 Lit. mouth
  3. Matthew 18:16 Cf. Deut 19:15
  4. Matthew 18:17 Or church
  5. Matthew 18:17 Or church
  6. Matthew 18:17 Lit. gentile; i.e. an unbelieving non-Jew
  7. Matthew 18:18 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  8. Matthew 18:18 Or will be prohibited
  9. Matthew 18:18 Or will be permitted
  10. Matthew 18:19 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.

Confronting a Brother Who Sins Against You

15 “Now if your brother sins against you, go correct him between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take with you in addition one or two others, so that by the testimony[a] of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 17 And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it[b] to the church. But if he refuses to listen to the church also, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be released in heaven. 19 Again, truly I say to you that if two of you agree on earth about any matter that they ask, it will be done for them from my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:16 Literally “the mouth”
  2. Matthew 18:17 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation