Restoring a Brother

15 “If your brother sins against you,[a] go and rebuke him in private.[b] If he listens to you, you have won your brother.(A) 16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony[c] of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.(B)[d] 17 If he pays no attention to them, tell the church.[e](C) But if he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like an unbeliever[f] and a tax collector to you.(D) 18 I assure you: Whatever you bind on earth is already bound[g] in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed[h] in heaven.(E) 19 Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you[i] pray for, it will be done for you[j] 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. Matthew 18:15 Other mss omit against you
  2. Matthew 18:15 Lit him between you and him alone
  3. Matthew 18:16 Lit mouth
  4. Matthew 18:16 Dt 19:15
  5. Matthew 18:17 Or congregation
  6. Matthew 18:17 Or like a Gentile
  7. Matthew 18:18 Or earth will be bound
  8. Matthew 18:18 Or earth will be loosed
  9. Matthew 18:19 Lit they
  10. Matthew 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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