Matthew 18:15 kjv
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Matthew 18:15 nkjv
"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Matthew 18:15 niv
"If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
Matthew 18:15 esv
"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Matthew 18:15 nlt
"If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.
Matthew 18 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 19:17 | You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall surely rebuke your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him. | Old Testament precedent for righteous rebuke. |
| Lk 17:3 | Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. | Parallel teaching emphasizing direct rebuke and forgiveness upon repentance. |
| Gal 6:1 | Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. | Restorative approach to a brother caught in sin, emphasizing gentleness. |
| Jas 5:19-20 | My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death... | The saving purpose of turning a brother back from sin. |
| Prov 27:5-6 | Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend... | Value of honest, direct, loving correction. |
| Ps 141:5 | Let a righteous man strike me; it is a kindness; let him rebuke me; it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. | Illustrates the beneficial nature of being rebuked for correction. |
| Matt 18:12-14 | What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine... and go in search of the one that went astray? ...So it is not the will of your Father... that one of these little ones should perish. | Immediate preceding context, showing God's desire for the restoration of the lost. |
| Phil 1:15-16 | For perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. | Example of Onesimus, who was "gained back" as a brother after estrangement. |
| Col 3:13 | Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. | General command for bearing with and forgiving fellow believers. |
| Acts 3:19 | Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. | Core call to repentance, the desired outcome of the confrontation. |
| 2 Cor 7:9-10 | As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting... for godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret... | Description of godly sorrow leading to genuine repentance. |
| Ezek 3:18-19 | If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning... he shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness... | Prophet's responsibility to warn, highlighting the seriousness of sin and the need for accountability. |
| Matt 18:16-17 | But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you... If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church... | Subsequent steps in the prescribed process of church discipline. |
| 1 Cor 5:1-13 | It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you... Remove the wicked person from among you. | Illustrates a more severe level of church discipline for unrepentant public sin. |
| 2 Thess 3:14-15 | If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy but warn him as a brother. | Admonition for disobedient brothers, still treating them as family. |
| Titus 3:10-11 | As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him... | Warning about divisive individuals after initial private correction. |
| 1 Tim 5:20 | As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. | Public rebuke for unrepentant, public sin (after initial steps may have failed). |
| Rom 16:17 | I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. | Warning against those who disrupt unity and doctrine. |
| Heb 12:5-11 | ...My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord... For the Lord disciplines the one he loves... | Discipline understood as a sign of love, reflecting God's corrective nature. |
| Rom 12:10 | Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. | Command for brotherly love, underlying the motivation for reconciliation. |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. | The importance of love in addressing and forgiving sin. |
| 1 Jn 4:7 | Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God... | Foundation of love for all intra-community interactions. |
| Jude 1:22-23 | And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire... | The urgency and spiritual significance of turning back the erring. |
Matthew 18 verses
Matthew 18 15 Meaning
This verse provides the initial step for a believer when a fellow Christian commits a personal sin against them. It mandates a private, direct confrontation with the specific goal of revealing the wrongdoing to the offender in hopes of repentance and reconciliation. The ultimate aim is the restoration and "gaining" back of the brother, preserving both the individual's spiritual well-being and the unity of the community in Christ.
Matthew 18 15 Context
Matthew chapter 18, often termed "The Discourse on Humility and Forgiveness," provides essential teachings for life within the Kingdom of Heaven and the nascent church community. It begins with instructions on true greatness (humility), cautions against causing believers to stumble, and introduces the Parable of the Lost Sheep, highlighting God's passionate desire to seek and restore the "little ones." Verse 15 immediately follows this parable, thus placing the subsequent instruction on dealing with a sinning brother squarely within a context of redemption and restoration, rather than punitive justice. It establishes a structured process for conflict resolution and discipline, rooted in love and the pursuit of reconciliation. Historically, this teaching provided the early Christian community with a counter-cultural model for addressing internal grievances privately and constructively, standing apart from tendencies towards public shaming or neglect prevalent in some societal and religious frameworks of the time.
Matthew 18 15 Word analysis
- If: (ἐὰν - ean) - This conjunction introduces a conditional statement, signaling a specific situation or scenario that may arise, implying a direct action is expected.
- your brother: (ὁ ἀδελφός σου - ho adelphos sou) - Not merely a blood relative, but fundamentally refers to a fellow believer, a member of the Christian community, emphasizing the spiritual family bond in Christ. (Matt 23:8).
- sins against you: (ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σέ - hamartēsē eis se) - "Sins" (ἁμαρτήσῃ, aorist subjunctive of ἁμαρτάνω hamartanō) refers to a specific, committed act of wrongdoing or missing the mark. The critical addition "against you" (εἰς σέ eis se) narrows the focus to a personal offense that has caused a specific grievance, not necessarily a general moral failure within the church (which other passages address). While debated by textual critics, its strong manuscript support and contextual fit underline its importance.
- go: (ὕπαγε - hypage) - An imperative verb, a direct command to act. It indicates initiative is required from the offended party; one should not passively ignore the offense or resort to gossip.
- and tell him his fault: (ἔλεγξον αὐτόν - elegxon auton) - "Tell him his fault" translates elegxon auton, which is far stronger than simply relaying information. The verb elegxō (ἐλέγχω) means "to convince," "to expose," "to bring to light," "to reprove," or "to rebuke with a view to conviction and change." It implies presenting the truth of the offense clearly, gently, and persuasively to lead the offender to recognize their error and repent.
- between you and him alone: (μεταξὺ σοῦ καὶ αὐτοῦ μόνου - metaxy sou kai autou monou) - This phrase emphasizes privacy and confidentiality as the initial, crucial step. Its purpose is to prevent public shame, minimize embarrassment, and maximize the opportunity for an honest, open dialogue and reconciliation. It demonstrates charity and respect for the brother.
- If he listens to you: (ἐάν σου ἀκούσῃ - ean sou akousē) - "Listens" (ἀκούσῃ, aorist subjunctive of ἀκούω akouō) here implies more than just hearing words. It signifies a hearing that leads to a positive response—acceptance of the rebuke, recognition of the sin, and a willingness to change or repent.
- you have gained your brother: (ἐκέρδησας τὸν ἀδελφόν σου - ekerdesas ton adelphon sou) - "Gained" (ἐκέρδησας, aorist indicative of κερδαίνω kerdainō) uses a commercial or financial metaphor, suggesting recovering something precious that was lost. Spiritually, the brother was "lost" due to the sin's barrier to fellowship (with God and community), and now, through repentance and reconciliation, they are "recovered," "restored," or "rescued" to a right relationship. This underscores the redemptive purpose of the entire process, emphasizing the immense value of each believer.
Matthew 18 15 Bonus section
- Redemptive Discipline: The entire discourse in Matthew 18, starting from the value of children and the lost sheep parable, frames the concept of discipline as redemptive, designed for restoration rather than condemnation. The process described in Matthew 18:15-17 is progressive, with each step increasingly involving more people, but always with the underlying purpose of bringing the errant member back into full fellowship.
- Avoiding Gossip: This verse inherently serves as a powerful deterrent against gossip and spreading grievances. By commanding the offended party to go directly to the individual alone, Jesus circumvents the destructive cycle of hearsay and premature public accusation.
- Emphasis on Personal Responsibility: Jesus places the responsibility squarely on the offended person to initiate the reconciliation process, demonstrating Christian maturity and love, rather than waiting for the offender to realize their error, which may never happen.
- Beyond Offense: While the verse specifies "sins against you," the principles of gracious and private confrontation are widely applicable to addressing other forms of sin observed in a fellow believer, reflecting the overall emphasis on restoring a wandering soul as seen in James 5:19-20.
Matthew 18 15 Commentary
Matthew 18:15 provides the foundational, grace-filled pathway for addressing interpersonal sin within the Christian community. Jesus establishes a restorative model of church discipline, beginning with a vital first step: private confrontation. This instruction reflects God's heart, revealed in the preceding Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matt 18:12-14), which values every single "little one" and actively seeks their restoration. The direct command to "go" and "tell him his fault" underscores personal responsibility in addressing sin, rather than passively nursing grievances or resorting to gossip. The phrase "between you and him alone" is crucial; it safeguards the erring brother's dignity and creates the optimal environment for humble admission and repentance, preventing unnecessary shame and public scandal. The desired outcome, "you have gained your brother," highlights the primary aim: reconciliation and spiritual restoration, rescuing a fellow believer from the destructive path of unaddressed sin and reclaiming their fellowship. It’s not about vengeance, but redemption and the strengthening of the body of Christ.