Matthew 18:17 kjv
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Matthew 18:17 nkjv
And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
Matthew 18:17 niv
If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Matthew 18:17 esv
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Matthew 18:17 nlt
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.
Matthew 18 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 19:17 | You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall surely rebuke… | Principle of loving rebuke |
| Prov 28:13 | Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses… | Need for repentance |
| Gal 6:1 | Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual… | Spirit of restoration |
| 1 Cor 5:2 | You are to remove from among you the one who has done this thing. | Removing unrepentant sin from community |
| 1 Cor 5:5 | deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that… | Purpose of discipline: restoration |
| 1 Cor 5:6 | Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? | Impact of unaddressed sin on the community |
| 1 Cor 5:11 | not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty… | Withdrawing fellowship from unrepentant |
| 1 Cor 5:13 | "Purge the evil person from among you." | Commanded removal for purity |
| 2 Thess 3:6 | ...we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away… | Withdrawing from disorderly brothers |
| 2 Thess 3:14 | If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person… | Noting and disassociating with disobedience |
| Tit 3:10 | As for a divisive person, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing… | Rejecting a divisive person |
| Rom 16:17 | Watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to… | Identifying and avoiding troublemakers |
| 2 Jn 1:10-11 | If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive… | Rejecting false teachers |
| Matt 9:10-13 | And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors… | Jesus' interaction with outsiders |
| Luke 15:1-2 | Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the… | Jesus welcoming outsiders for repentance |
| Luke 19:1-10 | Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for I must stay at your house today.… | Example of a tax collector's conversion |
| Matt 18:15 | If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you… | Prior step: private rebuke |
| Matt 18:16 | But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that… | Prior step: mediation by witnesses |
| Matt 18:18 | Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven… | Church's authority in discipline |
| Matt 18:20 | For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. | Christ's presence in church decisions |
| Heb 13:17 | Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your… | Submission to church authority |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves… | Humility and submission within the church |
| Ps 119:21 | You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. | God's rebuke for disobedient |
Matthew 18 verses
Matthew 18 17 Meaning
Matthew 18:17 describes the final step in a process of church discipline for a brother who persistently refuses to repent of a sin. If private admonition and mediation by witnesses fail, the matter is brought before the gathered church. Should the erring member still reject the collective admonition of the church, the community is instructed to treat them as an outsider, akin to a Gentile or a tax collector. This means removing them from the privileges of church fellowship, recognizing their self-exclusion from the community's standards and life, but not necessarily abandoning hope for their eventual repentance and restoration.
Matthew 18 17 Context
Matthew chapter 18, often referred to as the "Discourse on Community Life" or "Kingdom Life," outlines principles for living together as Christ's disciples within His kingdom. It begins with the disciples asking about greatness (vv. 1-5), emphasizing humility, childlike faith, and not causing others to stumble (vv. 6-9). This transitions to the Parable of the Lost Sheep (vv. 10-14), highlighting God's care for even "the least" and His desire for restoration. Matthew 18:15-20, which includes verse 17, provides a clear, three-step process for confronting sin within the community: first, privately (v. 15); second, with one or two witnesses (v. 16); and third, before the gathered church (v. 17). This process is backed by the divine authority granted to the church (vv. 18-20). The subsequent Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (vv. 21-35) underscores the importance of unlimited forgiveness for those who truly repent, clarifying that discipline is for the unrepentant. Thus, verse 17 is the culminating step in a carefully structured, loving, and redemptive process designed to protect the church's purity and, ideally, lead the erring brother to repentance. Historically, the practice of exclusion for maintaining communal purity had roots in Jewish synagogue discipline (e.g., cherem or nidduy), although the Christian context here places it under new covenant principles and for new covenant community.
Matthew 18 17 Word analysis
- And if he refuses to listen:
- If he refuses: Denotes a persistent and stubborn unwillingness. It implies an intentional rejection, not merely a misunderstanding. This is not about initial resistance but sustained defiance to loving attempts at restoration.
- to listen: (Greek: akouō) This word signifies not just to hear physically but to understand, pay attention, obey, or heed. The refusal is thus an active and continuous disregard for the truth or correction being presented.
- even to the church:
- even: Emphasizes that this is the final, most weighty stage, indicating that all previous, more private efforts have failed, and now the corporate body has spoken.
- to the church: (Greek: ekklēsia) Refers to the local assembly of believers. In this context, it is the community of those who follow Christ, gathered in His name (Matt 18:20), to whom collective authority in discipline has been entrusted. This collective voice is seen as representative of Christ's authority on earth.
- let him be to you:
- let him be: This is a directive, not merely a suggestion, signifying the necessary posture and action of the community.
- to you: This command is directed to the individual members of the church. The decision of the church to discipline an unrepentant member carries consequences for how the individual church members should then relate to that person. It implies a change in fellowship, not necessarily a personal vendetta or social shunning in all aspects of life.
- as a Gentile:
- (Greek: ethnikos) In the Jewish context, Gentiles were non-Jews, often viewed as outside the covenant, religiously unclean, and estranged from God. To be treated "as a Gentile" meant to be treated as an outsider to the community of faith, not privy to the intimate fellowship and privileges enjoyed by covenant members. It implies separation from Christian fellowship, participation in the sacraments, and communal activities unique to the church.
- and a tax collector:
- (Greek: telōnēs) Jewish tax collectors worked for the Roman occupiers, often known for corruption and extortion. They were considered collaborators and ritually unclean, associating with "sinners" (Luke 15:1-2). Being treated "as a tax collector" would mean being ostracized by the Jewish community as traitors and spiritual pariahs. Together with "Gentile," this phrase denotes being placed outside the circle of intimate communal fellowship.
- Words-group significance (as a Gentile and a tax collector): While these terms denote social and religious outcasts in the Jewish society of Jesus' day, it is crucial to remember Jesus' own ministry to such people (Matt 9:10-13; Luke 19:1-10). The instruction to treat them as such is not an injunction to despise or completely ignore them, but to recognize their self-exclusion from the covenant community. It means treating them as people outside the specific bounds of fellowship, whom one would still seek to reach with the gospel, but from whom one must withdraw ecclesiastical fellowship for the purity and order of the church, and for the hope of their repentance (cf. 1 Cor 5:5). It represents removal from the body's intimate fellowship, not abandonment of the soul.
Matthew 18 17 Bonus section
The context of Matthew 18, particularly verse 18 ("Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven"), affirms that the church's disciplinary decisions, when carried out in accordance with God's word and Christ's principles, have heavenly validity. The "binding and loosing" refers to declaring what is forbidden or permitted according to God's will. Thus, the decision to exclude an unrepentant member is not merely a human administrative act but an act recognized in heaven, reinforcing the gravity and spiritual weight of church discipline. The implication for church leadership is immense: they are called to steward this authority with great prayer, wisdom, humility, and love, always seeking repentance and restoration, never seeking to simply "punish" or abandon a brother.
Matthew 18 17 Commentary
Matthew 18:17 is the decisive final stage in a redemptive process for a brother caught in sin. It underscores the church's divine mandate and authority to maintain purity and order within its ranks. This discipline is never meant to be punitive for punishment's sake but rather corrective and ultimately redemptive, both for the individual sinner (to provoke repentance and salvation) and for the integrity of the community (to safeguard against corruption). The severity of the measure – treating the individual as an "outsider" – reflects the seriousness of unrepentant sin within the fellowship. It signifies a withdrawal of specific communal fellowship and privilege (e.g., the Lord's Supper, shared ministries) while still allowing for the continued sharing of the gospel. It serves as a stark warning and a powerful invitation to humility and repentance, acting as a spiritual intervention, recognizing that stubborn pride hardens the heart against both brotherly love and God's word through His people.