01/27/2025
A very misunderstood Scripture…

Matthew 18:15 “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.”
Commentary:
“The reference to ὁ ἀδελφός σου, “your brother,” indicates that conduct within the community of disciples continues to remain in view. The content of ἁμαρτήσῃ [εἰς σέ], “should sin [against you],” is probably left deliberately imprecise so that a broad variety of offenses can be included. Presumably, however, given the procedure that follows, the type of sin being considered is of a substantial rather than trivial or merely personal nature (the verb ἁμαρτάνειν, “sin,” occurs in Matthew only here, in v. 21, and in 27:4). When a member of the community has been sinned against, that person is to go (ὕπαγε) to the other person and “rebuke” (ἔλεγξον; the verb occurs in Matthew only here) him or her. The meaning here is not to scold someone or to abuse them verbally for their conduct but rather to bring the offensive matter to their attention in the hope that they will repent of their actions and be restored to the community.
Hagner, Donald A. 1995. Matthew 14–28. Vol. 33B. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated.
