Explore the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and love as depicted in Matthew 18:15-20, emphasizing the importance of these qualities in our relationships with others.
Good morning, church family! Today we're going to be looking at Matthew 18:15-20, and we'll be talking about the signs of reconciliation, forgiveness, and love that are evident in this passage.
As we begin, let's remember this truth from Dr. Lucas D. Shallua, "One day in your presence can't compare with thousand years in worldly pleasures."
Now, let's read the Scripture together:
"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. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 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. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
The first sign that we see in this passage is the sign of reconciliation. Reconciliation is the process of making one's peace with God and with others. It's about restoring broken relationships and mending the rifts that sin has caused. In this passage, Jesus lays out a clear process for reconciliation when a brother or sister in Christ sins against us.
First step: We're to go to that person privately and discuss the matter with them. This is an act of love, not of condemnation. It's about seeking to restore the relationship, not to tear the other person down. It's about recognizing that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, and that we all need forgiveness and reconciliation.
A positive response: If the person listens and repents, then the relationship is restored. This is the ideal outcome, and it's a beautiful picture of reconciliation. It's about two people coming together, acknowledging their faults, and choosing to move forward in love and unity.
A negative response: But what if the person doesn't listen? Jesus tells us to take one or two others along with us. This isn't about ganging up on the person, but about establishing the truth of the matter. It's about ensuring that the process is fair and just. It's about seeking reconciliation, not revenge.
Continued negative response: And if the person still doesn't listen? Then we're to tell it to the church. Again, this isn't about public shaming, but about seeking reconciliation. It's about recognizing that we're all part of the body of Christ, and that when one member is hurting, we're all hurting. It's about seeking the good of the person and the good of the community.
Last resort: If the person still refuses to listen, Jesus tells us to treat them as a pagan or a tax collector. This might seem harsh, but it's important to remember how Jesus treated pagans and tax collectors. He loved them. He ate with them. He sought their good. So even in this final step, the goal is still reconciliation. It's about loving the person enough to let them go, in the hope that they will eventually come to their senses and return to the fold.
A sign of the kingdom of God: It's a sign that we're living in line with God's will and that we're seeking to bring about his kingdom on earth. It's a sign that we're following Jesus' command to love one another as he has loved us.
The Sign of Forgiveness is a powerful theme that runs throughout the Bible, and it is particularly evident in the passage we're studying today ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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