Lesson 2354

(Lesson 2354)(05-22-18) Matthew 18:15-18
    “ 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. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 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. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

    In today’s quote, Jesus gave His instructions as to how the apostles were to settle disputes among themselves. A child of God is to first approach his/her offender to try and gain restitution. If that fails he/she is to take witnesses to confront the offending brother/sister, if that fails the issue is to be turned over to the body of the church. If that fails the offender is to be cast out of the church to face God's wrath.
    It seems that today’s churches ignore these instructions for the most part, and allow small issues to fester to the point of, in some instances, the disassembly of the church as a purposefully functioning body.~