Oh what evil doctrines have corrupt individuals twisted from Scriptures such as these. It is to this verse amongst others that certain churches will point to as ‘proof’ of their God-appointed right to mandate or end laws for people to observe as well as the supposed power of their church or priest to ‘forgive’ (sorry, I meant to say, absolve) sin. This explanation which I am about to undertake is by no means exhaustive nor final, but should be a good starting block both for rebutting such doctrines of devils and for a correct understanding of what Jesus was saying.
Here is the text, plus a couple extra verses for context:
“(15-17) 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.
(19-20) Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Verses 15-17 are very important for context. Jesus is instructing the disciples on how trespass in His future Church is to be handled. I will not take the time, for I lack sufficient of it right now, to show how I have come to what I am about to write, but please feel free to challenge it in the comments.
It is important to note that the end result of the confrontation is that the offender is regarded to be as a heathen and publican. That is, one who is not saved and esteemed the least of society. That signifies that the offense here is something beyond just a personal preference, but a deep moral issue, an example of which we see Paul addressing in 1 Corinthians 5. The guidelines given are: 1. speak to them personally and privately. 2. Escalate to witnesses. 3. Escalate to the church (meaning, gathering) 4. Regard them as heathen & publican (no more part of the gathering)
These verses are very important because it’s immediately after this that verse 18 follows, in which Jesus affirms whatever decision has been made in the final escalation. Why would He affirm? Because it’s a very serious matter. Jesus is stressing to His disciples that Heaven backs the gathering in this event. Verse 18 needs to be read in the context of what has come before. If the consequences are so severe, it then is clear that the ‘trespass’ is no small matter. As such, there must be a clear guideline to begin with that defines it as trespass so that judgement can then be made.
Jesus repeats Himself by saying, “Again I say unto you,” thereby indicating He is still on the same topic and He’s stressing something to them. What does He want to stress? That if two agree on earth, then Heaven will support them.
But wait, does that mean that Heaven is bowing to the will of men on Earth? God forbid! Note in the immediate verse following, Jesus states, “Where two or three are gathered IN MY NAME . . . ” The condition of all that precedes, including the judgements, are to be done in the name of Jesus, that is, to act in His stead, to act in His authority. Dare one to act improperly with such authority? Will not the good man of the house return to punish such wicked servants as those who abuse the power of attorney which was granted them? (Luke 12:45-46)
In Matthew 18:18, Jesus is making clear to His disciples that they are the new priesthood. They would be the ones to whom people would come for direction in the things of God. How shall they believe unless they hear? How shall they hear without a preacher?
Apparently it’s a common saying in Jewish texts that they would bind or loose, speaking of fit or unfit, bidding and forbidding, granting and refusing. It was a term used in relation to what things were allowed or not allowed in the Law. Note that the Law did not change at all. The binding or loosing was a reference to whether something done was allowed or not allowed according to the Law of God.
We see this language employed in Acts 15:28, where after the first Church council, they write saying, “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you . . .”
Note how the Holy Ghost and the Church are preempted in the letter to be in exact unity on the subject, in fact, it is the Holy Ghost that is given the pre-eminence as it was the Spirit who led the Early Church, unlike most of Christendom today. If one truly wishes to understand Matthew 18:18, a study into the first Church council is warranted for it has much to say. Before we move on, the one thing in particular I would like to highlight, was that the deciding factor in the council was Scripture and the witness of the Spirit in the matter of Peter and Cornelius, both being the agencies of God and not men.
It is seen then, that in the very early days of the Church, such a process was put into action, and because the Church gathered in Jesus’ name, the Spirit of Christ directed them in which path to take. When such an action is taken, you can be assured that Heaven stands behind the action, be it to bind or loose, that is, to allow or not allow.
That is the proper meaning of Matthew 18:18. To think, as some professing Christ today do, that our Lord who said, “In this manner pray ye, . . . Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” would then accept for mere mortals to dictate how Heaven rules is ludicrous. Matthew 18:18 is Jesus indicating to His future church that they would be the new ‘teachers of the Law’ who would bind and loose for the people, that is, pass judgement in accordance with the will of Heaven and the Word of God, not in violation of either.
Perhaps one day I shall have the time to go further into this verse, but I hope that there was sufficient laid out to point in a more true understanding of what Jesus was imparting to His disciples than the drivel that many have turned it into.
The understanding of the authority Jesus was imparting to His Church is also important for my upcoming devotional/exposition on Zechariah 9:15b where we see the Church likened to the corners of the altar whereon rested the horns (authority), but that will be for another day.
Ezekiel 44:23-24 is a reference to a coming time and new priesthood, but what is written there was in many ways similar to what Jesus was telling His disciples at that time.
“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.”
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