In Matthew 18:18 Jesus repeats what he said back in Matthew 16:19 about binding and loosing, as the key to the building of his church and the gates of hell not prevailing against it.
And it’s in the context of this second time he says “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven,” that we get his message behind those words. And it’s simple and to the point: that in his church there is no compromise when it comes to good and evil. It’s bind the evil, let loose the good, because if his church takes that seriously it has the power (and authority) of heaven to do both.
Jesus illustrates his point with a practical example that will test the church on its understanding (and seriousness) about not compromising. It’s what those in his church do “If your brother sins against you,” Matthew 18:15. He’s sinned, and that’s wrong, so “go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.” In other words, don’t compromise with his sin, deal with it.
But deal with it heaven’s way, not hell’s. Hell would ignore the sin or excuse it so it festers and spreads and destroys the relationship beyond repair, thus enabling the gates of hell to prevail. But the church seeks a solution heaven’s way so hell doesn’t get a look in.
And heaven’s way is the ‘dreaded confrontation’ with the person in the wrong. Tense it might be, but what if “he listens to you” (15)? What if the kingdom of heaven breaks through in his brain, and it dawns on him that he’s been opening up the gates of hell in the church instead? Good, because that means “you’ve won your brother over,” Jesus says (15) – won him over “from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18).
On the other hand, “if he refuses to listen,” Matthew 18:17, “treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector” – and Jesus’ disciples knew exactly what Jesus meant by that, because Jewish tax collectors were totally cut off from the Jewish community; they couldn’t even enter a synagogue. So anyone in the church not interested in solving conflicts heaven’s way, out the door they go. A tough decision, yes, but it has heaven’s backing (19) – and heaven’s purpose behind it too, not only in keeping hell out of the church, but also a way back into the church for someone who’s accepted he was wrong. No compromise, then, means “Out, but a way back in too”….(next blog)
