Wesley's Explanatory Notes
Matthew 18:20
Where two or three are gathered together in my name — That is, to worship me. I am in the midst of them — By my Spirit, to quicken their prayers, guide their counsels, and answer their petitions.
Where two or three are gathered together in my name — That is, to worship me. I am in the midst of them — By my Spirit, to quicken their prayers, guide their counsels, and answer their petitions.
Verse Matthew 18:20. _FOR WHERE TWO - ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN THY NAME_] There are many sayings among the Jews almost exactly similar to this, such as, _Wherever even two persons are sitting in disc...
FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ... - This is a general assertion made to support the particular promise made Matthew 18:19 to his apostles. He affirms that wherever two or three are assembled together in his...
6. INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS DISCIPLES. CONCERNING FORGIVENESS. CHAPTER 18 1. Concerning the Little Ones and Offences. (Matthew 18:1 .) 2. The Son of Man to Save What is Lost. (Matthew 18:11 .) 3. The Chu...
A CONVERSATION WITH THE TWELVE. For Matthew 18:1, the question of precedence, _cf._ Mark 9:33 *, also Matthew 20:26 f., Mark 10:43 f.,...
"Again, I tell you, that if two of you agree upon earth upon any matter for which you are praying, you will receive it from my Father who is in Heaven. Where two or three are assembled together in my...
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS (Matthew 18:1-35) Matthew 18:1-35 is a most important chapter for Christian Ethics, because it deals with those qualities which should characterize the personal relationships o...
TWO OR THREE. It was believed that "where two are assembled to study the Law, the Shechinah was with them"....
Forgiveness of Sins. Luke 17:3-4 God's forgiveness of sinners suggests the duty of forgiveness among men....
_two or three_ In the smallest gathering of His followers Christ will be present. A derivative (_synaxis_) of the Greek word in the text came to be used among the early Christians for their assemblies...
ΔΎΟ Ἢ ΤΡΕΙ͂Σ. In the smallest gathering of His followers Christ will be present. ΣΥΝΗΓΜΈΝΟΙ. συνάγειν is used specially of the ‘gathering’ of the Church, as Acts 11:26, συναχθῆναι ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ. Matt...
FORGIVENESS OF SINS Luke 17:3-4 God’s forgiveness of sinners suggests the duty of forgiveness among men....
VER 18. "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. AGAIN I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT IF TWO OF Y...
_THE HEART OF A CHRISTIAN IS CHARACTERIZED BY A DESIRE FOR FELLOWSHIP MATTHEW 18:15-20:_ God provided a way for brethren to settle their differences. God's way always works. If your brothers wrongs yo...
ΟΎ (G3756) где. ΣΥΝΗΓΜΈΝΟΙ _perf. pass. part. от_ ΣΥΝΆΓΩ (G238) сходиться вместе, собираться. _Perf._ изображает состояние пребывания вместе....
DISCOURSE: 1382 THE EFFICACY OF SOCIAL PRAYER Matthew 18:19. _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...
AGAIN I SAY UNTO YOU— Further to encourage good men to be very earnest in their endeavours to bring sinners to repentance, he assured them, that if they prayed to God for it, he would hear them, provi...
C. ENLIST THE STRENGTH OF THE CONGREGATION (18:17-20) Matthew 18:17 AND IF HE REFUSE TO HEAR THEM, he has already failed a test that determines just how sincerely determined he is to remain with Chris...
Section 46 JESUS TRAINS THE TWELVE IN PERSONAL RELATIONS (Parallels: Mark 9:33-50; Luke 9:46-50) TEXT: 18:1-35 A. Humility and True Greatness 1 In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Wh...
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN, [OR 'UNTO' - eis (G1519 )] MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDS...
16 See Deu_19:15; Joh_8:17; 2Co_3:1. 18 See Mat_16:19. 19 The Lord continues in the same vein. If we should attempt to apply these privileges and promises now it would only bring reproach on His name...
OFFENDING THE LITTLE ONES. THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT 1-14. Ambition reproved, and humility taught by the example of a little child (Mark 9:33; Luke 9:46)....
TREATMENT OF AN ERRING BROTHER (peculiar to St. Matthew). The connexion with what precedes is as follows: 'Despise not one of the “little ones” (Matthew 18:10); if, however, one “offends against thee,...
FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE] Christ proceeds to give the reason why God will grant such prayers. It is that He Himself, the great Intercessor, is personally present in every worshipful assembly of Christia...
MATTHEW’S GOOD NEWS MATTHEW’S *GOSPEL _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 18 Chapter 18 is the fourth section of what Jesus taught. It ends in the same way as the other sections ‘Now when Jesus had finished...
WHERE TWO OR THREE... — The true meaning of the words is well embodied in the well-known patristic axiom, _Ubi tres, ibi Ecclesia_ (“Where three are there is a church”). The strength of the Christian...
_Promise of the power and presence of God to encourage concord_....
δύο ἢ τρεῖς. Jesus deals in small numbers, not from modesty in His anticipations, but because they suit the present condition, and in jealousy for the moral quality of the new society. συνηγμένοι εἰς,...
SAVING THE STRAYING Matthew 18:10-20 How tenderly the Master speaks of the children! We must turn back to become like them, Matthew 18:3. To cause them to stumble is to incur terrible penalties, Mat...
What a sad state of heart prompted this question! How absolutely opposed to the whole genius of the Master's teaching and example! He replied by an act, and a statement growing out of that act. The ch...
There am I in the midst of them. This is understood of such assemblies only, as are gathered in the name and authority of Christ; and in unity of the Church of Christ. (St. Cyprian, de Unitate Ecclesi...
EFFICIENCY OF PRAYER Matthew 18:19-20. _“Again I say unto you, If two of you shall agree on earth concerning anything which you may ask, it shall be done unto you by My Father who is in the heavens. F...
CHURCH DISCIPLINE Matthew 18:15-20. _“If thy brother may sin, go, convict him, between thee and him alone.”_ Many a time you can win him by thus going privately and quietly, with the loving overtures...
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." To the little infirmities, which from the remains of indwelling corruption, may, and will, occasionally brea...
Chapter 8, which opens the portion that comes before us tonight, is a striking illustration as well as proof of the method which God has been pleased to employ in giving us the apostle Matthew's accou...
_THE BELIEVER’S PRAYER_ ‘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 t...
20._For where two or three are assembled in my name. _This promise is more extensive than the former; for the Lord declares that he will be present, wherever two or three are met together in his name...
In chapter 18 the great principles proper to the new order of things are made known to the disciples. Let us search a little into these sweet and precious instructions of the Lord. They may be looked...
FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER,.... This seems to be said in opposition to a Jewish notion, that a number less than ten, is not a congregation a; whereas, though the number is ever so fe...
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Ver. 20. _There am I in the midst_] As to eye their behaviour, so to hear their suits. All that he requireth...
_Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth_ By excommunication, pronounced in the Spirit and power of Christ; _whatsoever ye shall loose_ By absolution from that sentence. See note on chap. Matthew 16:19. In...
IN MY NAME; under my authority, and for the purpose of doing any thing connected with the advancement of my kingdom. IN THE MIDST; I am present with them, to hear and bless them....
FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM. Christ here fulfills the promise which He made to Peter and through him to all the apostles, chapter 16:18. In...
The power of the congregation:...
Though the Lord Jesus has been seen to forego His own rights, He who is by right infinitely great, the disciples show the opposite attitude in desiring some rights above those of others in the kingdom...
15-20 If a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often done merely upon report, but to go to the offender privately, state the matter kindly, and...
Ver. 19,20. Most interpreters agree there is a connection betwixt these verses and those immediately preceding, as if it were a further confirmation of what God had said concerning his binding and loo...
Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book III Quinam sunt autem illi "duo et tres, qui congregantur in nomine Domini, in" quorum "medio" est Dominus?[111] Tertullian On Repentance is the church;[97] Ter...
Matthew 18:20 For G1063 where G3757 two G1417 or G2228 three G5140 are G1526 (G5748) together G4863 ...
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” In the case of the first interpretation in Matthew 18:19 this would be expressing Jesus' promise that when t...
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THIS LOVE AND HUMILITY IN DEALINGS WITH THE NEW CONGREGATION OF GOD'S PEOPLE (18:15-20). Having expressed the concern that His true disciples must have to walk as humbly a...
Matthew 18:20. FOR. The ground of the promised answer is not human agreement, but the presence of Christ. WHERE TWO OR THREE. The order gives an intimation of increase. IN MY NAME, _i.e._, as a Ch...
Matthew 18:1-14 forbade offences _against_ the humble. This section teaches how the humble should deal with offences: (1.) as regards the Christian assembly (Matthew 18:15-20); (2.) as regards his own...
THERE AM I (εκε ειμ). This blessed promise implies that those gathered together are really disciples with the spirit of Christ as well as "in his name" (εις το εμον ονομα). One of the Oxyrhynchus _S...
Matthew 18:20 Christ with Us. I. In considering this subject, we must bear in mind that the human nature of our blessed Lord and Master must be subject to those laws of nature which He, as God, hath...
Matthew 18:19 I. When we consider the great promises which are made to prayer, and particularly the great blessing attached to public worship which the words of the text imply; when we consider, moreo...
Matthew 18:1. _At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?_ The question we have sometimes heard asked in other forms, «Which is the highest...
CONTENTS: Sermon on the child text. Discipline in the church. Unity in prayer. Law of forgiveness. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Peter. CONCLUSION: Those are truly great who are truly humble and good, and...
Matthew 18:1. _Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?_ The comparative μειζων _greater,_ is put here for the superlative. By the kingdom of heaven, they meant the worldly glory of the church in...
19-20. WHENEVER TWO OF YOU ON EARTH. Just two [or more] form a "messianic community" [church, congregation]. The united prayers of this group will be heard by God. I AM THERE WITH THEM. Jesus promises...
_For when two or three are gathered together in My name._ THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE SANCTUARY I. What is implied in this promise or the divine presence. God comes not here as to a court of assiz...
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 18:20 THERE AM I AMONG THEM. Jesus will be present among his disciples as they seek unity in decisions. Jesus’ ability to be present in this way means that he is omnipresent an...
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 18:1 The Community of the Messiah Revealed. This is the fourth of Jesus’ five major teachings in Matthew’s Gospel (see Introduction: Key Themes). Jesus instructs his disciples...
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 18:15. MOREOVER, etc.—Better, _and if thy brother shall sin_. A twofold train of thought is traceable in what follows. 1. The presence of “offences” implies sin, and the ques...
EXPOSITION MATTHEW 18:1 _Discourse concerning the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and the mutual duties of Christians_._ _(Mark 9:33; Luke 9:46-42.)...
Now at the same time there came disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 18:1) Oh, boy how they longed for this. You're talking about motivation, and the disc...
1 Corinthians 5:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Exodus 20:24; Genesis 49:10;...
In my name [ε ι ς τ ο ε μ ο ν ο ν ο μ α]. Lit., "into my name." When two or three are drawn together into Christ as the common center of their desire and faith....