Matthew 18:16

B. GET OTHER HELPERS AS WITNESSES (18:16)

Matthew 18:16 But if he hear thee not. If God Himself cannot make people hear Him against their will, how much more problematic is it when a disciple attempts to recover his sinning brother? If his will is left free, he can continue to refuse to be convinced. No compulsion can force him. However, the war is not lost merely because of an unfavorable first skirmish. Take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. Curiously, Jesus did not specify the duties of these witnesses, perhaps intending to leave His statement general enough to permit flexibility according to the circumstances:

1.

Since Jesus-' reason is practically a verbal quotation of Deuteronomy 19:15 (LXX), it would seem that these witnesses must have seen the sin committed which requires this effort, The Mosaic Law required a plurality of witnesses against anyone incriminated. (Deuteronomy 17:6; Numbers 35:30; cf. 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19) Paul's reprimand of the Corinthians was based on such a plurality of witnesses. (1 Corinthians 1:10 f; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Corinthians 11:18; 1 Corinthians 16:17 f) The problem arises whether Jesus intends His words to refer to proof before the offending brother that others know about and can substantiate his guilt, or whether He means that the offending brother would be more readily convinced, since he knows that these two or three others will, by their presence here, become witnesses to stand before the Church to give their testimony there of what takes place here. The latter is the better choice, since Jesus did not specify that they be witnesses of the sin, but rather implied that their ability to confirm every word would grow out of their being present here.

2.

Just as two or three gathered together form a small fellowship (Matthew 18:19-20), so here, the opportunity to talk things over in the presence of a few thoughtful, tactful acquaintances creates a new atmosphere in which the problem can be aired with a greater amount of fair-minded objectivity. The others-' own impartiality is to assure the sinning brother of fair treatment. By their presence they become witnesses to the wronged man's efforts to recover the other, and attest that the one has sincerely made every effort to convince the other, and whether the sinner responded positively to his attempt. They can certify whether the attempts were made in a harsh, vengeful, demanding manner, or whether they represent an honestly Christian effort to restore fellowship. It may even happen that they realize that the accused is actually innocent while the accuser is clearly in the wrong. Therefore, they can confirm or deny that a real sin is involved, not merely a question of opinions or relative judgment. If the sin was something said, they can verify what he actually intended to say. They can convince the complainer that he has no real basis for taking offense, especially where he has inflated an imagined hurt all out of proportion.

While the obvious purpose of other witnesses is their testimony to what transpires during the encounter, the spirit and approach of these brethren must be the same as when the first brother went it alone: to gain the brother by showing him his fault in order to bring him to repentance, but done in the same brotherly comradeship shown by the first. From the following verse we learn that the offender must hear them. Thus, they, too, may add their voice to appeal to him to abandon his sin. The collective warmth of their love is intended to melt his heart in contrite tears and thanksgiving that people cared enough about him to come looking for him, even when he did not know or care that he was lost.

See Matthew 18:22-35 for Fact Questions.