Bible
Study Lessons
More
Life Lessons from the
Bible
Lessons
from Book of
Matthew
Dr.
Coleman's Commentary - Learn More About Jesus
Christ
Easter
Timeline
Family
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Ever had a good friend or a
church member do something to hurt you deeply? Most
of us have had this happen at one time or another
in our lives, maybe it was us who did the hurting.
Either way, Christ says we should pray to God for
help, then go directly to that person to solve
conflicts face to face, and forgive.
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Matthew 18:15-20
What to do
about a Believer Who Sins
18:15
"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in
private; if he listens to you, you have won your
brother.
16 "But if he does not
listen to you, take one or two more with you, so
that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY
FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
17 "If he refuses to
listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he
refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to
you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 "Truly I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in
heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have
been loosed in heaven.
19 "Again I say to you,
that if two of you agree on earth about anything
that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My
Father who is in heaven.
20 "For where two or three
have gathered together in My name, I am there in
their midst."
This
is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change
the way that we think, and the way that we
live.
Commentary
by Bob Pardue
When a Friend
Does You Wrong ...
- Who is Jesus talking
about in these passages? According to many
scholars, He is directing this toward Christians
and sins committed that hurt fellow
followers--For instance, the people of a church
hurting each other.
-
- The lesson does not mean
we go out and confront everyone in church we
"don't like" or to continually gossip about them
behind their backs. Not at all. Jesus is just
giving us a way to deal with inner
congregational conflict to find peaceful
solutions to bring the church together in
harmony.
-
- Our natural tendency is
to turn anger inward and resent people who have
done us wrong, to talk to others but not to
them. Christ says to go to the person with whom
we have conflict first.
-
- This is an almost
impossible task for many of us (including me)
but, if we approach them in the right way, let
them know how their words or actions hurt us,
and then forgive them as God forgives us, we
might be able to restore a friendship and
relations in the church family.
-
- Prayer
-
- Before going to your
friend who has sinned against you, pray. Ask for
guidance from God to help you in your approach.
Church decisions should always be based on
prayer and listening for answers. No matter how
we feel about others who have wronged us, God
should have the final say in the matter. He will
settle the conflict in His on way, not always
ours.
-
-
-
- Love in
Christ
- Bob
If you have never made the
commitment to receive the love and life-changing
experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to
go
here and take the
first
steps to salvation.
Another
Study Lesson to Consider ...
Matthew
18:7-9 - Jesus Warns Against Causing Children to
Sin -
Have you caused a child to sin today? Have I? Read
what this Baptist study from the Bible says about
teaching children sinning ways.
Verses from Matthew about prayer and
resolving conflict in church are from New
American Standard Bible
Daily Baptist Bible Study Lessons
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