A sermon from a couple of weeks ago in Holy Trinity.
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’”
17“If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
· Certain things can be ‘lost in translation’
o maybe some of Jesus’ emphases are lost to us
§ at least at first glance
· Being part of the Anglican Communion
o many feel standing our ground is of great importance
§ using this passage to support this
o I believe Jesus is encouraging us to seek humility
§ especially at times like this
This is what I believe God is saying to us, today through this passage. But disagreement and discussion is always welcome!
· The destructive potential of arguments
o hurt feelings damage relationships
§ especially when left to brood
o Jesus’ prayer that we should be one
§ love one another – to show God’s love and glory
o the history of the Church is hugely inconsistent
§ great things have been done
· communities of love, faith, worship and justice
§ awful things have been done
· lives destroyed
· God’s Name desecrated
o because we find it very difficult to deal with being wrong
§ the reality
§ the potential
· Jesus calls us to reconciliation
o in community, in family
· Firstly, a very practical method of dealing with dispute
o meeting one to one (v15)
§ don’t let it simmer
§ don’t pretend it doesn’t matter if it does
§ don’t send your message through others
· unless communication is impossible
o meeting with mutual friends (v16a)
§ not just those who will back you to the hilt
§ objectivity is essential
· witnesses in Jewish Law (v16b)
o then to the community (v17a)
§ it takes great stubbornness to persist in front of your family
· And if that doesn’t work? (v17b)
o “treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
§ lost in translation?
§ what did Matthew think of this verse?
o many, in exasperation, turn to this verse for relief
§ casting out those who have hurt us to save ourselves
§ leaving them to their sin, their mistakes, their mess
o but here, Jesus’ radical Gospel of Love can be seen again
“Love your neighbour as yourself. 10Love does no harm to its neighbour.” (Romans 13:9b-10a)
§ how would we treat them?
§ how would He treat them?
§ how should we treat them?
· eat with them
· be gracious to them
· show them God’s mercy, forgiveness and grace
o all part of one body
· What comes next?
o the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
· Being part of the body is not a passport to an easy life
o disagreements & reconciliation are difficult and painful
§ and we are given enormous responsibility (v18)
o so Jesus’ words of reassurance that He is with us are welcome
§ with us as judge and guide
