Matthew 18:17 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 18:17 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

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. The third and final stage: the church. The community as a whole becomes the last resort of the discipline procedure. The refusal to listen to the church produces the status of Gentile and tax collector — the position outside the covenant community. But note that Jesus ate with Gentiles and tax collectors: the status is not permanent exclusion but the beginning of a mission to the alienated.

Church Fathers on Matthew 18:17

Having above given a severe sentence against those who were the cause of offence, making them to fear on all sides; so now that they to whom the offence is offered should not fall into the opposite fault of supineness and indifference, seeking to spare themselves in all things, and so be puffed up; the Lord here checks such a tendency, commanding that they be reproved, saying, 'If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go, tell him his fault between thee and him alone.'
Chrysostom · 4th century · Hom., lx

Our Lord admonishes us not to overlook one another’s faults, yet not so as seeking for matter of blame, but watching what you may amend. For our rebuke should be in love, not eager to wound, but anxious to amend. If you pass it by, you are become worse than he. He by doing you a wrong hath done himself a great hurt; you slight your brother’s wound, and are more to blame for your silence than he for his ill words to you.
Augustine · 4th century · Serm., 82, 1

He does not command us to forgive indiscriminately, but him only that will hearken and be obedient, and do penitence; that neither should forgiveness be unattainable, nor sufferance be too far relaxed.
Rabanus Maurus · 9th century

Read all 23 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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