This week, the lectionary jumps ahead from Matthew chapter 16 to Matthew chapter 18. In chapter 18, we read Jesus’ fourth of five discourses that comprise his teaching in Matthew’s Gospel. As Matthew’s Gospel presents Jesus as “the new Moses”, with a new interpretation of the Ten Commandments that is guided by grace, the five discourses mirror the first five books of our Bible, known among Jews as The Torah (The Law). This fourth discourse focuses on relationships and practices within the church community.

Matthew 18:15-20:

Jesus and his disciples have travelled from the far northeast back to the town of Capernaum, at the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. They are still a long way from Jerusalem, but they are headed there. 

Jesus teaches a way to resolve conflicts in the congregation. If we at MBPPC sought to follow the teaching in Matthew 18:15-17, what would we need to do in specific detail? Would we have to change our practices?

Matthew 18:18 should sound familiar from a recent sermon. This authority that Jesus describes — to bind and loose — was also given by him in Matthew 16:16. How does this relate to Matthew 18:15-17? What do you make of Jesus’ connection between earth and heaven in this regard?

Matthew 18:20 is a well-known statement. Why does Jesus say, “Wherever two or more…”? Is he with one alone? It might help to understand his emphasis on “two or more” to look at Matthew 22:36-40.