Matthew 18:17 Commentary and Bible Study

If there is still no repentance, then the matter must be escalated further. Church discipline must take its course: ‘Tell it to the church.’ Does this mean that a church meeting should be convened and the whole membership of the church should be present to consider the case on the first occasion that the church hears about it? No. God has appointed leaders and they should be the ones who first judge a case that requires church discipline (1 Corinthians 6:4-5). The Apostle Paul rebukes the church at Corinth for failing to deal with a serious sin among them, and shames them by suggesting that the least esteemed in the church carry out this task, even though it is a responsibility which belongs to the wise. He writes to Timothy in a way that suggests that Timothy, as acting pastor, has primary responsibility for order in the church (1 Timothy 2:1, 11-12) and for matters of discipline (1 Timothy 5:1, 19-20). What Christ says here lays the foundation for church order, but he told his disciples that further light would be given later by the Spirit (John 16:13). The elders of the church handle the initial investigation of a case. They too will try to bring about repentance, and if they succeed, and if it not something so serious that excommunication must follow, the offender may be brought to acknowledge their sin and the case need go no further. But if they will not listen to the admonition of the elders, then indeed the matter must go before the church, and the church should hear as many of the details as are appropriate together with a recommendation based on God’s word of what sanction should follow, and the church should confirm the judgment of the church officers. We don’t interpret the verse to mean that we storm into church meeting and bring the matter before the assembled church. The principal is that we should not go before the world, but deal with things ourselves, unless, of course, there is criminality involved. The church membership is not present in the church meeting to try the matter and to call witnesses. That will have been done earlier by the leadership of the church. Precise detail is given in the epistles. The Lord maintains a sliding scale all the way through: first, person-to-person; second, two to three witnesses; third, the sanction of church. ‘Let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.’ Does this mean that the person concerned is lost, that they have never been converted? Not necessarily. Christ says, ‘Let them be to you …’ – treat them as such. No longer regard them as part of the church. The process of church discipline has reached its conclusion and they are put out of the church. That does not necessarily mean that they are eternally lost. If they belong to the Lord, he will bring them back to himself again. The church discipline they have experienced may be the very means that he uses to do this. Repentance may follow even now – ‘The Lord knoweth them that are his’ (2 Timothy 2:19).