Explaining Matthew 18:20

Matthew 18:20   For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

 I know this seems to be a short reading to start a sermon from but I pose to you that this is one of the most misused quotes in the New Testament. Everyone seems to use this to mean that Jesus will only be with Christians if they are gathered and that is far from the truth because the scripture clearly states that Jesus himself promised to always be with us when he gave us the great commission. Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 So, if Jesus is always with us why would it state that he will be with us if two or three are gathered in his name. well to answer this we need to back up and read the rest of the story. So, lets read Matthew 18:15-20: 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

 What Jesus is doing here is laying the foundation of discipline for His Future Church. He is laying out a simple but effective guide on how to approach one who has wronged you first go to him privately and discuss what you perceive as his sin. If he repents then the matter is closed and the offender should be grateful that you did it in private and treated him as a brother keeping his transgression between the two of you.

If this fails then you are to gather one or two more to act as witnesses then as a group go to him and try to get him/her to see the errors of their way hopefully with more than one person telling the transgressor they are sinning, the transgressor will repent.  The last option before removing the person from the body is to bring the person before the church to lovingly persuade the offending members reconciliation. If the person fails to heed the body then he is to be excommunicated and treated as a tax collector. In those days was the lowest of low individuals.

As a point of interest about the Publicans (tax collectors). The right to be a tax collector for the Roman Empire was auctioned off and the highest bidder would win the right to levee and collect taxes in the name of Rome. The Publicans would amass large fortunes by over taxing their fellow Jewish citizens and legally keeping the excesses for themselves. These men were for the most part brutish thugs with little regard for anyone or  anything except themselves.

Two or three are gathered was a promise that in matters of discipline Christ would be present for even the smallest of flocks. The reason He gave this promise is because under Rabbinical law in order for God to be present at a religious assembly it had to contain at least ten members even if it was a prayer meeting. Jesus promised that not only would the small group be heard by him but that what was decided by them as discipline would be upheld in heaven.  Matthew18:18- 19:  18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

  So now we know that no matter how many of us are gathered to worship rather it is one of us praying beside our bed in the morning or ten thousand of us praying at a revival Jesus is always standing right next to you. He is there to either share the joy of the moment or to offer a comforting shoulder and lend you strength or to protect you from the serpent’s latest attempt to lead you into sin.  Never forget that Jesus’s love knows no limits or boundaries it is unlimited and freely given even when we do not deserve it.   Thank you for taking the time to read this and May God Bless You!