Correcting Others Correctly, Part 1 – Unity and Matthew 18:15-20 Explained

Introductory Truth Parameters

A biblically based dictionary – definitions of the meaning of words

• Sin – please look up the original Greek definition here: Greek: Strong’s G266. Sin is to miss the mark of what we should and can be and do in Jesus Christ. Sin is – missing the mark in terms of holiness, freedom, love, truth, power, the fullness of Christ – both in word and action – so when this word is used, we are also talking about improvement tips for ourselves, friends, teachers, leaders etc. This is, therefore, not only about total moral failure which is what these verses have mostly been used for.
• Gossip (please start here: Greek: Strong’s G5587). Gossip is whispering… talking negatively and critically judging a person (event or organization – but always leads to a person who is responsible) who sins (according to your judgment – which might be correct) but who is not the one you are talking to and is not responsible for the bad or awkward behavior (= sin = missing the mark in Christ). It is to not talk with the person who has missed the mark of being the best version of themselves in Christ about that.
• Repentance (Greek: Greek: Strong’s G3341) = to change our thinking from “radio hell” to “radio Heaven”. To stop agreeing with any lie and move to agree with all the liberating truth from Heaven and then to do it in the obedience of love. This is something we must do, daily, continually to grow as people – Jesus commanded us to do it – but demons cannot do it (repent).
• Unity (Greek see 1: Greek: Strong’s G1520 and 2: Greek: Strong’s G1775). Not the same as being a copy and the exact same = uniformity. But it is to have the same broken mutually submitted heart to truly love God, others, and yourself. To put others above yourself. It is harmony, agreement, oneness, being one at heart and unified in bold humble action. It is to believe enough in everyone – that in and through Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of the Father and our brokenness, repentance, humility, and willingness – everyone can change and get better.

The main Bible verses on the correct “correction of sin”

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid on earth shall have been forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you loose / permit on earth shall have been loosed / permitted in Heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name (to do correction of sin), there am I with them.

Matthew 18:15-20

From this main and clear Scripture above, major cross references are found.

Related Scripture from the 4 stories of the life of Jesus

And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

John 20:22-23

Matthew 16:19 (NLT + NASB) – And (to those who have this confession of faith) I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth shall have been forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit on earth shall have been permitted in Heaven.”

The Golden Rule

So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ’Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:3-5

Interpretation: We must come humbly, from below, with a broken repentant heart and attitude when doing correction work. Then we can restore, win, and help heal a sibling. Otherwise it becomes the blind leading the blind and they both fall into a ditch (Matthew 15:14) – if we are not truly, really healed ourselves, first. This also means we need to come to those needing correction with a healthy restoration plan including relationship, accountability, prayer, and to-do’s.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Matthew 5:23-26

Interpretation: This fits right into Matthew 18:15-20 and all the other Scriptures on judging between believers below. And what is so insane here is that God will let go of His RIGHT to receive worship – to prioritize unity through justice and forgiveness and restoration between His kids!!

This then fits in with all the prayers of Jesus for unity and the blessings of revival that flow from this.

Doing Matthew 18 right – and in the fullness of obedience to all of the cross references in the Word and cross references now clearly becomes a true and healthy and necessary foundation for revival!

From the letters in the New Agreement

We who believe will one day judge the world and angels. Where are the people who are wise enough to judge disputes between believers? Let us be those.

If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?

1 Corinthians 6:1-5

So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 5:4-5

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

Could be the same person who now needs to be restored:

For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent – not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven – if there was anything to forgive – I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

2 Corinthians 2:4-11

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery (extreme and unhealthy self-satisfaction) in which they have indulged.

2 Corinthians 12:19-21

This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others.

2 Corinthians 13:1-2

I do not think I have ever heard a sermon on these verses… They are so strong, pure, loving, and aligned with all the rest of the Bible – and comes straight out of Matthew 18:15-20.

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

Romans 16:17

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Galatians 6:1

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.

2 Thessalonians 3:6

Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

1 Timothy 1:19-20

1 Timothy 5:19-21 & 1 Timothy 5:24-25 – Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. … The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

2 Timothy 2:16-19

If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.

1 John 5:16

Interpretation: Prayer is definitely also a part of it. But not prayer only – also Spirit-led action – according to all the other Scriptures on this – the fullness of the Word.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Jude 1:22-23

Covering The Sin – Not Mentioning It Publicly If It Is Not Leaders Doing The Sin – This Is Simply Among Christian Non-Leaders In the First 2 Steps of Matthew 18:15-20

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8

My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

James 5:19-20

Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:13

Back to the 4 stories of the New Agreement

It is grace before truth – not grace without truth. BOTH – and with a priority:

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:17