Laying the GroundworkAs
Jesus went about “preaching the gospel of the
kingdom” (Matt. 4:23),1 in many respects his earthly ministry was preparatory and an early
transitional period between old-covenant Judaism and the establishment of his
universal church. It was not the time to
set aside the Mosaic Law, nor was it the time to teach exclusively Christian
doctrine. It was, however, necessary to prepare the way for God’s approaching
kingdom.2
Chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel is part of a three-chapter
discourse, wherein the Lord’s celebrated “Sermon on the Mount” is recorded. Jesus’s immediate listening audience was Jewish, inclusive of but not
limited to his disciples. Matthew’s targeted reading audience was a
Jewish-Christian community not far removed from Jesus’s original
listening audience in time, geographical location, political environment, and
sociocultural circumstances.3
In chapter 18 of Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord’s recorded
words are directed to “the disciples,” who would later be commissioned to
spread Christ’s message to all nations.
When My Brother Has Something
Against Me
“Therefore if you bring your gift to
the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to
your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew
5:23-24).
The directive here, set in the context of early-first-century
Jewish worship, is subsequent to proscriptions against being angry,
unforgiving, prideful, spiteful, malicious, and hateful (vv. 21-22)—the opposite
of the blessed attitudes and behaviors highlighted at the beginning of the
sermon. The “gift” [δῶρον] brought to the altar, generically representing any offering
presented at the temple, is an offering of worship.4
One cannot worship God acceptably without faithful
adherence, both inwardly and outwardly, to his revealed will. Instead of
mindless ritualism, genuine worship, “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24),
involves intent, purpose, and the right frame of mind. Worship that is
acceptable and pleasing to God begins in the heart and should be prioritized as
“first” [πρῶτον], of utmost importance (Matt. 5:24b). Otherwise, any so-called
worshipful act is vain, empty, meaningless (Matt. 7:21-27; 15:5-9; 21:13).
The realization that “your brother has something against you” is a matter of interpersonal relations
and brotherhood. Considering the requisite of self-examination and fidelity of spirit,5
even if you think the disharmony or negative feelings are not entirely your
fault, the responsibility is on “you” to take the initiative and seek
reconciliation. “Behold, how good
and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psa. 133:1). “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being” (1 Cor. 10:24).
When I Have Something Against My Brother
Jesus, having taught an object lesson about childlike
innocence and humility, stressed the absolute importance of saving a single
soul (Matt. 18:1-14). He then addressed a disciple’s duty toward a
sinning brother.
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him
his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one
or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or
three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them,
tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the
church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax
collector” (Matthew 18:15-17).
One of the challenges of this passage is whether or
not the prepositional phrase “against you” [εἰς σὲ] is
original to the text. While most Greek manuscripts include these words, some
important textual witnesses do not. Text critics, translators, and exegetes must
therefore determine if v. 15a should read broadly, “if your brother sins” (NASB,
NET, NIV), or more specifically, “if your brother sins against you” (ASV,
CSB, ESV, N/KJV, RSV).
o
In favor of the shorter reading is the exclusion
of the phrase from early Greek texts (incl. Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Origen). Its
presence in later copies is explained as textual gap-filling, perhaps an
inference from v. 21.6
o
In support of inclusion is the adjoining phrase,
“between you and him alone” (v. 15b), followed by “let him be to you [singular] ...” (v. 17b), as well as Peter’s follow-up question,
“how often shall my brother sin against me [εἰς ἐμὲ], and I forgive
him?” (v. 21). The majority of witnesses, representing all text families,
contain the words in question. Inadvertent omission from a few copies is understandable
if copyists transcribed the audible reading of the text, where the words ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σὲ (“sins against you”) combine expressions with vowel sounds (ῃ, ει, ε) that are similar when read aloud in Greek: ἁμαρτήσῃ (pronounced ha-mar-tay-say) and εἰς σὲ
(pronounced ays-seh).7
o
Because of the “balance of possibilities,” the
Nestle-Aland and UBS Greek texts include the words in [square brackets].8
At the end of
the day, the immediate context, the overall context of scripture, and the “brother’s keeper” principle require application of
both readings.9
The procedural
guidelines that follow would surely apply if my brother sins against me. The
verb “sins” [ἁμαρτήσῃ] is not descriptive of someone’s mere inconsideration or petty
offense that might hurt my feelings, although heeding the Lord’s counsel would
still be helpful in such cases. The Bible makes a clear distinction between persistent
transgressions that jeopardize one’s soul, calling for disciplinary action in
the church, and trivial matters or civil disputes that do not (1 Cor. 5:1–6:18).
To be like
Christ and to follow his direction, we are called to be selfless, and if
necessary, willing to suffer personal wrong (perceived or otherwise) rather
than seeking retaliation or damaging the unity and reputation of his church (1
Cor. 6:7-8).10 Whether I am personally
offended or not, the issue the Lord addresses is a trespass or wrongdoing that
violates the holiness of God and his revealed will. His standard of judgment
overrides my own (Rom. 2:1-8; 14:4).
But what
if my brother sins (in general) without directly affecting me? Can I
legitimately say, “Well, the sin is not against me personally, therefore
these procedural guidelines do not apply”? Notwithstanding the textual variant
involving wider applicability (noted above), Jesus goes on to make particular
application within “the church” [ἡ ἐκκλησία] (Matt. 18:17).
Alluding to the
congregated followers of Christ and community of the saved, the term ἐκκλησία occurs
only three times in the Gospel accounts, all in Matthew, all in the teachings
of Christ. Having promised to build his “church” (Matt. 16:18), Jesus then provided
instruction for how sin is to be dealt with in his church (Matt. 18:15-17). Whether or not the recognized
sin is of a personal nature, its adverse effects have broader implications if left unaddressed, and if ineffectually handled, it necessarily becomes a
congregational matter.
“Sin is like quicksand: Your own efforts only make you
sink deeper. Only an outside hand can pull you out” (author unknown). It was never the Lord’s intention for his followers to be
segregated or isolated or independent in their Christian walk. The word “church” always applies to a collectivity of
believers, never individually, and Jesus’s emphasis on “one another”
proliferates in the writings of his inspired emissaries.11
Further Commentary
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any
trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of
gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:1-2).
“Brethren, if
anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will
save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (Jas. 5:19-20).
--Kevin L. Moore
Endnotes:
1 Unless otherwise noted,
scripture quotations are from the New King James Version (1996).
2 See K. L. Moore, “Luke’s
Unique Perspective on Jerusalem’s Fall and the Kingdom of God (Part 4),” Moore
Perspective (2026), <Link>.
3 See K. L. Moore, “Layers of
Context (Part 3),” Moore Perspective (6 May 2020), <Link>.
4 Cf. Matt. 8:4; 15:5; 23:18-19; Mark 7:11;
Luke 21:1-4.
5 Cf. Matt. 6:21; 7:3-5; 9:13a; 15:8, 18; note also 1 Cor. 11:28; 14:15; Gal.
6:4; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.
6 Philip Wesley Comfort, A Commentary on Textual Additions
to the NT (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2017): 29.
7 Robert H. Gundry, Matthew: A Commentary on His Handbook
for a Mixed Church under Persecution. 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1994): 367; Daniel M. Doriani, “Matthew,” in Vol. VIII of ESV Expository
Commentary: Matthew–Luke (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021): 274. Pronunciation
of NT Greek terms usually depends on the subjective preference of one’s Greek
teacher!
8 Bruce M. Metzger, A
Textual Commentary on the Greek NT. 2nd ed. (Stuttgart:
German Bible Society, 1994): 36.
9 The same textual issue occurs in Luke 17:3: “If your brother sins” (ASV,
CSB, ERV, ESV, ISV, NASB, NET, N/RSV), or “If your brother sins against you” (NIV, N/KJV, WEB), although in the very next verse, the
“against you” [εἰς σὲ] inclusion is
undisputed among textual witnesses. The “brother’s keeper” principle is based on Genesis 4:9.
10 Matt. 5:9-14, 38-48; Rom.
12:17-21; 1 Thess. 5:15.
11 Mark 9:50; John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17; Rom. 1:12; 12:5, 10, 16;
13:8; 14:13, 19; 15:5, 7, 14; 16:16; 1 Cor. 11:33; 12:25; 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12;
Gal. 5:13; Gal. 6:2; Eph. 4:2, 25, 32; Eph. 5:21; Phil. 2:3; Col. 3:9, 13; 1
Thess. 3:12; 4:9, 18; 5:11, 15; 2 Thess. 1:3; Heb. 10:24; Jas. 4:11; 5:9, 16; 1
Pet. 1:22; 4:9; 5:5, 14; 1 John 1:7; 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12; 2 John 5.
Related Posts: Conflict Resolution (Part 2), Church Discipline
Related articles:
Image credit: https://favpng.com/png_view/fingers-hand-index-finger-png/LAsmYCNf