Misquoted - "Where Two or More are Gathered" - Matthew 18:20 - Dylan Austin

LifeSpring Christian Church Sermons

Where Two or More are Gathered
Matthew 18:20
Dylan Austin

Part of Misquoted- Context is Key

July 23, 2023

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. —Matthew 18:20

What we think: God’s presence in a worship or prayer gathering

Matthew 18:15-20

What it actually means: God’s presence in church discipline

“[Jesus] is talking about invoking God’s authority in the execution of church discipline. Christ pledges that the decisions of believers arrived at through a process of arbitration are the decisions of God.” —David Christensen, The Rephidim Project “Misusing Matthew 18:18-20”

Bind and Loose

—Matthew 16:19

Terms from Jewish legal system

bind - forbid or prohibit; ban or excommunicate

loose - permit or forgive; restore to community

“Agree” in Mt 18:19 - συμφωνέω (symphōneō): “To be a match”
—Deuteronomy 19:15

We can’t be disciples without discipline

The root word of discipline is “disciple” - from the Latin word discipulus meaning “student”

“discipline” from the Latin word disciplina, meaning “education and training”

—Matthew 4:19

A disciple of Jesus is someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is on mission for Jesus.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” —Matthew 5:17“…the OT’s real and abiding authority must be understood through the person and teaching of him to whom it points and who so richly fulfills it.” —Expositor’s Bible Commentary

“Discipline” as Found in the Bible

מוּסָר (mûsār) - correction to impart morals

σωφρονισμός (sōphronismos) - sound judgment, act sensibly

παιδεύω (paideuō) - teach, instruct, train

ἐγκρατής (egkratēs) - mastering, strong, restraint

. —James 5:19-20

Our primary goal should be restoring the lost before resorting to exclusion.

—Titus 3:9-11

Takeaway: God promises his presence and divine authority when the church attempts to restore the lost.