In Part 1 of this series on binding and loosing, we saw the historic view point of what binding and loosing really means. By historic, I don’t just mean the interpretation of the Catholic Church, but historical meaning from Bible times and the use of the terms within the Rabbinical tradition.
While the Catholic Church and unfortunately some of the reformed following Catholic tradition have interpreted these terms to mean accepting members and excommunications, we saw that these terms simply mean what we as believers must follow and what we don’t have to follow.
When Scripture is misinterpreted, it invariably leads to problematic application. In this Part 2 of the series, we will take a look at how this misinterpretation ends up in not only abusing membership tactics and also missing the whole point of Matthew 18.
Escalation Matrix
Matthew 18 is often used as a list of items to check mark, when escalating issues within the Church. Is that really the purpose of this passage? Is there a better way? Lets once again take the Berean Way and examine what the Scriptures have to say.
Matthew 18:15-18 15 15 “Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that on the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be confirmed. 17 And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
While the NASB seems to imply a sin, in context and also when looking at other translations, its clear that this is actually a dispute between brothers. Below are some excerpts from other translations:
- KJV: Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee …
- ESV: If your brother sins against you …
- ASV: And if thy brother sin against thee …
- Darby: But if thy brother sin against thee …
- HCSB: If your brother sins against you …
In such disputes, Jesus establishes the rules of engagement, starting with
- a one on one personal discussion
- taking this up with one or two others and
- to the Church
as steps of escalation. However, even before those steps, there is another underlying rule that takes precedence and is explained right after the above passage. Forgive. This is a central tenant and foundational truth and a part of the prayer the apostles had learnt!
Forgive
Given that forgiving was part of the prayer they learnt, Peter asks, how many times do I forgive before escalating a matter.
Matthew 18:21-22 21 Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.
When seen in context, Peter is actually exercising his authority, given by Jesus, to figure out and establish what is binding. While in the passage above Jesus is simply stating the steps of escalation (Matthew 18:15-18), Peter binds us brothers, to forgive first (Matthew 18:21), before escalating! And Jesus binds it too – yes Forgive. Not just Peter’s 7 times – but 77 times (Matthew 18:22)!
Role of the Church
OK – let’s say the brother was indeed forgiven 77 times and still fails to respond in the right way, what then? That is when we bring the dispute over to one or two witnesses and finally to Church. Paul also follows this pattern of escalation, in his epistle to the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 6:1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?
Going back to the role of the Church, in this instance, Paul doesn’t call on the entire Church but Paul expects at least one wise person to be able to judge.
1 Corinthians 6:5-6 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you anyone wise who will be able to decide between his brothers and sisters, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
However, in verse 7, Paul reconfirms and follows, not only the steps to escalate but also super important binding on us believers! Forgive! Let it go!
1 Corinthians 6:7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather suffer the wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?
Biblical Escalation Matrix
Now the Church has the authority to judge between the two brothers. But what if one of them chooses to disobey? Mark what Jesus says “let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector”. To you, meaning the brother against whom this sin was committed. Not the Church!
However, before going ahead and considering someone a Gentile and a tax collector, consider the binding, to forgive seventy-seven times.
With that, the true Biblical escalation matrix, if a brother sins against another brother:
- Forgive 77 times
- If he continues sinning against you, bring it to one or two believers
- Have you considered letting it go? Suffer the wrong? Rather be defrauded?
- Bring it to the Church to be decided by a wise person
- Have you considered letting it go? Suffer the wrong? Rather be defrauded?
- If you are so bent on maligning your brother, is it possible, that it is actually you who is wrong?
- Have you considered letting it go? Suffer the wrong? Rather be defrauded?
Conclusion
While misinterpreted binding and loosing was used by Catholic Church to drive fear of excommunications and hence compliance, its unfortunate that the same strategy is today used by some so called reformed, to shun and excommunicate those who don’t blindly follow the leadership. However, binding and loosing, in context, is apostles stating what should be bound as something that we should follow as believers and what we don’t need to follow. It has nothing to do with Church membership.
Also, in context, an important binding lesson for us believers, is to avoid leaping in to incorrectly use Matthew 18 as a blue print to escalate issues or abuse it with fear of excommunications but to focus on forgiving! 77 times.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
