Matthew 18:15-22

Dealing With Sin in the Church

15 “If your brother or sister ^[a] sins, ^[b] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

16 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.’^[c]

17 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.

18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be^[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[e] loosed in heaven.

19 “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.

20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.^[f]

Cross References

• 1. Leviticus 19:17; Luke 17:3; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19,20
• 2. Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15; John 8:17; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28
• 3. 1 Corinthians 6:1-6
• 4. S Romans 16:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14
• 5. Matthew 16:19; John 20:23
• 6. S Matthew 7:7
• 7. S Matthew 28:20
• 8. S Matthew 6:14
• 9. Luke 17:4
• 10. Genesis 4:24

Footnotes

• [a]. The Greek word for "brother or sister" ("adelphos" ) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verses 21 and 35.
• [b]. Some manuscripts "sins against you"
• [c]. Deut. 19:15
• [d]. Or "will have been"
• [e]. Or "will have been"
• [f]. Or "seventy times seven"