Matthew 18:17

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

And {G1161} if {G1437} he shall neglect to hear {G3878} them {G846}, tell {G2036} it unto the church {G1577}: but {G1161}{G2532} if {G1437} he neglect to hear {G3878} the church {G1577}, let him be {G2077} unto thee {G4671} as {G5618} an heathen man {G1482} and {G2532} a publican {G5057}.

If he refuses to hear them, tell the congregation; and if he refuses to listen even to the congregation, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax-collector.

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.

Commentary

Matthew 18:17 is a crucial verse within Jesus' teaching on church discipline, outlining the final step in a process designed to restore a sinning brother or sister. This passage emphasizes both the seriousness of sin within the community and the loving, persistent efforts required to bring about repentance and reconciliation.

Context

This verse is the culmination of a three-step process initiated by Jesus in Matthew 18:15 and Matthew 18:16. The preceding verses describe first a private confrontation, then a confrontation with one or two witnesses. If these attempts fail to bring the offending party to repentance, the matter is to be brought before the entire believing community.

The broader context of Matthew 18 focuses on the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven, advocating for humility (Matthew 18:3-4), care for "little ones" (Matthew 18:6), and the importance of forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22). Thus, church discipline, while appearing severe, is framed within a context of love, restoration, and the protection of the flock.

Key Themes

  • Church Authority: Jesus grants significant authority to the local assembly (the "church") in matters of internal discipline. This authority is further underscored in Matthew 18:18 with the concept of "binding and loosing," signifying decisions made on earth being affirmed in heaven.
  • Accountability within the Community: The verse highlights the expectation that believers are accountable to one another and ultimately to the collective body of Christ. Ignoring the church's counsel is presented as a grave offense.
  • Separation for Purity: The phrase "let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican" signifies a necessary separation from fellowship. This is not an act of condemnation but a recognition that the unrepentant individual has chosen to operate outside the community's standards and therefore cannot enjoy the full privileges of its fellowship.
  • Restoration as the Goal: While seemingly harsh, the ultimate goal of this process is always the restoration of the individual. The hope is that the social separation will lead to a realization of their error and genuine repentance.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Church" (ekklesia): The Greek word ekklesia literally means "a called-out assembly" or "congregation." Here, it refers to the local community of believers, underscoring their collective responsibility and authority in upholding godly standards.
  • "Heathen man and a publican": In Jesus' time, "heathen men" (Gentiles) were considered outside the covenant people of Israel, and "publicans" (tax collectors) were Jewish individuals widely despised for collaborating with the Roman authorities and often engaging in extortion. By instructing that the unrepentant brother be treated as such, Jesus indicates a removal from the privileges and close fellowship of the believing community, much like Paul's later instructions to "put away from among yourselves that wicked person". This treatment was not meant to be permanent if repentance occurred, but rather a severe form of social pressure.

Practical Application

Matthew 18:17 provides a framework for healthy church discipline, which is vital for the spiritual well-being and purity of the Christian community. It teaches several important lessons for believers today:

  • Seriousness of Sin: It underscores that unrepentant sin, especially that which harms the body, cannot be ignored.
  • Love and Patience: The multi-step process emphasizes that discipline should always begin with private, loving attempts at reconciliation, escalating only when necessary.
  • Community Responsibility: It highlights the church's collective responsibility to uphold biblical standards and to care for its members, even through difficult measures.
  • Hope for Restoration: Even when an individual is treated as an outsider, the hope remains that this separation will lead to a change of heart and eventual return to fellowship. The church's posture should always be ready to welcome a repentant individual back.

Understanding and applying this verse requires wisdom, humility, and a deep commitment to both truth and love, ensuring that all actions are for the glory of God and the ultimate good of all involved.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:6

    ¶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:9

    ¶ I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

  • 1 Corinthians 6:7

    Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather [suffer yourselves to] be defrauded?

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:14

    And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:15

    Yet count [him] not as an enemy, but admonish [him] as a brother.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:3

    For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, [concerning] him that hath so done this deed,

  • 1 Corinthians 5:5

    To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
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