Matt 18:15-18 (individual offenses)

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        <b>15.  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault 
        between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.</b>
      
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        	This was a personal offense, which created a loss between two brethren.  The motive is to 
        restore the bond by communicating the offense and dealing with it.
      
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        	What kind of offense qualifies?  It must be a tresspass, a sin.
      
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        <b>16.  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the 
        mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.</b>
      
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        	What kind of offense would warrant getting one or two others involved in the issue?  It 
        would seem to be something that, from your perspective, must be resolved in order to 
        continue your bond with that brother.
      
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        		Money Issues?
      
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        		Business issues?
      
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        		Personal offeses
      
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        		Hurt feelings
      
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        	What is the purpose of bringing in the others?
      
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        		two or three witnesses.
      
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        <b>Proverbs 11:14.  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of 
        counsellers there is safety.</b>
      
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        <b>17.  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto</b>
      
      
        <b> the church</b>
      
      
        <b>: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a 
        publican.</b>
      
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        	This implies that the both witnesses and the church are in agreement with the offended, 
        and that the offender will not listen to them.
      
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        	It would really have to be important to go publicly before the church.
      
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        	the statement 'let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican' is in reference to 
        the broken bond between you and him.  
      
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        	Does this statement call on the church to exercise discipline against the individual, or 
        does it refer to the offended only?
      
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        		It does not say 'let him be unto the church as a heathen', but 'unto thee'.
      
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        	So, what was the relationship between the jews and the gentiles/tax collectors?
      
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        <b>Tax collectors were considered enemies of Israel, and gentiles were not part of God's 
        people.  These were not to be associated with by a devout Jew.</b>
      
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        <b>18.  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: 
        and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.</b>
      
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        	This verse relates to v.19 to follow, not to 15-17.  19.  Again I say unto you, That if 
        two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be 
        done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
      
      
        
      
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