Matthew 18:10-20 – Sacrificial Rescue (pt. 2)

Prop: God’s two acts of rescue

1. Rescuing his little ones (vv. 10-14)

 

2. Rescuing straying brothers (vv. 15-20)

 

Matthew 18 – Jesus’ Values of the Kingdom.

Childlike Humility (vv. 1-6)

Radical Amputation (vv. 7-9)

Sacrificial Rescue (vv. 10-14)

Affectionate Holiness (vv. 15-20)

Unconditional Forgiveness (vv. 21-35)

 

Intro: Section brings up topic of biblical church discipline, also called, restoration. One of the marks of true conversion in believers is moral purity.  Holiness.

• Someone submitted to Jesus Christ as Lord will in some measure, live a life of holiness.
  • Paul exhorted the Corinthians to live Holy:

 

^ESV  2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2Co 7:1 ESV)

 

• God is holy and commands every believer to be holy (1 Pt. 1:15).

 

• Holiness is sum of God’s character. 

 

^ESV  Psalm 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. (Psa 12:6 ESV)

 

^ESV  Psalm 119:140 Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it. (Psa 119:140 ESV)

[KEY] The church, reflects God’s character, and called to preserve God’s holy witness.   

• Paul stresses this desire over the church:

 

^ESV  2 Corinthians 11:2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. (2Co 11:2 ESV)

 

• Christ’s goal for believers and consequently, for his church:

 

^ESV  Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,²⁷ so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Eph 5:26-27 ESV)

 

^ESV  Colossians 1:22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (Col 1:22 ESV)

• Holiness is expected and commanded but not all-professing Christ, follow this path.
  • Christians wander away, ensnared by sin.
    • Through ignorance and willful disobedience.
    • Necessitating for shepherds to a go after for restoration.

 

• God holds the [shepherds] and his church accountable for wandering sheep.

 

Lord’s parable in Luke 15.

 

 Luke 15:3-8.

³ So he told them this parable:

⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’

⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

⁸ “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? (Luk 15:3-8 ESV)

[CONTEXT] cf. w/immed. context: Matt. 18:7-9 [“cut off” holiness]; vv. 10-14 [shepherd, sheep].

[Key] Primary way to restore wandering believers is described here: Sacrificial Rescue! Church Discipline. 

 

• Matthew 18 details a four-step rescue process, calling believers back from sins.

 

^ESV  Matthew 18:15-20 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

¹⁶ But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

¹⁸ Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Mat 18:16-20 ESV)

 

[TRANS] Simple pattern for church to follow. 

 

• Four steps:

 

Step 1.

• Any believer’s responsibility to confront any other believer when they observe believer who is ensnared in sin.
  • Someone’s foot in the trap (cf. Galatians 6:1).
  • Cannot/will not un-trap himself.

 

^ESV  Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Gal 6:1 ESV)

 

• The goal is repentance and restoration.
  • When sinning believer acknowledges and repents of it.
  • One brother has won the other.

 

• First step is mostly dynamic and informal
  • Could say, church discipline is ongoing w/in church.
  • In this sense, it is always working by limiting from step 2, 3, 4.
  • Most ignorant of full process.

 

• Most discipline never reaches a public level.

 

Step 2.

 

• Believers who remain unrepentant invite second step.
  • Believer brings others, two or three believers.
    • At the mouth of two or three witnesses,
      • Facts of the sin, confirmation of the process, confirmed.
      • Dt. 17:6; 19:15; 2 Cor. 13:1.

 

Step 3.

 

• If no repentance from the second confrontation, then whole church brought in.
  • Normally carried out by communicating through the leadership of the church.
    • Communication through public worship service.
      • No different than other biblical practices w/in church life.
      • (i.e. Preaching, Baptisms, The Lord’s Supper).

 

• Congregation joins the pursuit for straying brother or sister to return.
  • Repentance to God.
  • Restoration to the flock.

 

• Introducing an undetermined period where a straying person is tested.
  • Either softening or hardening.
  • The elders are overseers of this process in concert with the flock.

 

Step 4.

 

• If refuses to listen, then step 4 is issued (cff. vv. 18-20),
  • Person is excommunicated or disfellowshipped from the congregation.
    • Not considered a member spiritually, practically.
    • What means in terms of attendance is determined by motivations.
    • Assumed attendance changes.

 

• Treated as one who rejects Gospel; rejects Christ.
  • Members warned of division.
  • Members warned by the consequences of sin.
  • Members exhort person repent and come to a true relationship w/X.

 

• If straying individual repents; fully reinstated into the body of believers.
  • Assumed to meet w/elders.
    • Evaluation over professed repentance.
    • Discretion of Elders, restored to the congregation.

 

• At a public meeting.
  • Restored to all the rights, duties, privileges.
  • And responsibilities of fellowship and/or membership.

 

[KEY] Verses 18-20 are often misapplied by being misinterpreted.  

 

• Should be understood within this context of these church proceedings.
  • Jesus says, “Truly” to validate this application.

 

• Whatever the church binds on earth shall be found in heaven.
  • Binding and loosing grammatically future middle and perfect passive verbs.
    • Meaning what happens in real time down here is working in concert with what the Lord himself “shall have been doing” in heaven.
    • Both synchronized with heaven’s fulfillment [simultaneous; while final].

 

• Two or three represent those involved in these formal decisions.
  • Decisions representing the Lord’s adjudications.
  • Severe gravity.

 

• God is in the middle of these proceedings.
  • Lord’s special presence.
  • Lord’s authority over his church.

 

• Four-fold process of Biblical Church Discipline/Restoration

 

[TRANS] Straightforward from Scripture; both serious and public. Gravity and public nature make for a wider understanding from the whole Counsel of God.

[Question] “Is this really supposed to happen w/in a local church?” 

 

[Prop] Six things happen in your church when you practice Church Discipline.

Sacrificial Rescue

 

[TRANS] Learn from the NT real life examples for how this should work.

 

• Biblical Church Discipline/Restoration glorifies God and proves, obedience to Christ.

 

• Cooperating w/God in church discipline, proves to X and watching world, church desires to glorify Him.

 

[TRANS] New Testament discipline passages.

 

[KEY] Division and laziness – serious then; serious now.

 

^ESV  Romans 16:17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. (Rom 16:17 ESV)

 

^ESV  1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (1Th 5:14 ESV)

 

^ESV  2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.⁹ It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.¹¹ For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.¹² Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.¹³ As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.¹⁴ If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.

¹⁵ Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. (2Th 3:7-15 ESV)

 

[KEY] Though similar, a few additional elements when confronting a Pastor/Elder w/in church.

 

^ESV  1 Timothy 5:19-20 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁰ As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. (1Ti 5:20 ESV)

 

[KEY] False teaching and false teachers and divisiveness must be addressed.

 

^ESV  1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, ⁴ he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,⁵ and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. (1Ti 6:4-5 ESV)

 

^ESV  Titus 3:10-11 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, ¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Tit 3:11 ESV)

 

Baptist theologian John L. Dagg:

 

“A shepherd who won’t fend off wolves will soon find his sheep consumed.” 

 

[TRANS] The largest anecdote/example of church discipline in NT is 1 Corinthians 5.

 

^ESV  1 Corinthians 5:1-13 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife.² And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.³ For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.⁴ When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,⁵ you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.⁶ Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?⁷ Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.⁸ Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people–¹⁰ not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.¹¹ But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler–not even to eat with such a one.¹² For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? ¹³ God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” (1Co 5:13 ESV)

 

• Biblical Church Discipline/Restoration as a goal, is to reclaim of those who have veered from the path of obedience.

 

“The goal in every type of discipline, whether it be gentle correction, admonition, rebuke, or excommunication, is always the restoration of the offender” (Wray, Biblical Church Discipline).  

• The intent this is always rescue; complete restoration to the Lord and His body.
  • Temptation while under discipline is being singled out.
  • Temptation that being sinned against.

 

• Biblical Church Discipline/Restoration is just that, biblical.

 

“Although excommunication also punishes the man, it does so in such a way that, by forewarning him of his future condemnation, it may call him back to salvation” [John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion].

 

• Biblical Church Discipline/Restoration maintains the purity of the church and her worship, with a specific view toward the avoidance of profaning the elements of the Lord’s Supper.

 

[Key] When the Corinthian church persisted in their accommodation of a man in sexual sin, Paul admonished them as we just observed above (1 Cor. 5:9-11).

 

• Associating w/so-called brother makes the church and the world indistinguishable.
  • Purity of individuals in fellowship is being maintained.
  • Why Paul’s call to examination while partaking the Lord’s supper:

 

^ESV  1 Corinthians 11:27-30 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.²⁹ For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. ³⁰ That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. (1Co 11:28-30 ESV)

 

“We must maintain the purity of Christ’s visible church to the full extent of our knowledge and power. This is all the more evident once we recognize that false doctrine and bad conduct are infectious. If these are tolerated in the church all members will receive hurt” [Wray]

 

[KEY] Early church, purged w/Apostle’s first case of discipline.

 

^ESV  Acts 5:1-14 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” ⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. ⁶ The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. ⁷ After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” ⁹ But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” ¹⁰ Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. ¹² Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. ¹³ None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (Act 5:1-14 ESV)

 

• Biblical Church Discipline/Restoration vindicates the honor and integrity of Christ and Christianity by exhibiting fidelity to His principles.

 

[KEY] Paul exhorted Corinthians to discipline fellow believers w/grace and love.

 

^ESV  2 Corinthians 2:6-8 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, ⁷ so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. (2Co 2:7-8 ESV)

• Corinthians refusing to fully forgive repentant sinner seeking restoration.
  • Discipline is Rescue.
  • Faithfulness is restoring the repentant.

 

• Refusing to restore completely missing the point!

 

[Illus] The first time I heard 2 Corinthians 2 applied in a church setting was when I attended a Sunday evening service, interviewing right out of seminary. Young lady took the stage before the sermon w/her father standing beside her, began to cry and publicly confess her repentance for becoming pregnant outside of wedlock! Her tears were tears of sadness and joy as she quoted Philippians 2 about Jesus who took the form of a slave to save her. At the close of her testimony, the pastor instead of preaching a sermon, quoted 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 where then the whole church proceeded to stand and line up to one by one hug and restore her fully within the fellowship. I even introduced myself at the end of the line. Judy and I later came to the church and began a home bible study she joined. Where she met her future husband, who I performed my first wedding for, and who later legally adopted this child who he would raise. This is the power of full restoration.  

 

• Biblical Church Discipline/Restoration deters others from sinning.

 

[KEY] Paul said regarding leaders who persist in sin:

 

^ESV  1 Timothy 5:20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. (1Ti 5:20 ESV)

• Knowing anyone in church could be publicly rebuked in the presence of all acts as an inbuilt inhibiter for all to avoid the same sin. 

 

• A self-cleaning oven.
• A self-purifying effect.

 

• Biblical Church Discipline/Restoration prevents giving God cause to set himself against a local church.

 

[KEY] Revelation 2:14-25 to see how intimately involved Christ is as the Head of His Church. 

 

^ESV  Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. ¹⁵ So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.¹⁶ Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.¹⁷ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’¹⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.,¹⁹ “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. ²⁰ But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.²¹ I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. ²² Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, ²³ and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. ²⁴ But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. ²⁵ Only hold fast what you have until I come. (Rev 2:15-25 ESV)

• Obedience is extremely important.
  • Churches refusing discipline its members puts church in danger of God’s judgement.
    • American Churches.
      • Commercialized social clubs, meant for psychological well-being.
      • Churches are houses of worship.

 

• Often the rational is to stay out of legal trouble.
  • In danger of government shutdown.
  • The danger is spiritual shutdown.
    • God’s judgment much worse!
    • Put out of existence.

 

Conclusion:  “Is discipline too harsh?”

Nearly every organization uses a form of discipline. 

 

• Corrective measures on its members in other organizations but not w/in church.

 

[Appl] Fraudulent lawyer debarred, volatile NBA player fined, mal-practicing doctor can lose his/her medical license and a teacher can be fired.  What would we think of a coach who instruct by never drills?  A math teacher who explains but never corrects?  A doctor who talks about health but ignores cancer? 

 

“They are doing half their job!” 

• Athletes need instruction and to practice.
• Teaching requires papers to be corrected!
• Doctoring requires fighting disease!

 

• What we think about a church: teaches and disciples, but doesn’t practice church discipline?
  • Make sense?
  • Most churches do teach and disciple but very few practice discipline through its full process.

 

• The problem is that this is mal-practice, ignoring cancerous tumors that will be lethal left alone – that can be dealt with for the sake of health.

 

[Key] Warnings for wrong motivations for church discipline are biblical.

 

• Pride or being judgmental or having a superiority complex lead churches to drop this biblical practice.

 

• The single most, right motivation for discipline is love [rescue]!
  • Same English root word that is used for discipline is used for disciple!
  • Loving Christ and loving Christian disciple is what compels discipline.

 

^ESV  Hebrews 12:6-11 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” ⁷ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?⁸ If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.⁹ Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.¹¹ For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Heb 12:7-11 ESV)

 

“Churches should practice discipline for the sake of individuals caught in sin, for their repentance, so that weaker sheep will not be led astray, loving non-Christians neighbors, that they won’t be confused by a false witness and for loving Christ that his name will be protected and honored.”

• Churches can look vigorous on the outside, with motive to win the world; while being really sick on inside.
  • No discipline means there is no immune system on the inside.
  • The body is vulnerable.

 

• Bible-based immune system is a brother to brother plan of sacrificial rescue meant to prioritize God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.