Grafted-In Ministries
Commonly Misused Bible Verse: Matthew 18:19-20
By: Tim Chaffey
Both believers and unbelievers are guilty of misusing Bible verses by ripping them from their original context.
This is post #4 in the Commonly Misused Bible Verses series. So far I have commented on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Jeremiah 29:11 . These two verses are often pulled out of their contexts by well-meaning Christians. Matthew 7:1 is a very popular verse for unbelievers to misuse. Click on the links for more information on any of those articles.
For today’s post, I want to take a look at another verse that is frequently misused by well-meaning Christians. Bear in mind that I am not trying to pick on anyone or attack them for misusing these verses. Most of the time they are misused because we have heard someone else misuse them and we’re used to hearing the verse in a particular (but wrong) context, so we repeat the same error. This series is designed to encourage people to take a close look at Scripture before repeating what we’ve heard.
Commonly Misused Bible Verse #4: Matthew 18:19-20
Think about how many times you have heard someone quote or summarize this passage during a prayer or immediately before praying.
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19-20, NKJV)
The idea that is commonly promoted is that if there are two or more people gathered together who agree on something, and they ask Elohim for it in prayer, then Yeshua will be present and Elohim will answer their request.
If you’ve read any of the other posts in this series, then you know that we need to look at the context to see what is wrong with the way many people use this verse. However, before we do that, can you see some problems with the idea that Elohim will grant the request of those who come together and are in agreement in prayer? First of all, Yeshua said “where two or three are gathered” in His name, so how could this apply to settings of four or more? Also, why would it take two or three believers to be gathered together for Yeshua to be in their midst? Isn’t He already present in each and every individual believer? So even if one believer prays, isn’t Yeshua already there?
So there are already a couple of problems with the common use of this passage. Now let’s take a look at the context.
15 Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the congregation. But if he refuses even to hear the congregation, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 18 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again ,I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.This section deals with a subject that most congregations completely neglect: congregation discipline. Yeshua said that if you have a brother who sins against you, then you need to go to him and try to work it out. If he refuses to acknowledge his fault, then you bring one or two more witnesses to help work things out. So including you, that would make two or three witnesses - recognize that phrase? Not only is it repeated in these verses, but it comes from the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 19:15 and more). Legal cases needed to have two or three witnesses to establish a matter.
Back to Yeshua’ story. If the sinning brother did not make things right in the presence of two or three witnesses, then the case was to be brought before the congregation. If he refused to listen to the congregation’s decision, then he was to be thrown out of the congregation. I know that sounds harsh in our day because precious few congregations practice discipline as Yeshua instructed, but that is what we are commanded to do.
The Jews, though they say there is no congregation less than ten, yet own that the divine presence may be with a lesser number, even as small an one as here mentioned (b). "Ten that sit and study in the law, the Shechaniah dwells among them, as it is said, Psa 82:1. From whence does this appear, if but five? from Amo 9:6, from whence, if but three? from Psa 82:1, from whence, if but two? from Mal 3:16, from whence, if but one? from Exo 20:24.'' And again (c), "two that sit together, and the words of the law are between them, the Shechaniah dwells among them, according to Mal 3:16, from whence does it appear, that if but one sits and studies in the law, the holy blessed Elohim hath fixed a reward for him? from Lam 3:28.'' (a) Misn. Sanhedrim, c. 1. sect. 6. T. Bab. Megilia, fol. 23. 2. Gloss. in ib. (b) Pirke Abot, c. 3. sect. 6. (c) Ib. sect. 2.It is with this in mind that Yeshua said that the Father would grant the request of two or more who gather together in Messiah’s name and are in agreement. Agreement on what? On disciplining the erring brother. That’s what this passage is about and yet so many believers use it as though Yeshua promised to answer their prayers when offered in certain situations.
Before I finish this post let me stress what the Bible actually does say about prayer. The Apostle John wrote, “Now this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15). John also wrote, “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).
So we can have confidence about Elohim answering our prayers when we are obediently following Him and praying according to His will. If you haven’t experienced answered prayer, then perhaps you aren’t living in obedience and/or praying according to His will (or maybe He did answer it and you didn’t recognize the response because He often answers in ways we don’t expect).