Restoring the Fallen: Dealing with Sin in Others According to Matthew 18

A Call to Restoration: The Heart of Church Discipline

When Jesus gives instructions in Matthew 18:15-17 about how Christians should deal with sin in others, the goal is not punishment but restoration. The process Jesus outlines is rooted in love and care for the individual who has fallen into sin, seeking to restore them to fellowship with God and the community of believers. Jesus said, “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.” The emphasis is on gaining a brother or sister, not condemning them.

Church discipline is an expression of love, not judgmentalism. Galatians 6:1 echoes this principle: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” The purpose of confronting sin is to gently restore the person to a right relationship with God and the church, knowing that we are all vulnerable to sin.

The entire process of dealing with sin, according to Jesus, must be done with humility, gentleness, and a desire for reconciliation. This reflects the heart of God, who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Step One: Private Confrontation

The first step Jesus instructs in dealing with sin in others is to address the issue privately. Matthew 18:15 says, “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.” This private confrontation is crucial because it allows for a personal and direct conversation without the pressure or influence of others. The goal is to resolve the issue quietly, preserving the dignity of the person and avoiding unnecessary embarrassment.

This step highlights the importance of handling sin with discretion and care. Gossip or public exposure should be avoided at this stage. Proverbs 17:9 says, “He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.” By addressing the sin privately, there is an opportunity for repentance and reconciliation without creating division within the church or community.

Private confrontation should always be done with a heart of humility and a spirit of gentleness. Ephesians 4:15 teaches us to speak the truth in love: “But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.” The aim is not to condemn or shame but to lovingly correct and restore. When approached with a loving and humble attitude, many conflicts can be resolved at this stage, restoring the person to fellowship and preserving the unity of the church.

Step Two: Bringing Witnesses

If the person does not listen to private correction, Jesus instructs that witnesses should be involved. Matthew 18:16 says, “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.’” This step provides additional accountability and ensures that the issue is addressed fairly and without bias. The witnesses are there not to gang up on the person, but to confirm the truth of the situation and help mediate the process of reconciliation.

The involvement of witnesses also protects both parties. It ensures that the issue is handled justly and helps prevent false accusations or misunderstandings. Deuteronomy 19:15 emphasizes the importance of witnesses: “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.” By including others in the conversation, the process becomes more transparent and accountable, while still seeking to resolve the issue privately.

At this stage, the aim remains restoration. The hope is that the additional voices will bring clarity and help the individual see their need for repentance. The presence of witnesses adds weight to the conversation and demonstrates the seriousness of the situation, but it still operates within the context of love and concern for the person’s spiritual well-being.

Step Three: Bringing It Before the Church

If the person remains unrepentant even after the involvement of witnesses, Jesus instructs that the matter should be brought before the church. Matthew 18:17 says, “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.” This step marks a more serious stage of church discipline, as it now involves the entire body of believers. The community’s involvement reflects the corporate nature of the church and the shared responsibility for maintaining purity and unity within the body of Christ.

Bringing the issue before the church is not about public shaming but about calling the entire community to prayer and action for the restoration of the individual. It is a collective plea for repentance. The church as a whole is invited to reach out to the person, showing love, concern, and a desire for reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 2:6-7 provides a picture of how the church should respond to someone who has been disciplined: “This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.” Even in discipline, the church’s goal is to forgive, comfort, and restore, not to drive someone away in shame.

At this stage, the gravity of the sin and the unrepentant attitude of the individual have reached a point where the church must act, not only for the sake of the individual but also for the sake of the church’s witness and holiness.

Step Four: Treating Them as a Gentile and a Tax Collector

If the person continues in unrepentance, Jesus concludes, “But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” This final step involves distancing the unrepentant individual from the fellowship of the church. The idea of treating someone as a “Gentile and tax collector” means they are regarded as an outsider, someone who is no longer part of the community of believers.

However, even this step is not an act of final rejection but rather an effort to bring the person to repentance. The purpose of distancing them from the church community is to help them realize the seriousness of their sin and their need for reconciliation with both God and the church. 1 Corinthians 5:5 illustrates this principle: “Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” The goal remains the salvation and restoration of the person, even if it means allowing them to experience the consequences of their sin.

Jesus’ approach to treating someone as a Gentile or tax collector also provides insight into how we are to treat them. While they are no longer part of the fellowship, we are still called to love them and seek their redemption. After all, Jesus was known for reaching out to Gentiles and tax collectors, showing them grace and offering them the opportunity to repent and believe. The church’s posture should still be one of love and hope, praying for their eventual restoration.

The Role of Forgiveness in Church Discipline

Forgiveness is at the heart of the process Jesus outlines in Matthew 18. The goal of confronting sin is not punishment but reconciliation. Matthew 18:21-22 immediately follows Jesus’ instructions on church discipline and addresses the importance of forgiveness: “Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’” This teaches that forgiveness should be boundless, just as God’s forgiveness toward us is infinite.

Even as we confront sin, we must be ready and willing to forgive when there is genuine repentance. Forgiveness is the pathway to restoration, and the church must model the forgiveness that we have received from Christ. Ephesians 4:32 calls believers to this posture: “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Forgiveness is not optional in the life of the church; it is a reflection of God’s grace and mercy toward us.

Conclusion: Restoring the Broken and Preserving the Church

Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 18 provide a loving and careful process for dealing with sin within the church. It begins with private confrontation and, if necessary, progresses to involving witnesses and the broader church. The goal at every step is not punishment but restoration, with the hope that the individual will repent and be reconciled to God and the community. If repentance does not occur, the church must act in love, even if that means treating the person as an outsider, all the while praying for their eventual restoration. Throughout the process, forgiveness, love, and a desire for reconciliation must guide every action, reflecting the heart of God for His people.