Matthew 18:18-22 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
In the above verses, we see Jesus emphasizing the importance of when two or three people agree on something. When their decision is a matter of following the law, God will become involved and verify the decision. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. The Old Testament shows how powerful a consensus of individuals can be when deciding someone’s fate. If a crime has been witnessed or confirmed by two or three individuals, the offender is considered guilty. This is part of the laws and regulations that Moses gave the people of Israel. One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. (Deuteronomy 19:15) Because of Moses’ powerful hand in delivering the Jews from Pharaoh’s hands and the many miracles they had seen in the wilderness, they were ready to accept Moses’ teachings as from God. And part of that teaching included what two or three people can do to another person if they are in agreement about a situation of wrongdoing. Even death can be the sentence if two or three agree, for example, that one or more people have been worshipping the heavenly bodies rather than God the Creator. On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. (Deuteronomy 17:6) All of these actions are considered part of God’s plan to control human behavior, to bring justice to a community that follows him. When Jesus points out how people in the community of the church should behave towards someone who has done wrong to another or committed a crime, He says that two or three people much be involved in the accusation. If the accused refuses to be corrected in his or her wrongdoing, then the community must treat the individual as a pagan or a tax collector. They are excised from the community. Jesus goes on to say, Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. In other words, as with the Old Testament laws and regulations given by God to Moses, God will back up decisions that have been derived from a consensus within a community of believers who are functioning under Jesus’ name: his authority. Jesus goes on and says, AGAIN, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. In the context of his previous teaching in this chapter, if believers under the authority and direction of Jesus confirm that someone is out of order, doing unlawful acts or sins within a community, either against others or the community itself, they should be dealt with harshly: treat him or her as a sinner. This teaching also confirms what Jesus said about those who abuse little ones. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Matthew 18:6) As with the Old Testament, outward, bold sin needs to be dealt with in the church. But sin also is an inward condition, not easily detected; but God’s grace through Jesus Christ can take care of both situations under the name of the Redeemer.
Peter, hearing this teaching, knowing the law can be harsh against sinners, and also recognizing his own sins, asked a question about sins committed against him. Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? This question reveals Peter’s knowledge that Jesus is a man of grace and mercy. Peter heard Jesus’ words about justice within a community and how discipline and harsh consequences should be dealt out to the sinner. If these words are to be followed strictly, where is grace, mercy, and forgiveness? Should he garner witnesses to support him in his accusations against someone who has sinned against him? Is this the solution for sin within the community? If he could get two or three witnesses to support his accusation against a foe, could he not find justice then? Would the slate be cleared if he could find rectification? But Peter knew Jesus was not a person of violence or retribution. He knew his teaching included turning the other cheek to a sinner. So Peter interjects with a question to Jesus within the concept of grace and mercy. How many times should I forgive my brother or sister who seeks to do me damage? How many times should I turn the other cheek to someone who intends to hurt me? Up to seven times? Jesus the Lord responds as only He could respond, for He will turn his other cheek to the damage mankind intends for him, to kill him. Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. The perfect, complete, finished number 7, multiplied infinitely seventy-seven times. This reveals God’s grace and mercy towards humankind, a wayward, corrupt, violent people. This is God’s covenant with Noah after the flood. The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. (Genesis 8:21) Grace will be given to mankind to change his nature through the blood of Jesus. Peter heard Jesus’ words of forgiveness, but within those words, Peter also knew that on this earth he would not receive the justice he deserved; neither would people who were hurt by Peter receive their justice. Rectification would not belong to man, but to God; and we know at the judgement seat, all unrepentant sin will receive perfect justice from the hands of the PERFECT ONE. To have order, we must have laws. We must have witnesses to crimes, people who are willing to confess that people have sinned against them or others. Crime has to be dealt with or crime will increase as yeast increases within a loaf of bread. But we no longer follow the law of the Old Testament: Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. (Deuteronomy 19:21) We have courts, laws, and judges to mete out justice. Sometimes the system works and sometimes it strays, but the intention is to have justice for all, no matter what their status or circumstances. No longer can two or three determine justice within a community. We have institutions and conventions for doing that, but the grace of God overrides all that we consider justice. God’s grace forgives to the uttermost.
Where two or three gather together under the authority of Jesus Christ, they have great power in the spiritual domain as well as here on earth. We are priests before the heavenly Father. Our words are honored, and Jesus the Lord intervenes before the Father on our behalf. Today’s scriptures assure us of this reality. And we know that this power crosses over to claiming answers to prayers for needs in our lives. As priests of the Lord, we can believe for miracles as well as justice for wrongdoers. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever.” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrew 7:21-25) We are presently alive in Christ. He is presently presenting our needs before the Father. He is our eternal priest, who seeks the Father’s will in our lives. Therefore as members of the household of God, we have great power. We are people of God, and the Father knows us by our names. We fall under the righteous cloak of Jesus. We are presented to the Father through his name. Consequently, in his name we can ask for anything, but all falls under the will of the Father. In the above verses, we can control a lot that goes on in this world. We can have two or three witnesses defend us in any case, and maybe we will find justice by doing that. But in reality, justice is very fickle, does not alway give us what we deserve, but Jesus and the Father God will give us complete justice some day. But in the meantime, we are to give people the grace and mercy that Jesus gives to the world. He loves his enemies—He died for them. As in Noah’s time, people remain corrupt, violent, far from God’s image. Jesus knew them as they really are, possessing a hatred towards the ONE WHO CREATED THEM. They have wanted their own way in the past and continuing to this day, they want their own way. Today we have computers, telephones that allow us to take a deep dive into our self-gratification. We are gods unto ourselves, figuring out what we want to see or do. No one else can get involved with our intentions or needs: the computer will give us all that we seek. But Peter asked, how many times should I forgive these people who seek their own benefit, who offend me for their own reasons. Seventy-seven times, Jesus replies. Dear friends, you are powerful, for you have the ear of the Father, but can you forgive as Jesus has asked you to do? Can you prefer others before yourself? Or, do you want your own will, seeking the words of the world, living lives of anger or even bitterness. Jesus has a better way than the justice we can find in this world. He said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) Come to him for wisdom and with your needs—He is your answer today and always!
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