archives
Matthew 18:15-20 Regaining A Brother Who Has Strayed
Submitted by admin on Wed, 2008-08-20 23:14. :: matthew
Matthew 18: 15-20 is a text unique to the Gospel of Matthew alone. The closest parallel is found in a Q passage now found in Luke 17:3
Take heed to yourselves
if your brother sins,
rebuke him;
and if he repents,
forgive him.
It has been suggested that Matthew expanded on this Q passage creating a three-step process meant for handling offenses in the community. This might well be the case since the Matthaean community were made up of Jewish converts who have had experience in community handled disputes. This, together with a remark by Paul in 1 Corinthians (1 Cor. 6:2-8) point us to a feature of the early Church that allowed it to handle legal matters within the community of faith.
Sunday 23 (OT A) -- The Church as Agent of Reconciliation
Submitted by admin on Wed, 2008-08-20 23:20. :: sunday thoughts
Matthew 18:15-20 gives the guidelines for the way members of the Church should act in cases of a brother or a sister who sins. In all the steps of the process, the community has one goal: not to lose a sheep that has strayed. Read the article you find here and here and use the following as your guide for reflection.
