The Gospel of Matthew
The Wandering Brother: Mt 18,15-20
These verses are about your brother or sister who sins, that is, a fellow disciple of the Church. We can note "your". The NRSV in its attempt at inclusive language renders this as "another member of the Church" which I think is too institutional. Talking of your "brother or sister" always implies a close relationship between two people.
A four stage process is outlined: first try to sort it out between yourselves and hopefully he will listen. Then seconly bring along some witnesses. Only at the third stage if necessary is a formal reporting to the Church leading. Church here is the assembly. The fourth stage, verse 17b, is the last resort; if he stubbornly refuses to listen even to the assembly, then he becomes an outcast.
Deuteronomy 19,15 shows the importance of a group of witnesses. Leviticus 19,15-18 shows the underlying attitude with its command "love your neighbour as yourself."
With "Gentiles and and tax collectors" we remember how Jesus was always reaching out to outsiders. Verse 14 reminds us that it is not the will of the Father that one of the little ones should be lost. Thus for the brother (or sister) who is sent away from the community, there must always be a way back as well. That will follow with Peter's question in verse 21.
In verses 18 & 19-20, this is indicated by the two formal "Amen" statements.
The binding and loosing in verse 18 gives Jesus' authority to the treatment of verse 17. The divine passive indicates that the assembly/church decision is ratified by the Father.
As I noted, only here and in Jesus's commission to Peter in chapter 16 is the word "church" used anywhere in the Gospels. The Greek word ecclesia means "assembly". Here in chapter 18 it must be referring to the local church.
The power of "Binding and loosing" which Jesus gives to Peter in chapter 16 is now given to the whole community. Leaders exercise their powers on behalf of all. The Father will ratify the decision, hence the "Amen".
"Amen" repeated in verse 19 underlines God's involvement in the whole process. Everything must be done in the openness of prayer and the assurance of the presence of Jesus with the community. This presence is a theme of this Gospel at its beginning and end: Emmanuel, God is with us (1,23) and "I am with you" (28,20).
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The Sunday Gospel
For these verses read as a Sunday Gospel, the short passage from Ezekiel 33 does at least provide a useful stress on personal responsibility, both by the brother causing the offence and by those in the Church trying to sort out the issues. The wider setting of compassion and forgiveness which is key to this passage is missing, though the reading from St Paul stresses the importance of love.
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