Few biblical passages have been reduced to a slogan as often as Matthew 18:15–20 has. In fact, for many Christians, “Matthew 18” is shorthand for “church discipline.” Churches attempt to implement their understanding of this text in a wide variety of ways, with varying efficacy and emphases. But most fail to consider the larger context of the entire chapter. Jesus is not handing the church a timeless conflict resolution manual, however much we might long for one. Instead, Jesus is describing what life looks like in a community committed to protecting the vulnerable, telling the truth, and pursuing reconciliation.
I believe that the overuse, abuse, and misuse of this passage stems from the desire for an easy way to handle the inevitable conflicts that arise in church life. We know what we’re supposed to do, what we’re supposed to say, and how believers are supposed to behave with one another. We can point to the Bible verses that should guide our conduct, the love that Jesus demonstrates for everyone, and the assurance of the Spirit’s role in curtailing actions that lead to discord. But the reality of shared community is that conflict will arise—especially in communities of faith, where the shared beliefs that hold us together are so intimately tied to our understanding of our own identities. And because of that foreseeable conflict, I understand the desire to pigeonhole these few verses as the magic formula that can fix such problems. But Jesus is up to so much more here. Discipline—especially the sort of discipline that is related to punishment—is far from his mind in this passage.
Just before Jesus says a word about what to do about someone sinning against you, he shines the spotlight on the discipleship example of children. Children, who in the ancient Near Eastern world occupied the lowest position in the social order, are offered as the example of how to gain access into the kingdom of heaven (18:3). Then Jesus warns, in no uncertain terms, against causing one of these “little ones” to stumble. This concern for the vulnerable continues in the parable of the lost sheep (18:12–13). Jesus says, with some evident incredulity, that of course a shepherd leaves the 99 to search for the missing one, and then the shepherd rejoices all the more! The least of these, the least of these, the least of these! Care for the least of these (25:40).
