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IVP New Testament Commentary Series – Discipline and Forgiveness (18:15-35)
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IVP New Testament Commentary Series
Matthew
RELATIONSHIPS IN THE KINGDOM (18:1-35)
Discipline and Forgiveness (18:15-35)
Discipline and Forgiveness (18:15-35)
- Addressing Stumbling Blocks Seriously (18:15-20)
- Admonish the Brother or Sister Privately First (18:15)
- Witnesses Must Gather Evidence (18:16)
- The Church Must Discipline False Christians (18:17)
- In Such Cases the Church Acts on God's Authority (18:18)
- Witnesses Are to Pray, Not Act Vindictively (18:19)
- Jesus Himself Is the Presence of God (18:20)
- Forgiveness (18:21-35)
The paragraph on discipline fits closely with the preceding paragraph on seeking the straying sheep and the paragraph before that warning against causing little ones to stumble. It also fits with the following story about conditional forgiveness. By holding discipline and grace in their proper tension (with a greater but not imbalanced emphasis on grace), Matthew summons the church to practice tough love.
IVP New Testament Commentaries are made available by the generosity of InterVarsity Press.