I've always interpreted that verse to mean that Jesus is present when his followers gather together to worship him. Is that accurate? It seems out of context with the preceding scripture.
Question: "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them"
- Thread starter RepentingChristian
- Start date
-
Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.
You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
Lambano
Well-Known Member
- Jul 13, 2021
- 10,030
- 12,802
- 113
- Faith
- Christian
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
No, it’s definitely in context.
In the context of Matthew 18:20, verses 12-35 all talk about the centrality of the whole covenant “family” (i.e. the Ekklesia, "the assembly"): Seeking the lost members of the family (vv 10-14); restoring and healing the broken relationships (as much as it depends on us, vv15-17), sharing each other's prayer burdens (vv 18-20), and forgiving each other’s trespasses (vv 20-35). That’s where Jesus is. Jesus is there.
In the context of Matthew 18:20, verses 12-35 all talk about the centrality of the whole covenant “family” (i.e. the Ekklesia, "the assembly"): Seeking the lost members of the family (vv 10-14); restoring and healing the broken relationships (as much as it depends on us, vv15-17), sharing each other's prayer burdens (vv 18-20), and forgiving each other’s trespasses (vv 20-35). That’s where Jesus is. Jesus is there.
Last edited:
Matthew 18
English Standard Version
Who Is the Greatest?
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,[a] it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Temptations to Sin
7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell[c] of fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.[d] 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my[e] Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
If Your Brother Sins Against You
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[f] in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
English Standard Version
Who Is the Greatest?
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,[a] it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Temptations to Sin
7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell[c] of fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.[d] 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my[e] Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
If Your Brother Sins Against You
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[f] in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
@RepentingChristian so, what you think the context is? The apostolic authority? Two or three apostles in agreement = the authority of Christ?
After reading it again, it seems to be a "hopscotch" of ideas all packed into one paragraph. Perhaps the author(s) simply chose to condense the main points.
quietthinker
Well-Known Member
You don't need 50 people praying for God to hear or be there....even 2 or 3.....even 1......size is irrelevant
It is common in gospels to take various teachings of Jesus without original context and to stick them together or to place them into different contexts, when gospels are compared. It is the mainstream view that the synoptic gospels authors had the same source - some collection of the words of Jesus.
But the immediate context like the sentence before can be applied, IMO. And it seems to be the apostolic authority.
The paragraph in question doesn't flow. It seems to jump from one topic to another. That's OK. It just seems odd.
That is absolutely correct.
It looks like the direct context is church discipline. However, the term has a global context. If one or two gather in his name in any place he is there in the midst of them.
Mt 18:15-20
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
It's talking about church discipline. Here's an excellent video on this passage (10:23 in length). I've cued it up to where Caleb starts teaching. Before that, there's a clip from the sermon that he refutes in his teaching.
Similar threads
