Thread: tic-tac-toe three in a row -- the truth about Matthew 18:20 where two or more are gathered -- oxoxo hugs and kisses saints of God
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tic-tac-toe three in a row -- the truth about Matthew 18:20 where two or more are gathered -- oxoxo hugs and kisses saints of God
Posted : 27 Apr, 2021 08:10 AM
Surprise! It's about church discipline
Matthew 18:20 is often used to give legitimacy to a small prayer meeting or church service. The pastor might say something like “There are just a few of us here tonight, but we are glad that we don’t have to have a hge crowd for God to listen to us. After all, Jesus promises, ‘Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am there.’” This sounds comforting until it is analyzed and taken to its logical conclusion. What if there are not two? What if there is only one who is praying in isolation? Does that mean Jesus is not there? If the answer is “no,” then we come back to asking, “What does Matthew 18:20 really mean?”
look at the context of “where two or three are gathered.” The NIV groups Matthew 18:15–20 together as one paragraph. The paragraph divisions, of course, are not an inspired part of the text, as the originals were written without any spaces. However, the NIV paragraph division is based on the content of the passage and seems to be right on target in this case..........
Matthew 18:15to17 tells how to deal with sin in the church; it is a passage on what is commonly called “church discipline”: “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
Verse 18 then gives assurance that, when this process is followed, God is working in it: “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
And then, verses 19to20 give a final assurance: “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
the context of “where two or three are gathered together in my name” (Matthew 18:20, KJV) has to do with church discipline and the confrontation of the wayward sinner. In verse 16, the principle has been invoked of needing “two or three witnesses” in making an accusation (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15). It seems that the mention of “two or three” in verse 20 echoes that principle; the “two or three” are confronting sin in the church.
Jesus cites the Old Testament Law that said an accusation from a single individual is insufficient to bring action in a criminal case. However, two or three witnesses who agree are sufficient to establish a matter. The law in Deuteronomy regulated a human court. Jesus applies this to the “heavenly court.” When the erring brother or sister in the church is confronted by “two or three witnesses” and refuses to repent, these witnesses bring the matter before the church. Jesus assures us that, when this happens, it is not just the witnesses who are bringing action against the wrongdoer, but He is there with them. Church discipline is sanctioned by both the Father and the Son. This is important because we live in an age when it is not fashionable to confront or “judge” anyone’s lifestyle as sinful. Those who do step forward to call out sin in the church can take heart in the fact that they are not acting alone; Christ is with them in the endeavor
The process of church discipline calls for “two or three,” and this seems to be the best application for this verse. The two or three who gather in Jesus’ name are not coming together in a prayer meeting or a worship service but in a matter of church discipline. The two or three witnesses have confronted the sinner in a spirit of humility (see Galatians 6:1), and the sinner has not repented. So the two or three take the matter to the Lord in prayer and then confidently move forward with the process outlined in Scripture, knowing that they are not being bullies or busybodies, for God endorses their efforts—Jesus is “with them.”
tic-tac-toe three in a row -- the truth about Matthew 18:20 where two or more are gathered -- oxoxo hugs and kisses saints of God
Posted : 27 Apr, 2021 08:54 AM
EXCELLENT POST‼️‼️‼️‼️
Exactly‼️This is one of the many verses often quoted out of context BY PASTOR/TEACHERS who ought to know better‼️
It’s about time PREACHERS start looking at the CONTEXT of all the passages they quote from‼️
CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT‼️
No wonder we have so many uninformed ignoramuses at church‼️
Thankfully a few pastor/teachers actually take Bible study seriously and their informed congregation proves it.
The Holy Spirit didn’t give us a bunch of isolated Bible verses chopped from hither, thither, and yon when he inspired scripture, he gave us an entire context to DEFINE those verses‼️
tic-tac-toe three in a row -- the truth about Matthew 18:20 where two or more are gathered -- oxoxo hugs and kisses saints of God
Posted : 27 Apr, 2021 10:41 AM
Prayer is taught how it i received by God, humbly, without reward or glory from men. The boasters cannot do this, they must share their great swelling words daily.
The Father gives before we ask is the word to know..
Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Now read in context, and that "true" given meaning to Matthew 18:20 by hvsgrp, seems to change.
It is already done of the Father before we ask, as the Father knows what we have need of BEFORE WE ASK HIM.
Here is the punchline, there is Jesus in the midst of them, already there, already taking care of all things, and hvsgrpcalling, shows a lack of belief in that simple reasoning of faith..
Matthew 18:19 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.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
tic-tac-toe three in a row -- the truth about Matthew 18:20 where two or more are gathered -- oxoxo hugs and kisses saints of God
Posted : 29 Apr, 2021 08:50 AM
rsvp writes in his own words - 'Church discipline is sanctioned by both the Father and the Son.'
Strangely rsvp goes against his CULT teaching now that supposedly the Holy Spirit OF OF OF YHWH does no 'discipline' in the 'Church' nor does the Father's Holy Spirit from him, does any sanctioning???
David attempts to call out rsvp, that rsvp is NOT giving the Spirit OF OF OF YHWH the same 'courtesy' in POWER, even though David has not a clue what he just posted! LOL!
Quote of David - 'Let’s offer the Holy Spirit the same courtesy‼️'
Its clear rsvp keeps selling his CULT 3 some 'person' doctrine short, when he does not give the 'same courtesy' in POWER to one of three of his 'gods' and or 'persons' as he claims them to be, by his sinful man made doctrine???
So like David says about himself and rsvp - 'Would that all other false teachers fail at communicating their destructive messages'
LOL! 
