A Heathen and Publican Neglecting to Hear the Church - Matthew 18:17

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established”, and in chapter eighteen and verse seventeen of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus proclaimed the person who “neglects to hear the church”, “let him be unto you as an heathen man and a publican” where we read:

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 you as an heathen man and a publican.

The verse reads, “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church:”. Matthew began with the words, “and if” or “and whether” “he shall neglect to hear them” which means “the person who trespasses against you is unwilling, refuses, pays no regard and disobeys the two or three witnesses”, “tell” which means “speak and bring word” “it unto the church” or “the trespass to the assembly and community of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”. Matthew shared how Jesus said to “tell the church” about a person who “trespasses” against a disciple of Jesus if the “trespasser” does not listen to “two or three witnesses”.

The verse continues, “but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto you as an heathen man and a publican.” Matthew added the word, “but” or “moreover and” “if he neglect” which means “whether the person who trespassed ” “to hear” or “is unwilling, refuses, pays no regard to and disobeys” “the church” which means “the assembly and community of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”, “let him be unto you” or “allow and permit the trespasser to exist toward the disciples” “as an heathen man” which means “like and similar to a stranger, foreigner and pagan” “and a publican” or “a tax collector who belonged to a class that were detested not only by the Jews, but by other nations also, both on account of their employment and of the harshness, greed and deception with which they did their job”. Matthew shared how Jesus said a “trespasser” who does not “listen to or obey the church” should be thought of as a “pagan” and a detested “tax collector”.

When we meditate Matthew's words in this verse, we see the final outcome for a person who will not comply when confronted with a trespass against a brother in Christ. First, the person is to be confronted one on one. If they do not listen, two or three witnesses are to be taken with the offended so “every word may be established”, and finally, if they refuse hear the witnesses, they are to be taken before the church to deal with their trespass. If they are unwilling to hear the church, they are to be considered as a “pagan” and “tax collector”. This is Jesus' solution to “offenses” and “trespasses”, and when it is considered that God Almighty desires reconciliation with every sinful person in the world, His plan for handling “trespasses with people” should be easy for anyone to follow.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus says, “whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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