It's certainly good to be here this morning.
And we appreciate the presence of all those that have come to
be with us to worship God. Today we're grateful for that
and I am honored to be your speaker.
I want to invite your attention. As I have written on the board
to the Book of Matthew, the 18th chapter.
And we'll begin reading there in verse 15.
The words of Jesus are these 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 be 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 to the church.
But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as
a heathen, man, and a publican. There's much in the in the word
of God that tells us about what God has done because of man's
sin. I am so grateful.
As are you today that God loved us.
So very much when we were not worthy that He sent Jesus
Christ, as the Fulfillment of his scheme of redemption to die
on the cross. And that you and I when we
contact that blood at, baptism, our sins are washed away.
Much is said about the sinner with regards.
Hissing to in the word of God to the alien sinner who has not
been enlightened by the gospel. And then is has the
responsibility of obeying the gospel and going down into the
Waters of baptism to rise and walk in newness of life with his
sins washed away. The Bible also is clear about
what happens to us when we fall into the Temptation and a snare.
And when we stumble and fall, after we become a Christian, all
the Bible, Speaks. So greatly about the seriousness
of sin, but our question before us today, is this, what does it
say about my obligation? Me personally, what must I do
when my brother Falls going to talk about this from the
eighteenth, chapter of the Book of Matthew and what Jesus meant
and what you and I can glean from these verses of scripture,
that Jesus said so long ago, I failed to mention just a moment
ago and I'd like to say so now that we have some Visitors that
are among us and we're very thankful that you're with us and
we want to say welcome to you and also we say this certainly
not to the exclusion of any other but it's wonderful that
may is better today and is able to be with us.
We're thankful that prayers have been heard and answered on her
behalf. Going back to the occasion upon,
which Jesus spoke these words. So long ago, you remember that?
The Disciples of Jesus came to him and asked him a question and
quite certainly, they were not prepared, or they couldn't have
even fathom. That Jesus would answer the
question. Like he did so long ago.
They asked Jesus a question much, like maybe you.
And I would ask as we live in a world or in a society of
competitiveness and ranking and so on.
And so Fourth, what we want to do, as being in the Mortal,
fleshly bodies that we are in. We want to know how it is that
we can rise up the chain or rise up the pecking order.
As it were as there. Are animals out in a pasture,
they have a pecking order and I just kind of picture in my
mind's eye, these disciples, that came to Jesus and they
asked him, this question eagerly, anticipating his
response and they asked Jesus, they said, who is greatest In
the Kingdom of Heaven. Oh, I would just imagine that
they sat anxiously as Jesus would respond, but Jesus
responded much like he did. And in a way that I'm sure
surprised them. All he calls a little child unto
them and the Bible says and he took that child and he said that
child in the midst of them. And he said this, he said,
except you be converted and become as little children, you
You shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
That's exactly how it is. That Jesus responded to their
inquiry on that occasion. They asked, who's the greatest?
We want to know who the first place fella, is we want to
understand the chain or the pecking order.
But Jesus said this, except you be converted and become as
little children, like the child that I have stood in the very
midst of you today, you can't go to heaven at all.
Very interesting because Jesus now is going to continue on with
a number of things regarding one of these little ones, or one of
these children, what was Jesus talking about though?
When he said except ye be converted and become as little
children? How can that be?
Well, this coincides just exactly what the words of Jesus
and John the third chapter. When he spoke to Nicodemus on
that occasion when he said that a man must be Again, we
understand that the child of God is born again.
We don't, we are not. There are not many different
kinds of Christians and we happen to be a born-again one.
No, but all Christians are born again.
What did Jesus say in Matthew 18?
You have to be converted and become as little children,
Nicodemus had no idea what Jesus was referring to.
So, he asks a question much like I'm sure we would have asked as
As well and G and Nicodemus says, how is that possible?
How can a man be born again when he is old?
Could he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be
born? But Jesus would say that, which
is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the
spirit is Spirit. Jesus says that a man must be
born of water and the spirit and the Apostle Paul in Romans the
6th chapter says, exactly how that happens.
We rise to Walk in newness of life when we go down into the
Waters of baptism. And when we do that, we contact
the precious blood of Jesus which washes our sins away,
that's what Jesus was talking about.
They wanted to know who's going to be the greatest and Jesus
says, except ye be converted and become as this little child, you
cannot go to heaven at all. But then in context to what
we're discussing, Now, now, Jesus begins to speak of the
child of God. He refers to the child of God,
as little children, he refers to the child of God as one of these
little ones and so on. And he says, in verse number 6,
now if anyone would offend one of these little ones, it would
be better. That a millstone were hung
around his neck and that he were drowned in the depths of the
sea. Oh, the Lord Jesus Christ, and
his Father. God, Almighty loves the little
ones. They love the child of God.
Those that have become as a little child at baptism.
Oh, yes. Jesus says, if anyone would
offend one of these little ones, it would be better than a
millstone were hung around his neck and that he were drowned in
the depths of the sea. The question though, is, what
does the word offend mean? I understand as defined by mr.
Thayer, it means To put a stumbling block or to put an
impediment in the way of upon which another May trip and fall
simply in the common vernacular in our simple language today.
What Jesus was talking about was to entice to sin in verses 7
through 9 Jesus, pronounces woe upon all those who encouraged to
sin or all those that put stumbling blocks in the way of
or in the Of the righteous and the person or the thing that
tempted to do evil was to be cast off or given up.
Even if it was as dear as the right eye, the right hand, or
even the foot in verse 9. Jesus, almost repeats.
The very same words that he said on The Sermon on the Mount.
So long ago, when he preached that, sermon in the fifth
chapter of Matthew and verses, 29 through 30, where Jesus said
these words and And If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out
and cast it from thee. For it is profitable for thee,
that one of thy members should perish and not by whole body,
should be cast into hell. And If thy right hand offend
thee, cut it off and cast it from thee.
For it is profitable for thee, that one of thy members should
perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
What did Jesus mean in Matthew chapter 5?
If and what does Jesus mean in Matthew 18?
What's he saying? Is he saying that if I'm a
chicken fee, for I have a problem stealing from others.
That the only way that I'm going to be able to stop doing that
is, is he commanding me to go and chop off my hands at the
wrist so that I no longer can go out and use these hands to steal
from another is that what Jesus meant did?
Jesus mean when one would be guilty of the lust of the eyes,
or To lust after another one or do that, which is unlawful in
the sight of God and do so by the eyes.
Is he saying that I must now go and pluck out my eyes for it is
better for me to live my life with no eyes and go to heaven.
Is that what he means? What about when he says by foot,
he's talking about things that are very precious to us, my
hands, my eyes and my feet, I need these things.
I need my eyes to see. I need my And it's the function
and I need my feet to walk. All these are things that we
need but Jesus was talking about something that's even more
important. He's talking about offending or
causing your brother to stumble or fall.
And what he's talking about is this he didn't mean that.
If one has feet that are running to Mischief, he didn't say go
home and take something ever so sharp and cut the feet off at
the ankle. No, these are figurative.
Things. They are not literal things.
We know and God's word that God never permits a man to maim
himself. It is a sin to do yourself harm
in that respect. So what was Jesus?
Speaking of he is using figurative language to show that
we need to deny our selfish and proud desires and do like Paul
said in Colossians. You remember earlier on in the
chapter before verse 5 of Colossians 3, what Paul said is
he's now saying that after you become as little children that
Jesus said after you rise from the Waters of baptism you are
not through, you are not done and you have even a greater
responsibility you have to stay in a state of forgiveness.
You have to stay in a state that will cause you to be able to be
saved in that last and final day.
You now are Governed by different rules and regulations
and that's found in God's word. So what did Paul say he says,
what's your risen with Christ now?
You seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on
the right hand of God? Do you know how the absolute
best way to not struggle in this life?
You know what, the very best way is listen folks, I'm not naive
to think that there are not great Patients all around us.
You need to know this too. That the devil, the devil knows
your weaknesses and will entice you and we'll do things in order
that you might stumble, because that's what he wants.
The place called hell was prepared for the devil and his
angels and he wants to take as many people with them with him
and his angels as possible. But, you know, how you avoid the
Temptation proverbs? Says you refrain your foot from
their path. Oh, I'm not trying to
oversimplify but it's quite true that you cannot do two opposite
things at the same time. What did Paul say by divine
inspiration of the Holy Spirit? You want to know how you'll be
successful. Living the Christian Life.
You stop thinking about these things and you start setting
your affections on these things. If I am traveling in the proper
way and I am governed by the things that are found in this
word. As the Bible, says whatsoever,
things are lovely whatsoever. Things are true whatsoever,
things are pure of good report, what did it say, think on these
things? That's how you avoid the
tempter, that's how you avoid stumbling and falling.
So what was Jesus talking about with reference to the flesh?
Well, like Paul said in Colossians 3 you set your
affections on things above, not on things on the earth and then
he says in verse 5, you put To death their members which are
upon the Earth. You turn your back on those
fleshly or worldly or sinful things. if I am thinking about
God, I'm not going to think about something that's evil or
Wicked at that very time. Surely not, I have to stop
thinking about that, which is good and that, which is
righteous in order to think about those things that are
evil. If you find yourself struggling
start being proactive, don't be one.
That is trying to avoid the Temptations as they come your
way of all the negative things that are before you and hope to
succeed. No, you start.
Actively thinking on the things that you should and live in
accordance with that and let your actions follow where your
heart is, and that which is right and you'll be successful
in this life. In verse 10, Jesus says, to take
heed that you despise. Not one of these little ones.
Interesting, word, despised here.
I understand this word means to distain to think little of or to
regard with contempt, which means to be literate.
It'll or treat with disrespect. This tells me that as I live the
Christian Life, I am not to have disdain for my brother.
I am not to thank little of my brother.
I am not to regard with contempt, my brother and I am
not to belittle him or treat him with disrespect.
That's what Jesus says when he said be careful, be careful that
you do not despise your brother. Mr. Bowles says, to despise them
means to put Temptations in their way.
He said men often despise the poor or the humble Christian in.
So doing they do them wrong and almost forced them by oppression
into doing evil. But the Bible is very clear that
the Lord is the Avenger of those who treat such disciples in that
way. The Apostle Paul said in first
Thessalonians chapter 4 and in verse number 6, he said that no,
man, go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter because
that the Lord is the Avenger of all such as we also have
forewarned you and testified, but then Jesus gives another
reason for not. Despising those little ones, not
casting stumbling blocks in front of fellow Christians.
You know why verse 11? He came to seek and save That
which is lost. Oh, great.
Pains have been made so that you and I can go to heaven, woe to
the one that would cause a stumbling block to be placed in
front of a brother to lose his soul.
That Jesus died in order to save all.
This is serious business as we live our lives.
Then Jesus continues on and verses 12 through 14 and he gave
the parable of the lost sheep. You know what he said about
this? He is saying that even the ones
that we would consider the Least.
He's saying that there is just as much of a desire on the part
of God. That that one is saved.
Then the ones that the world would look upon or you and I In
the Flesh would look upon as those that are the most renowned
the ones that we see the preachers.
And so on that, we see in the public eye preaching the word of
God. And so on Jesus is outlining
that that person that would be two as I paraphrase, that would
be considered the most renowned, whatever that means.
Is no more important than the little one that struggling, day
by day. And you know what he says about
that, he Likens it like this, if a man has a hundred sheep, he's
got a hundred of them. 99 of those, stay home, 99 of those,
stay in the flock and they do not leave or depart.
Jesus says about this idea. What if one departs what if one
is lost? He said, you not only are going
to go out and search for him but I want you to notice Is the
diligent search and the efforts to restore or bring back that
sheep. He said that a man is going to
depart the 99 and he's going to go to the mountains and he's
going to do whatever it takes to bring that one back.
That's what Jesus thinks about the Christian.
That's what he thinks about and as he gave his application to
the parable, it says, even so it is not the will of your father,
which is in heaven. That one of these should perish,
the point that Jesus is making is that, as it's not, the will
of the Shepherd that one in the flock, should perish.
So it is not the will of the father that even one of the
least of the disciples would perish.
Either, now these three verses Continuing on, he still talking
about little ones, who are the little ones, they are the
Christians, he talks about the uring love for those that are
lost and how important it is not to cause your brother to
stumble. Now he's going to talk about
what do you do when he does stumble?
What is my obligation? What is my duty along that line
specifically we're not going to talk about anything else other
than what Matthew Teen is referring to, by way of context.
And that is, if my brother sin against thee, the only thing
that Matthew 18, the rules of Matthew 18 are regarding, is a
specific instance, of one personally, sinning against
another, the rules of Matthew 18.
Do not apply to First Corinthians 5 or Tigers 3 and
10. And if you'll come back tonight,
we'll talk about those things as well.
But notice in Matthew, the 18th chapter Jesus, Jesus is
referring to one specific thing. What is my responsibility?
When my brother sins against me notice this is a sin.
It must be a definite sin and not an imaginary wrong or an
imaginary grievance that comes under the teachings by context
of Jesus here. Often times members of the body
of Christ, might imagine that they've been sinned against when
in reality, no sin has been committed.
Extend. Jesus gave three things three
instructions before we talk about it though.
What about the idea if God In His Infinite, Wisdom sent Jesus
to die for the sins of the world.
And Jesus has the utmost feelings of compassion toward
those that are lost, wanting them to return.
Jesus Christ is going to be the righteous judge the Bible says,
and all of that, what about you and I Being judges of our fellow
man, really quickly, Matthew 7, Jesus on the great, Sermon on
the Mount. He specified that the manner in
which we judge is under question, but not the judging in
itself. In fact, the Bible is clear not
only in Matthew 7. Not only is it okay to judge?
But I am told that I must do so and what?
Jesus Likens it, he Likens it like this.
He said, if your brother has a Back in his eye, one, little
speck, and you've got a beam in your eye.
He wasn't saying, keep your beam.
Let him keep his spec and everybody work on their own
problems. No, that's not what Jesus said.
Jesus said, get the beam out of your eye first, what is the
reason for getting to beam out of your eye?
So you can see, clearly to help your brother get the speck, out
of his eye, we have a responsibility to each.
Other, you've heard me say this and that time to time, it's
going to take all of us. It really is.
We need each other and to help each other along the way and
along those lines. What do you do though?
Says Jesus, when one would sin against you number one, step 1.
He says, you go and tell him his fault between thee and him
alone. What did Jesus mean?
When he said, tell him his fault, it means so much more
than just letting him. Um, know what he has done.
Telling his fault directly means this.
It means to reprove, or to rebuke him remembering the
entire time. There is one object desired.
You know, I'll tell you sometimes, we're afraid to go
talk to someone for fear of how they'll respond.
But if you can manifest the attitude, in your demeanor, in
your speech and in every manner that you are going about to do
this and have it be what the focus is that Jesus says it is
that's because you love your brother to the point that you
want them to be restored. If they can feel that in your
conversation, chances are you're going to be successful and even
if you're not successful, folks usually don't raise up and get
angry about those things when you have The proper heart, the
entire gist of what Jesus is wanting us to understand is the
object is to restore our brother or our sister.
This is very important because we are talking about something
that is very, very important and very serious.
We're talking about Sin and any sin that is unrepented of makes
that individual lost until he or she makes those things, right?
That's why. Why should I go to talk to my
brother when he has sinned against me?
Because he's lost. If he's not lost, it wasn't a
sin. And if it wasn't a sin, Matthew
18 does not apply. But if he has sinned, any sin
unrepented of will cause you to be lost.
So we need to understand that and to restore him to duty
number one and also to restore him to our friendship.
And when we do that, that's the object of the rebuke is to bring
him back to both. Also, please notice that it is
not as Some were inclined to have it that the offender must
do the going. But rather it is the offended
that must go. It is true that elsewhere in the
word of God. It's made the duty of the
offender when he remembers that his brother has oughta gainst
him to go and be reconciled to his brother that is true.
But in the context of Matthew 18, and according to the
teaching of this passage the offended is not to wait for
this. The it is to go and speak to the
offender. Have you ever said this though?
Have you ever done this ever at all?
Even once. He knows where I am.
He knows where to find me. It's his problem.
Not mine. He needs to straighten this out.
That's not what Jesus said. Jesus said the offended go and
speak to the offender and don't wait for him to come to you.
That is very important, those who have not sinned, but only
have been sinned against have an opportunity and an obligation as
well. Mr. McGarvey said you may thus
be like the Shepherd that Jesus spoke of in the previous verses
and they also avoid the sin of despising an airing disciple.
I think there's something else that needs to be observed here.
Jesus does not specify the time. He does not specify the place
nor does he specify the circumstances of going to the
offending brother. They are not specified by Jesus
but it must be like the matter and manner of the rebuke, you
got to choose a time that you're going to be successful.
That's the whole object. If my brother, I'll use Bob
because he's in the front row and he won't mind. but if Bob
sins against me, I have the obligation of loving Bob Soul
enough that I'm going to go to him and speak to him and I'm
going to choose a Time. And a place with surrounding
areas in circumstances where in that I'm not there to embarrass
him, I'm there to restore him and I need to pick and choose
the very best circumstances and the very best place.
Jesus says, when you go do that, you show him his fault to him
and him alone. But also notice what Paul said
in Galatians 6 and verse 1. He said Brethren If any man be
overtaken in a fault. All ye, which are spiritual
restore. Such an one in the spirit of
meekness considering thyself lest thou also be tempted.
In other words, show him is wrong, so that he will repent.
Again, it's the duty of the offended party to do such what
happens when you don't What happens if Bob sinned against
me? And I don't do what Jesus said.
See the rules are perfect, the pattern is perfect.
It's man that messes it up. What if I don't do what Jesus
said. And Bob has sinned against me,
I'm going to start brooding over it, aren't I?
You know what happens when you do that, it's really hard not
to. This is what happens when you
brood over it and you don't take care of it.
Over time you start to Harbor malice in your heart.
If you Harbor malice in your heart long enough, it's going to
gender hatred and now you've sinned.
Look at that. Not only is it the
responsibility to restore your brother but it's to also help
you not to stumble and fall. Jesus would say that if a man
would have hatred for his brother.
It's like murder. You've done that in your heart,
all the things that were under the Old Law was specific, black
and white do this, don't do that.
But Jesus would say, I know that you've heard it hath been said,
but I say unto you That tells me that my thoughts about my
brother are in question as well. Hopefully and prayerfully when I
go to him. He will say sure.
And put it away, put it aside. And all is well, and let me just
say this, if he repents don't ever speak of it again.
That's the worst thing that you can ever do.
Speak to your brother privately, if in this private sin.
If he has repented speak, no more against it.
Now, Jesus said, well, if he won't hear you, there's a second
step. And he says, you take two more
with you, you go with one or two more.
Now, there's three that have come to this erring, brother.
He is a lost sheep and as straight away, and if the
brother who is found him cannot restore him.
Him. He must get one or two more to
help him again. The object is still to gain or
restore that brother. The Jews required at least two
witnesses, to Every Act of crime and offense against the law
Deuteronomy 17 and verse. Number 6, this very same
principle is carried out in the New Testament as well.
John 8 and 17 second Corinthians, 13 and 1 and
Hebrews 10. And verse 28, This truly is wise
or else. God God would not have not
commanded it to be. So now the design of taking two
witnesses, maybe two phone, number one first of all the
Airing or offending brother, maybe it may be possible that he
would be induced to return. Because of the prudent and wise
Brethren that go with you. Maybe someone else just happens
to know how to say it, a little better.
If you ever wanted to tell somebody something, and you were
nervous about it and inside you felt a certain way about it, but
when you conveyed it, it didn't sound at all.
Like you really wanted it to sound.
You wanted to delicately speak. Something to this, this fellow
your brother in Christ, whoever it is a family member, but then,
as you hear it, as it's being said, that's not really what I
meant and you sound horrible about it in your tone, maybe,
maybe. Maybe you just don't have the
ability to speak as you really feel.
Maybe Jesus said there's plan to take a couple more.
You know something else too it may be that your brother does
not even know that he sinned. You see how important it is to
go to him and if he didn't know that he said that he has a good
heart he's going to immediately say I had no idea, I'm sorry
forgive me and then all is well. So number one, step for bringing
one or two more is so that they may use all of their influence
on restoring the brother too. But Says, if the, if he will not
hear or he will not repent, there is yet a third step.
And Jesus says you go to the church, you tell it to the
church. Again, the purpose of all of our
efforts is to save the wrongdoer when the one who has received
the wrong has exalted exhausted. All of his means I use Bob again
if I go to Bob and I'm trying so hard.
But I can't be successful. And then I go and I bring two
more and we try ever so hard but we're not successful, we still
have a brother that's lost the needs to take care of his sin.
So now it goes before the church, I want you to notice
something, though. The attitude and the Heart of
the church is the exact same attitude and heart as the very
first time. Then I went and spoke to my
brother. And what are we going to do now?
We're going to use everything. We possibly can in the spirit of
meekness, there needs to be a United effort that is
prayerfully, based that we might restore the brother and to do
so, with every means that we possibly can as it goes before
the church, if he will not hear thee, tell it to the church.
If the church, if he will, not hear the church.
Jesus, says treat him as a heathen, man, and a publican.
Skip another words he's to be avoided until he repents he is
though entitled to the Ernest Goodwill with all the offices of
humanity. But he no longer is in
fellowship with the body of Christ, because as one man said,
one time, the one who will not hear the church, has no claim on
it for its fellowship and blessings.
Any more than anyone that's outside of the body of Christ.
You know, in all manners of discipline, In the word of God.
The reason for the discipline. Now when he won't hear the
church is for that individual to feel in his heart, the
separation of his loved ones and brethren, Not because there's
hatred and Punishment, not because somebody's being
vindictive, it's so that person comes to see the light, so that
person may repent and make it right.
Sometimes people say, well, you know, I just love them too much.
I'm going to share something with you that this is the best
way that I know to put this. Someone asked me one time.
What if one of those little ones was Taylor or Tanner?
What then, I understand that when your child is not living,
right? I understand that that's even
more difficult because of your feelings of affection toward
them. I understand that all I can say
is I would hope and pray that I would love them as much as my
father. Loved me.
There Comes A Time in your life when you feel the separation
from that which is good and right and you come to the
crossroads of a decision. And sometimes your brethren or
your family is the only tie that you have left.
Sometimes you're so filled with the worldly things that are
around you, you've made poor choices and decisions and the
only thing and the only tie that you have, that, that which is
righteous and right, is your brethren, your friends, or your
family. Well I happen to know that good
decisions can be made when that happens.
That's the result that we're trying to achieve.
That's the reason. It's not that we have hatred.
Oh, no, we love them enough to do that in that they might
return. In conclusion this morning.
These are the steps of Matthew 18, specifically referring to
when one sins against you now, then as long as we live in the
flesh, there is going to be various conflicts.
I understand that we're in the flesh.
We're going to have disagreements from time to time.
We're going to have misunderstandings and even sin.
These are things that are going to go on, whether we like it or
not, they do go on, but if we would go back to the Bible
pattern and we would follow the Bible pattern, that's perfect
and go back to some other things that we have considered in our
Wednesday, evening, studies about the heart and, and the,
and the motive behind my actions.
Again, if I'm thinking about Terry, and he's thinking about
me and we're putting our self aside as the word of God
teaches. We're going to get through
anything. We're going to get through
anything. We thank you for listening to
our podcast. Put on by the Church of Christ
at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you
would like any additional information or you would like to
receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail.
Please email us at info at True Church of Christ.
Bakersfield.com. Our service times are Sundays at
10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. please
make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our
honored guest