Commonly Misused Bible Verses: Matthew 18:19–20

Posted on by March 27, 2014
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Both Christians and unbelievers are guilty of misusing Bible verses by ripping them from their original context.

This is post #4 in the Commonly Misused Bible Verses series. So far I have commented on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Jeremiah 29:11. These two verses are often pulled out of their contexts by well-meaning Christians. Matthew 7:1 is a very popular verse for unbelievers to misuse. Click on the links for more information on any of those articles.

For today’s post, I want to take a look at another verse that is frequently misused by well-meaning Christians. Bear in mind that I am not trying to pick on anyone or attack them for misusing these verses. Most of the time they are misused because we have heard someone else misuse them and we’re used to hearing the verse in a particular (but wrong) context, so we repeat the same error. This series is designed to encourage people to take a close look at Scripture before repeating what we’ve heard.

Commonly Misused Bible Verse #4: Matthew 18:19–20

Think about how many times you have heard someone quote or summarize this passage during a prayer or immediately before praying.

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19–20, NKJV)

The idea that is commonly promoted is that if there are two or more people gathered together who agree on something, and they ask God for it in prayer, then Jesus will be present and God will answer their request.

If you’ve read any of the other posts in this series, then you know that we need to look at the context to see what is wrong with the way many people use this verse. However, before we do that, can you see some problems with the idea that God will grant the request of those who come together and are in agreement in prayer? First of all, Jesus said “where two or three are gathered” in His name, so how could this apply to settings of four or more? Also, why would it take two or three believers to be gathered together for Jesus to be in their midst? Isn’t He already present in each and every individual believer? So even if one Christian prays, isn’t Jesus already there?

So there are already a couple of problems with the common use of this passage. Now let’s take a look at the context. This section deals with a subject that most churches completely neglect: church discipline. Jesus said that if you have a brother who sins against you, then you need to go to him and try to work it out. If he refuses to acknowledge his fault, then you bring one or two more witnesses to help work things out. So including you, that would make two or three witnesses—recognize that phrase? Not only is it repeated in these verses, but it comes from the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 19:15 and more). Legal cases needed to have two or three witnesses to establish a matter.

Back to Jesus’ story. If the sinning brother did not make things right in the presence of two or three witnesses, then the case was to be brought before the church. If he refused to listen to the church’s decision, then he was to be thrown out of the congregation. I know that sounds harsh in our day because precious few churches practice discipline as Jesus instructed, but that is what we are commanded to do.

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Tim’s latest book is a practical apologetic on the Resurrection of Jesus. See www.midwestapologetics.org/shop for more details.

It is with this in mind that Jesus said that the Father would grant the request of two or more who gather together in Christ’s name and are in agreement. Agreement on what? On disciplining the erring brother. That’s what this passage is about and yet so many Christians use it as though Jesus promised to answer their prayers when offered in certain situations.

Before I finish this post let me stress what the Bible actually does say about prayer. The Apostle John wrote, “Now this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14–15). John also wrote, “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).

So we can have confidence about God answering our prayers when we are obediently following Him and praying according to His will. If you haven’t experienced answered prayer, then perhaps you aren’t living in obedience and/or praying according to His will (or maybe He did answer it and you didn’t recognize the response because He often answers in ways we don’t expect).

Commonly Misused Bible Verses: Matthew 7:1

Posted on by July 22, 2011
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Both Christians and unbelievers are guilty of misusing Bible verses by ripping them from their original context.

This is the third post in the “Commonly Misused Bible Verses” series. If you haven’t read the other articles you may be interested to see my comments on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Jeremiah 29:11. These two verses are often cited by Christians as though they were promises made to them by God, but that is not what the context shows. This post will focus on a verse that is routinely ripped out of its context by unbelievers.

 

Commonly Misused Bible Verse #3: Matthew 7:1

John 3:16 used to be the most famous Bible verse, but it may be accurate to say that another verse has now taken its place. During His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated the following words:

“Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1, NKJV)

This verse seems to be used whenever someone objects to a (possibly) well-intentioned Christian who points out that a particular behavior or practice is sinful. Unbelievers and even professing Christians are quick to say that Jesus told us we aren’t supposed to judge so we’d better just keep our opinions to ourselves. But is that really what Jesus was teaching?

Let’s take a look at the context.

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1–5, NKJV)

Notice that the point of Jesus’ teaching here is that we are not to be self-righteous or hypocritical in our judgment. For example, if I was an alcoholic, then I have no business telling someone how sinful they are for being an alcoholic. That’s hypocritical. However, if I do not have a “plank” in my own eye, then I can see clearly to remove the speck from my brother’s eye. In other words, if I am living a godly life, then I can be in a position where I can properly point out sin in another person’s life. This should be done with gentleness and respect, rather than self-righteous judgmentalism.

There are several problems with someone citing this verse as “proof” that a Christian should never try to point out sin in someone’s life. First, later in the same chapter Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves…by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:15, 20, NKJV). How can you possibly know who is a false prophet unless you make judgments about their “fruits” (teaching, actions, etc.)? Obviously, we must make judgments in these cases.

Second, Jesus and the apostles demonstrated on numerous occasions that we need to make judgments of sinful behavior. Jesus showed mercy to the woman caught in adultery, but then He said to her “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). When Simon the sorcerer thought he could buy God’s gift of the Holy Spirit with money, Peter said, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God” (Acts 8:20–21, NKJV). Paul publicly rebuked Peter for leading people astray by slipping back into a form of legalism (Galatians 2:11–21). So when professing Christians cite Matthew 7:1 out of context, they reveal their ignorance of the examples set by our Lord and His apostles.

Third, notice the absolute hypocrisy of the person who tells you not to judge. What did they just do when they told you not to judge? They judged you. They made a judgment that what you were doing was wrong, and then they went ahead and hypocritically told you that you shouldn’t ever tell people that they are wrong.

The Bible is very clear that we need to make judgments. We need to know God’s Word and be guided by the Holy Spirit so we will know what is wrong and right, and we need to point out sin in a person’s life and plead with them to repent of their sin and trust in Christ. At the same time, we must not be hypocritical in our judgment. We need to constantly examine our own lives and then “go and sin no more.”

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