September 10, 2023 Matthew 18:15-20 Admonishing a Brother or Sister

This week we discuss what is perhaps one of the most difficult passages, where Matthew likely reports a process for admonishing a brother or sister disciple that had developed in his community. We look at this potentially problematic text through the lens of Matthew’s “Community Discourse” in Chapter 18, where Matthew surrounds this procedure with Jesus’ teachings about humility, care, and forgiveness. As Calvin reminds us, any admonition should be motivated by love. We discuss practical ways of seeking restoration for broken relationships in our contemporary setting.