The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 209

thee (,lr ,r<'). The brother is a brother in vi. I, eto. ; I Tim. i. 20). Christ had already the fRith, a fellow-ChristiRn. The words, BJ>Oken of his Eoolesia in his commenda- " against thee," are omitted in the Sinaitio tion of Peter'a great confession ( eh. xvl 18); and Vatican Mannaoripts, and by BOme BO the twelve were prepared for tlm use modem editors, on the ground that it is a of the word, and would not confound the gloes derived from Peter's question (ver. 21). body here signified with the Jewish syna- The worJs are retained by the Vulgate and gogue. To the latter the expressions in other high authorities. Without them, the vers. 18-20 could not apply. The custom passage beoomcs one of a general nature, ap- and order of procedure 1n the synagogue plying to all offences. Retaining them, we would afford an idea of what the Lord meant; find a direction how to treat one who offers but the oongrcgation inteudcd was to ba personal offenoe to our~elrns-which seems composed of Christians, the followers of to BUit the context best. In the case of private Christ, who were delivered from the narrow- quarrels between individual Christians, with ness of rabbinical rules and deftnitious. The the view of reoonciliation, there are four steps institution of ecolesiastioal tribunals hae to be taken. First, private remonstranoe : been referred to this passage, but, as under- Go. Do not wait for him to come to you; stood by the apostles, it would denote, not make the first advances yo1ll'S8lf, This, as BO much eoclesiastioal rulers as the particular being U,e more diffi.eult course, is expressly congregation to which the delinquent be- enjoined on one who is learning the l88Bon longed; and the offence for whioh he is of humility. Tell him his fault; l>...-yfo" denounced is some private scandal or quo.rrel. a/rril.,: corripe eum. Put the fault plainly The course of proceeding enjoined would be before him, show him how he has wronged impracticable in a. large and widely extended you, and how he has offended God. This community, and could not be applied under must be done m private, gently, mercifully. our present circumstances. If he neglect to Such treatment may win the heart, while hear the Churoh. Now comes the final stage public rebnke, open dennnciation, might m corrective discipline. An heathen man only incense and harden. Plainly, the Lord (6 ,e,,,,,bs, the Gentils) and a publioan (6 primarily contemplates quarrels between TEA.tfo,,.,s, the publican). The class, not the mdividual Christians; though, indeed, the individnal, is meant. If he turns a deaf ear advice here and in the sequel is e.p- to the authoritative reproof of the Ohurch, plicaUe to a wider BJJhere and to more let him be regarded no longer as a brother, import.ant occasions. Thou hast gained thy but as a. heathen and an outcast. Ohrist, brother. If he shall own his fault, and ask without endorsing the Jews' treatment of for po.rdon, than he.et won him for God and Gentiles and publicans, acknowledges the thyself. A quarrel is a loss to both parties ; fact, and nses it as an illustration. The a reconciliation is a gain for both. Tile verb obdurate offender must be deprived of "to gain" (r«poalv"') is UBed elsewhere in Church-memberahip, and treated D,B those this liigh SCD.,!e (see l Cor. iL 19; l Pel without the Jewish pale were commonly iiL I). treated. The traditional law enjoined that Ver. 16.-'l'his gives the second step or a Hebrew might not associate, eat, or travel stag., in discipline. Take with thee one or with a heathen, and that if any Jew took two more. If t!.e offender is obdurate to the office of publicanus, he we.a to be virtu- secret remoDBtra.nce, do not yet resort to ally excommunicated. In later times, there public measures, but me..k.e a fresh effort ao- naturally arose in the Ohristian Church the companied by a friend or two, who will sup- punishment of offenders by means of ex- port your view and confirm your expostula- clusion from holy communion, and excom- tion, which might otherwise be considered munication. But even in this extreme case partial or self-interested. In the mouth of charity will not regard the sinner as hope- two or three witnesses. The idea is derived lessly lost; it will seek his salvation by irom the requirement of the Jewish LBw prayer and entreaty. in a case of litigation (see Dcut. xix. 15; Ver. 18.-The following words are ad- John viii. 17; 2 Cor. xiii 1). Dy the testi- dressed, not, es thP preceding verse, to the timouy of these witnesses, every word that offended Christia~ but to the apostles, as ha.! passed between yon way be fully certi- poi;sessed of some superior powers above fied. There will be fortbcommg, if necea- those of any individual congregation. VerilJ llBry, the zegu1ar legal evidence, should the I say unto you. 'l'he Lord solemnly oonfen matter come to other ears. the grant made to Peter (oh. xvi. 19) on the Ver. 17.-r.ell it 11J1to the Church (,.i whole apostolate. The binding and loosing, l1C1<k71trl'I)_. Tim is the third step to take. in a restricted sense, and in logical oonneo- Our Lord is contemplating a visible society, tion with what preoedes,refer to the conftrma.- poi!8eBBed of certain powers of discipline and tion and authorization of the sentence of the CIID'ection, such as we find in the hietory of Eoclesia, which JS not valid, so to speak, in the apoai\olic Church (see l Cor. v. 1, etc.; the heavenly court till endorsed by Ohrist'1 orr, xvm. 1-35.] TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTIIEW. 213