Misused Scripture?

[NotUrAvgGuy]

I wish I had the proverbial nickle for every time Matthew 18:20 is quoted:

"For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them."

I hear that used constantly in all kinds of contexts as though if 2 or more of us are gathering to pray or worship or fellowship then God is with us in some special way. Yet the context of the verse in Matthew 18 is handling an offending brother and church discipline. Jesus is promising to be with the church when they meet to discuss such things.

When you think about it as believers we each have the Holy Spirit living within us so even when one person "gathers" in Jesus' name he is with them. Same if 2, or 3, of a 100 gather. I think Jesus makes that statement in Matthew 18 because disciplining an unrepentant believer is one of the toughest things church leadership has to do. Jesus here is encouraging them to take heart as He will be with them. Since such decisions would require 2 or more the reference to "two or three" makes total sense.

So while harmless I think we quote that Scripture out of context all the time.

 

[dysert]

So while harmless I think we quote that Scripture out of context all the time.

Harmless in this case, but I totally agree.

 

[ClothedInGrace]

Yeah, I've heard this scripture used plenty a time. Not once was it concerning Church discipline.

 

[Rzim]

I have said it. Usually when doubt has walked in the gathering. Its usually a great segway into more pressing issues. Its kinda of a calibration of fellowship.
Reguardless missusing scripture is a serious issue on my heart. Not of others but on myself. So much so instead of quoting scripture ill say lets open scripture or lets pray on it. And instead of quoting scripture i pose it in a question. Our words r powerful. If we wield the holy word in a misguided manner then Lord help us. Maybe thats part of him coming before me and behind. Always by my side.
Great reason to stay humble.

 

[dqhall]

People may learn more when they discuss things together for teaching and learning as each might have knowledge or prophesy to share. There is also a phrase in Hebrews 10:25, "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves..."

I remember Jesus once stayed up all night praying (Luke 6:12). In this case God was with him alone in the night. After this he appointed apostles to share in the work. They met as a company of believers.

 

[Greg J.]

“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (bold mine, Matthew 18:18-20, 1995 NASB)

The context is the handling of the situation where a church brother has committed an offense against another individual in the church. Jesus is making reference to the Law which said that people were not considered guilty of some offense unless at least two people were witnesses. (Deuteronomy 19:15)

The difficulty that arises is deciding how much Jesus was generalizing when he said anything (in bold, above). I don't have an answer for that. I don't know if there is enough information in the passage. At the very least, he was reinforcing the previous sentence in some way.

However, what I believe Jesus is doing is referring to the phenomenon where God has granted unity with him in the human heart/mind about a matter he already decided (past tense: "...shall have been bound in heaven"). This phenomenon is not limited to any particular situation, although it is limited to when the two or three have legitimate authority in the matter.

So people are misusing the phrase referred to in the original post if what they are doing is referencing the idea that "all we have to do is agree about something, then God will do it."

Better to use the phrase to refer to the when God has revealed his will in the heart of two or three people. Some assurance or conviction is needed that it is from God if they're going to rely on the fact that being in agreement is sufficient motivation to act (such as when they really want God's help deciding what to do and have been praying and asking about it for a while and then reach a peace and/or conviction about what to do).

Having said that, more than one person seeking God for something is more powerful than just one doing it (all other things being equal).

 

[Rzim]

I wish I had the proverbial nickle for every time

whats a proverbial nickle

 

[ewq1938]

whats a proverbial nickle

A small amount that would amount to a very large amount due to the frequency of the action or act mentioned being committed.