MATTHEW 18:18 - BINDING AND LOOSING

MATTHEW 18:18 - BINDING AND LOOSING

   Matthew 18: 15)  "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.  If they listen to you, you have won them over.  16) But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17) If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they  refuse to listen to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

   18) "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  19) "Again truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  20) For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."  (NIV)

H.A. IRONSIDE COMMENTARY

   The consensus of the commentaries, including Dr. Ironside, agree that the binding and loosing deals with binding and loosing sin to the sinner.  The Apostle Peter was given this authority in Matthew 16:19 and in chapter 18, it is revealed that this authority is for all of the Apostles (and probably today's Saints).

   This authority is illustrated in the Corinthian Epistles when the Apostle Paul commanded the Corinthian assembly to put away from themselves the wicked person - the incestuous man - in 1 Corinthians 5.  The Apostle Paul was "binding" the man's sin upon him until such time as he should repent.

   In 2 Corinthians 2: 5 - 11,  Apostle Paul instructed the assembly to forgive this man upon evidence of his repentance, which "loosed" the man's sin from him.

   We all are aware of our humanness.  Suppose there were a case where the Saints are unsure of what to do.  In verse 19, they may appeal to The Lord, Himself for direction.  Wherever two agree; where two come to God in prayer in harmony with His Spirit and with one another, asking for wisdom and understanding, He will act for them, doing according to His will in the Church on earth as it is done in heaven.

MY THOUGHTS

   I personally am aware of the spiritual side of things.  I understand that what my eyes see is not all there is.  So, I have listened to some television evangelists "binding" Satan for this disease or that financial issue.  It sounded right to me that spirits are involved with disease and poverty.  However, my heart sings that my Son asked me about binding and loosing, or I would still be binding Satan.  The power to bind and loose is not for me and it's not about binding Satan.

    I praise God for those who have published commentaries, also, because our understanding of words at face value is not always what they are meant to say.

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