Matthew 18:15-20: Private Before Public

“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. 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.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

“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.

“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. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” - Matthew 18:15-20

In many of the villages and towns where Christians would later walk, who could you ask to settle disputes? In Israel, the city gates you would find elders known for fairness and wisdom who could be called upon to judge between people and whose judgement would be enforced by the authority of the town leaders. Jesus reacted to someone who called upon him, a stranger, to act in this role “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” (Luke 12:14) 

But where did you go when in not in Israel any more? You would turn to the synagogue or the church. Paul chided the believers, saying, "I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?" (1 Cor 6:5)

Of course, the best resolution is that the two parties involved could just talk and resolve it: "If they sin, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you." How do you start this conversation? At this stage, the goal is to stop the destructive behavior before its effects are irredeemable. It is a test to see whether there is regret and if so, "If they listen to you, you have won them over. But..." 

But what? Up to this point, it has been one on one-just two people discussing something. Maybe you are wrong. Maybe you misunderstood or inflated what you saw. Maybe you will be accused of slander. So you bring a few others into the case who can listen with discernment. They will see whether this is as you originally presented it or not. If it wasn't or they see signs of genuine resolution, then it ends there. 

But what if it was a problem and the person you approached does not agree, does not regret, does not change? Then you take it to the next level: the church. 

Why the church? Because, in the hostile culture of the day, the was little chance of getting fair hearing. The church would select elders to hear and decide.  At this point in the process, we have arrived at confrontation. While the losing party might comply with the decision, it rarely results in reconciliation. and the people have to be ready for the outcome "if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector" 

What I hear most clearly from this is: privately before publicly and then don't trust your own judgement.