Mat 18:15-17 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 15. If thy brother ] Any who is a member of the same religious society, sin against thee , 1. Go and reprove him alone ,-it may be in person; if that cannot be so well done, by thy messenger, or in writing, (which in many cases is likely to be the most effectual.) Observe, our Lord gives no liberty to omit this, or to exchange it for either of the following steps. If this do not succeed,

‏ Matthew 18:15-17

Verse 15. If thy brother] Any who is a member of the same religious society, sin against thee, 1. Go and reprove him alone,-it may be in person; if that cannot be so well done, by thy messenger, or in writing, (which in many cases is likely to be the most effectual.) Observe, our Lord gives no liberty to omit this, or to exchange it for either of the following steps. If this do not succeed,

Verse 16. 2. Take with thee one or two more] Men whom he esteems, who may then confirm and enforce what thou sayest; and afterwards, if need require, bear witness of what was spoken. If even this do not succeed, then, and not before,

Verse 17. 3. Tell it unto the Church] Lay the whole matter before the congregation of Christian believers, in that place of which he is a member, or before the minister and elders, as the representatives of the Church or assembly. If all this avail not, then,

Let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.] To whom thou art, as a Christian, to owe earnest and persevering good will, and acts of kindness; but have no religious communion with him, till, if he have been convicted, he acknowledge his fault. Whosoever follows this threefold rule will seldom offend others, and never be offended himself.-Rev. J. WESLEY.

Reproving a brother who had sinned was a positive command under the law. See Le 19:17. And the Jews have a saying, that one of the causes of the ruin of their nation was, "No man reproved another." On the word Church, See Clarke on Mt 16:28.