“So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said
this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive
the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain
the sins of any, they are retained.” – John 20:21-23
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree
on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My
Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there
in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:19-20
It encourages me to know that God will seek to make His word
known to me, and to remove all false teachings that I’ve had cloud my knowledge
of Him.
This past week has been one of great disappointment. I was taught, and I’m not sure by who or
where, that the verse in Matthew 18:19-20 meant that if you ask any thing of
God, and are in agreement with “two or three” it would be done. The verses read “Again I say
to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it
will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together
in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Being under that understanding, I fully
expected my sweet friend’s daughter, Marquitta Jacobs, to recover and be
healed. After all, her mother and I were
in full agreement that this is what we wanted.
When that did not happen I became very
disappointed in God, very hurt that the pray was not answered. I wasn’t angry, for who can truly be angry at
God when you know He loves you with an unending love? But I was very disappointed, and confused as
to why this promise was broken.
But my God who loves me would never leave me
questioning His love. Today while continuing
a long study in John I came to chapter 20:21-23. God sent me to read my favorite commentator’s
thoughts on the verses to determine why we’re allowed to forgive each other’s
sins. Adam Clarke’s commentary then in
turn sends me to read comments on Matthew 18:19-20, the verses that were on
things being done when two or three are in agreement. As I read the words, I loathed them. It felt like salt in an open wound. But as I read the passage and Adam Clarke’s
teaching, I understood.
The fact of the matter is that the verses
that are often claimed to hold the key to getting anything you can come to
agreement from out of God have been taken completely out of context. Think about it! If it were true that these
verses meant that any two people in agreement for anything on earth could ask
God for it and get it – every couple who read it would be millionaires. Every couple would have children. The world would be a perfectly imperfect
place due to our own selfish wants and wills.
But that is NOT what these verses mean.
The passage is in regards to forgiving each other
here on earth, forgiving each other’s sins, and then God forgiving them as
well. Only God can forgive sins because they
are committed ultimately against Him. Yet, we have the power to solicit that
forgiveness from God. The entire passage reads:
"Moreover
if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him
alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not
hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three
witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them,
tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to
you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you
agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by
My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My
name, I am there in the midst of them.”
There is no disconnection of thoughts
here. Jesus is speaking to one audience
on one subject – dealing with a fellow Christian who has sinned against
you. In fact, the verses that follow
this passage are also about forgiving one another, as Peter then asks “Lord, how often shall my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21).
When verse 19 says that where “two of you agree” and verse 20 says “where two or three are in agreement” it
is preceded by verse 16 saying “by the
mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established”. The verses
are not the handle to the great slot machine of God’s blessings! The meaning is that if we forgive each other
for our harms against each other, then “whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven”, as the binding of a criminals hands, or “whatever you loose
on earth will be loosed in heaven” as the freeing of a captive.
But don’t stop there. The fact is we are to NEVER leave anyone bound. When Jesus answer’s Peter about how many
times he should forgive, he says “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but
up to seventy times seven.” Jesus
continues by telling the story of a man who was unable to pay a debt, but his
master forgave him the debt. Then the
debtor goes out and seeks repayment from someone who owed him money, and then
refused to forgive the debt. Jesus’
words in the parable to the one who would not forgive the sins of his debtors
was “ Should you
not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?”
(Matthew 18:33).
Jesus has forgiven us all, and we are to
have compassion on each other and forgive all sins against us as well. There is never a time when you want to leave
a brother or sister “bound” to the sins they have committed against you. Jesus says in Matthew 18:35 that if you do, “So My heavenly Father also
will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his
trespasses.” Friends, we need God’s
forgiveness far too much to allow our bitterness toward each other to condemn
ourselves.
The lesson in all this is a simple one. Read God’s word, and listen to His voice as
you do. His word is true, His promises
are eternal, and He will not disappoint you.
Though I don’t have answers for the loss of my friend’s daughter, I know
my God is merciful, gracious, long on forgiveness, and loving in all He
does.
Fathie, this is a wonderful word of truth. And I'm so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteThank you Victoria. Please ask God to give comfort to the family of Marquitta in the days to come.
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