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Matthew 18:18
Matthew 18:18 is a warning given by Jesus as to our actions. Jesus has given instructions for conflict resolution in Matthew 18:15-18, but it is up to those who receive these instructions to put them to action in their lives.
The paragraph that begins Matthew 18:18 has an open quotation mark; this ties the paragraph to the preceding paragraph and is to be viewed as the same conversation and instruction. With this in mind, as Jesus teaches His disciples in Matthew 18:18 (NKJV), “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.”, is a warning as not to the relationships themselves, but the stress/tension that is created (bind, as to be bound up) in those relationships, and the stress/tension that is set free (loose) in those relationships. Jesus is teaching His disciples to be active in conflict resolution, as if relationships are left in tension, when we get to stand before Him in heaven, that tension will remain and explanations will be necessary for why these relationships have been left unresolved.
This is a warning as to the importance of being active in conflict resolution.
Many of you may be questioning the lessons of Matthew 18:15-18 from what may be an almost defensive mode, and that is normal for us as humans to have a desire to be in the right and place blame on others. That’s why we have conflict – it’s the sinful nature working and battling within us to rebel. But Jesus came to resolve conflict once for all, and He teaches us to be active – to be the ones who take the first step to reach out to others in which we may have tensions/unresolved conflict. We are the walking, talking representatives of Jesus in the world today. Jesus did not say that following Him would be without conflict, He said that it would be full of conflict. He declares in John 15:18 (ESV), “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” And in John 20:21 (HCSB) Jesus states, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And He continued in John 20:23, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
We must not allow this teaching to confuse us as Jesus did not give His disciples the power to choose who will and who will not be accepted in heaven; He gave them a command to forgive as He has forgiven them. Jesus instructs in Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV), “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Jesus makes it much more easy to forgive others when He has put in our own hearts the realization and understanding of how much forgiveness we too need – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
We have all found ourselves in stressful relationships. We need You to fill us with Your Holy Spirit to urge us to take the first step to resolve the issues that have caused the stress/conflict in our relationships with others. Please help us to put aside the fault/blame, but to seek conflict resolution in the eyes of Christ Jesus. Please help us to put aside our own self-pride and arrogant attitudes for the humility and obedience of Christ Jesus working in our lives to bring glory to You. In Jesus name I pray, amen.