Daily Word: Matthew 18:15-20 – The Binding and Loosing of Love | Wednesday, Aug 12
Jesus gives the Church authority to bind and loose, and promises His presence where two or three are gathered. Unpack the Greek of "synechō" and "deō" in this 4-minute reflection on fraternal correction and communal prayer.
DAILY WORD
spwworship
8/12/20264 min read
Matthew 18:15-20 (Wednesday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time)
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18)
Jesus continues His discourse on the life of the Christian community. He has just spoken about the humility of children, the care for the little ones, and the shepherd's search for the lost sheep. Now He turns to a practical and challenging topic: fraternal correction. How should a disciple respond when another disciple sins? How should the community handle conflict, sin, and reconciliation?
The passage is a profound guide to the healing of relationships, the authority of the Church, and the power of communal prayer. It is not a procedure for exclusion; it is a path for restoration.
The Gradual Process of Correction: Elegchō and Hamaríanō (v. 15)
Jesus begins with a personal, private approach: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.”
The Greek word for “tell him his fault” is elegchō — to expose, to correct, to bring to light. It is not a harsh accusation; it is a loving intervention. It is the act of bringing the truth into the light so that the person can see their error and repent.
The word for “sins” is hamartanō — to miss the mark, to fall short, to wander from the path. It is the common New Testament word for sin. The goal of the intervention is not to shame the person but to restore them to the path of righteousness.
Jesus teaches a progression:
Private correction — one-on-one, in humility and love.
Witnesses — if the person refuses to listen, bring one or two others, so that “every word may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deuteronomy 19:15).
The Church — if the person still refuses, bring the matter before the community.
Excommunication — if the person refuses even to listen to the Church, they are to be treated as “a Gentile and a tax collector” — not as an enemy, but as someone outside the fellowship of the faithful.
The Binding and Loosing: Deō and Lyō (v. 18)
Jesus then gives the disciples — and through them, the Church — extraordinary authority: “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
The Greek verbs are deō (to bind) and lyō (to loose). In the rabbinic tradition, these terms referred to the authority to declare what is permitted (loosed) and what is forbidden (bound) according to the Law. But Jesus extends this authority beyond legal interpretation. He gives the Church the power to bind and loose in the spiritual order — to forgive sins (loose) or to retain them (bind), to admit into the community or to exclude.
This authority is not arbitrary. It is not a license for human power. It is a sacramental authority, exercised in obedience to the will of Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit. The Church does not create truth; she receives it. But she is entrusted with the keys to the Kingdom.
The Presence of Christ: Symphoneō and Sunagō (v. 19-20)
The passage concludes with a promise that has brought comfort to countless believers: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
The Greek word for “gathered” is sunagō — to come together, to assemble. It is the root of the word synagogue. It implies a deliberate, intentional gathering, not a casual encounter.
The word for “agree” is symphoneō — to sound together, to be in harmony. It is where we get our English word symphony. When the community prays in harmony, with one heart and one mind, the Lord is present in a powerful way.
But this presence is not a guarantee of any request. It is a promise that when the Church prays according to the will of God, the Father hears and acts. The prayer of the community is not a magic formula; it is a participation in the prayer of Christ.
The Goal: Restoration, Not Exclusion
The entire passage is governed by the principle of restoration. The goal of correction is not to expel the sinner but to bring them back. The binding and loosing are not about power but about healing. The prayer of the community is not about control but about communion.
The one who refuses to listen is not cast out forever. They are treated as a Gentile and a tax collector — and who did Jesus spend His time with? Tax collectors and sinners. The community is called to continue to love, to pray, and to seek the reconciliation of the lost.
What This Means for Your Wednesday
Today, reflect on the way you handle conflict and sin in your relationships.
Do you confront sin with humility and love? Or do you gossip, avoid, or condemn? The first step is always private, personal, and gentle.
Do you believe in the authority of the Church? The power to bind and loose has been entrusted to the apostles and their successors. The Church holds the keys to the Kingdom.
Do you pray with others? The promise of Christ's presence is given to the gathered community. Do you seek the prayer of others? Do you pray for the restoration of the lost?
A Short Prayer
Lord Jesus, You have given Your Church the authority to bind and loose, and You promise to be present when we gather in Your name. Forgive me for the times I have handled conflict with harshness rather than humility, and sin with condemnation rather than compassion. Teach me to correct with love, to forgive with generosity, and to pray with faith. Let my life be a symphony of Your grace, and let my heart be a place where the lost can find their way home. Amen.
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