Daily Devotional For Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Note: In each devotional where you see only the reference to a Bible passage without the verse (ex. John 3:16), that is a direct link to that passage online. All you have to do is click on that reference and you will be taken to the verse itself. Thank you.

We are making our way through Matthew’s Gospel and today we are going to limit our devotional to just  Matthew 18:15-17

“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. (16) But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. (17) If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector” (NLT).

The guidelines that Jesus gives here are for the church, the community of faith, not unbelievers. It is to help maintain unity and love in the church. The earliest manuscripts omit the words “against you.” This is why some translations inform us of this. If this is the case, then the principle is believers are to confront one another when they see sin in another believer, not just when there has been an interpersonal offense of one against the other. 

Jesus says that if someone has offended you or sinned against you, it is your responsibility to take the initiative to go confront that person first. It is to be done in love and the person doing the confronting must be absolutely sure that the issue they are pointing out is evident in that other believer’s life. It has to be done out of humility, unconditional love and grace (see Gal. 6:1-4). These guidelines are not a license to confront everyone who hurts or attacks us. 

If more church members and believers did this, there would be first no need for church leaders to go to the second step or third step in these guidelines from Jesus. Second, this protects church leaders from having to deal with interpersonal conflicts between members. Third, it eliminates gossip in the church. Believers are to be mature enough to go to each other over interpersonal conflicts without the need for a witness or intermediary.

The problem is that when someone wrongs us, we typically do not follow Jesus’ teachings here. Instead, we turn away from that person in anger, even severing the relationship due to anger, the desire to get revenge that is fueled by bitterness. The goal at this point is not who is right and who is wrong, but righting a ruptured and possibly ruined relationship to another believer. Therefore, we:

1. Do not ignore conflict, we address it.
2. Do not exaggerate or lie about the conflict, we pursue quick resolution.
3. Do not abandon conflict, thinking it will simply go away. 
4. Do not gang up on the person. The 2-3 witnesses serve as witnesses only. They are not to get involved in the discussion. They are there to observe that resolution was attempted.
5. Do not bring the conflict up again. Once resolved, leave it in the past.

If this does not work, you take 2-3 witnesses to observe that reconciliation was attempted and the sin was confronted. If this does not work, then it goes before the church. Excommunication from the body of faith is the last resort and serves to attempt to help the offending person repent. The Apostle Paul recommended such action within the church at Corinth (see 1 Cor. 5:1-13. 2 Cor. 2:5-11 and 2 These. 3:14-15).

The church is made up of redeemed sinners. At times we all have a blind spot of our sins and it takes a loving Christian sister or brother to help us see this so that we can repent and not be a stumbling block to others. Those who refuse to see their sin and repent are to be shunned by that individual who has been offended or tried to help this other believer see their wrong. In the Greek text, the translation “let such one be to you,” the word “you” is singular, not plural. Therefore this does not mean the whole church shuns this individual, but only the individual who has sinned against another believer and refuses to repent. If there is no accountability in the church, there is no discipleship within the church. Confronting sin is something we believers are to do. Why?

1. Dealing with sin in another believer’s life is one of the most loving things we can do. Any loving parent understands this. If a parent sees their child sinning and thinks, “Well, I personally do not confront my child for their choices because I do not want to hurt their feelings. I let my child make their own decisions and I respect the choices they make.” No loving parent would say or believe this. A loving parent confronts the wrong in their children. Dealing with sin in another believer requires that we have the determination and intentionally to do what is right. If we follow these biblical principles here in Matthew 18:15-17, as well as in 1 Cor. 5:1-13 for example, be prepared to expect pushback. You may be called all kinds of names and insulted with accusations of being judgmental, intolerant, unloving, vengeful and condemning. It is possible in our day you could be sued, slandered and even persecuted not only by the one you confronted, but also by those who are already resentful of the church. You have to have fortitude to see it through for the glory of God and the unity of the body.
2. Dealing with sin is not optional for any believer. If you seriously take Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:15-17, then there is no backing down from confronting sin. Holiness, godliness and righteousness are to characterize God’s people. 
3. Dealing with sin in the church is not for the purpose to punish, but to bring about repentance and save a life spiritually. This is the point of James 5:20. To see yourself as the “police sinner patrol” is to have the wrong attitude. Pastor and author Chuck Swindoll says, “The purpose of church discipline is not to humiliate, or infuriate or irritate wandering saints as a bouncer. The purpose is to urge them to see the error of their ways and to shepherd them back to repentance and fellowship. Is your attitude that of a bouncer or a shepherd?” (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Bible Commentary, “Matthew 16-28,” Vol. 1B, p. 79).
4. Dealing with sin in the church is not for outsiders or unbelievers, but from those believers within the church. The Bible never tells us to confront sinners outside the church. We are to leave them to God, the ultimate Judge. 

We will look more at this tomorrow. For those of you who are traveling for Christmas, I pray your travels are safe and for those you are with, it will be more than just opening and exchanging of gifts, but a time to reflect on the greatest gift ever given to us – Jesus.

Assignment: Reflect back on your time in the church. When have you seen or personally followed these steps set forth by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17? What do you think would happen if more Christians obeyed these commands from Jesus? Read over the 4 reasons given why we should do this. Which one is most important to you and why?

Scripture To Meditate On: Galatians 6:1, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, You know me and know that I am reluctant to obey You with Matthew 18:15-17. Give me the faith to overcome my fear to do this. Give me the heart out of love to follow through with this. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly