There are many verses in the Bible that people like to quote that are actually a misuse of the verse, completely misunderstood, or simply do not exist. One such verse is Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” This verse is frequently cited to validate small gatherings of disciples, suggesting that even if only a few people are present, the Lord is still among them and it is therefore a justifiable worship assembly. The problem with using this verse in such a way is that it completely ignores the context. The context has nothing to do with a worship assembly.
Start by considering the inverse implication of such an interpretation. If only one person is present, does that mean that God is not there with them? Are two or more disciples required to be together for the Lord to be among them? That certainly isn’t what the Bible teaches! Yet, when context is blatantly ignored, passages like this one can easily be twisted in ways that produce such an inference (cf. 2 Peter 3:16). The fact is, Jesus said said, “… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) The apostle John also wrote that “He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 1:9) Scripture makes it quite clear that our Father is constantly present with a faithful disciple of the Lord, whether one is in a worship assembly or not.
So, what is the context of Matthew 18:20? It can easily be discovered by just backing up a few verses, or even by returning to the first verse of the chapter to start reading. You will quickly discern that Jesus is talking about how His disciples must humble themselves and then gives some warnings about the dangers of sin. He uses a small child as an object lesson for the kind of attitude one must have if they want to enter into heaven, “whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” His admonition is concerning “the will of your Father who is in heaven” (v14). In other words, do not sin against God with a prideful heart, but rather have the more a humble, more innocent-like attitude, such as a small child.
In verse 15, Jesus starts teaching about what to do when someone sins directly against us. He says, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, …” It’s one thing for us to sin against God, but what are we supposed to do when someone offends us in sin? Jesus goes on to explain the process for dealing with such a problem: go talk to the offender! Now, think about that for a second. That’s a radical teaching for the time. What does the world teach concerning being offended? It teaches that the offender must come to us and apologize, or some authority intervenes so that justice can be served. But Jesus says, WE are to GO to the one who has sinned against us “and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” He adds that if the offender doesn’t listen, then take some witnesses with you. It is only after exhausting that recourse that the offender can be rejected (“let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector”) and disciplined by the church (1 Cor 5:4-5).
It is in that context that Jesus says, “where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” It is a reaffirmation that Jesus will provide what is needed for difficult situations such as a conflict between two brethren. He’s already with His faithful disciples … even in difficulties, He reassures us!
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