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Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Matthew 18:15

Matthew 18:15. And if thy brother. A Christian brother.

Sin. The omission of ‘against thee' extends the precept. The passage, however, does not extend the power of the Church over all sins (since the rebuke against a hierarchical spirit forbids this), nor warrant meddlesome interference and rebuke. Our disapproval does not prove that the ‘brother' has sinned. The first step is to be in private.

Shew, not simply ‘tell,' but convince him of his fault.

Between thee and him alone. Privacy is for his sake, and as a fact this rebuke is the more difficult one.

Thou hast gained thy brother. Regained him for God, by inducing repentance: regained him for thyself, by regaining his love and fellowship, which is disturbed by his sin whether an offence against the reprover or not. Proclaiming his fault is dangerous for him, encouraging him in his sins: and for us, fostering our worst passions.

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See also Matthew 18:15 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    MATTHEW 18:15 a`marth,sh| @eivj se,# {C} It is possible that the words eivj se, are an early interpolation into the original text, perhaps derived by copyists from the use of eivj evme, in ver....

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Matthew 18:15. _IF THY BROTHER_] Any who is a member of the same religious society, _sin against thee_, 1. _Go and reprove him_ _alone_, - it may be in person; if that cannot be so well done, b...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    MOREOVER, IF THY BROTHER - The word “brother,” here, evidently means a fellow-professor of religion. Christians are called brethren because they belong to the same redeemed family, having a common Fat...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    6. INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS DISCIPLES. CONCERNING FORGIVENESS. CHAPTER 18 1. Concerning the Little Ones and Offences. (Matthew 18:1 .) 2. The Son of Man to Save What is Lost. (Matthew 18:11 .) 3. The Chu...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    A CONVERSATION WITH THE TWELVE. For Matthew 18:1, the question of precedence, _cf._ Mark 9:33 *, also Matthew 20:26 f., Mark 10:43 f.,...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    "If your brother sins against you, go, and try to convince him of his error between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. If he will not listen to you, take with you o...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS (Matthew 18:1-35) Matthew 18:1-35 is a most important chapter for Christian Ethics, because it deals with those qualities which should characterize the personal relationships o...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    TRESPASS. Greek. _hamartano._ App-128. AGAINST. Greek. _eis_. TELL HIM HIS FAULT. reprove him....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Forgiveness of Sins. Luke 17:3-4 God's forgiveness of sinners suggests the duty of forgiveness among men....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone_ See Leviticus 19:17, where the words "not suffer sin upon him," mean "thou shalt not incur sin through him," i. e. by letting him go on unrebuked...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἜΛΕΓΞΟΝ ΑΥ̓ΤῸΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. ‘Rebuke him.’ See Leviticus 19:17, ‘Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke (ἐλέγξεις, LXX.) thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him’ (ra...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    FORGIVENESS OF SINS Luke 17:3-4 God’s forgiveness of sinners suggests the duty of forgiveness among men....

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    VER 15. "MOREOVER IF THY BROTHER SHALL TRESPASS AGAINST THEE, GO AND TELL HIM HIS FAULT BETWEEN THEE AND HIM ALONE: IF HE SHALL HEAR THEE, THOU HAST GAINED THY BROTHER. 16. BUT IF HE WILL NOT HEAR THE...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE HEART OF A CHRISTIAN IS CHARACTERIZED BY A DESIRE FOR FELLOWSHIP MATTHEW 18:15-20:_ God provided a way for brethren to settle their differences. God's way always works. If your brothers wrongs yo...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

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  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    MOREOVER, IF THY BROTHER SHALL TRESPASS, &C.— Our Lord, having thus spoken to the _persons offending,_ now addresses his discourse to the persons _offended, s_hewing them in what manner they ought to...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Section 46 JESUS TRAINS THE TWELVE IN PERSONAL RELATIONS (Parallels: Mark 9:33-50; Luke 9:46-50) TEXT: 18:1-35 A. Humility and True Greatness 1 In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Wh...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    V. YOUR HUMILITY AND SENSITIVITY TO OTHERS IS MEASURED BY YOUR CONCERN ABOUT OTHERS-' SINS: DOES IT REALLY MATTER TO YOU IF A BROTHER IS LOST TO THE KINGDOM? (18:15-20) A. MAKE A PERSONAL EFFORT TO G...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. MOREOVER, IF THY BROTHER SHALL TRESP...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    24 See Exo_30:11-16; Exo_38:25-26. 24 According to the law every one who was numbered in Israel, being over twenty years of age, paid half a shekel to shelter his soul (Exo_30:12-14). It was used for...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    18:15 reprove (l-9) See Note d, John 3:20 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    OFFENDING THE LITTLE ONES. THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT 1-14. Ambition reproved, and humility taught by the example of a little child (Mark 9:33; Luke 9:46)....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    IF THY BROTHER SHALL TRESPASS AGAINST THEE] so RV. Westcott and Hort, however, omit 'against thee,' considerably altering the sense of the passage, which then applies to sin in general. HAST GAINED TH...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    TREATMENT OF AN ERRING BROTHER (peculiar to St. Matthew). The connexion with what precedes is as follows: 'Despise not one of the “little ones” (Matthew 18:10); if, however, one “offends against thee,...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

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  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    MOREOVER IF THY BROTHER SHALL TRESPASS. — Better, _and if thy brother shall sin._ A twofold train of thought is traceable in what follows. (1.) The presence of “offences” implies sin, and the question...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _How to deal with an erring brother_. The transition here is easy from warning against giving, to counsel how to receive, offences. The terms are changed: μικρὸς becomes ἀδελφός, giving offence not su...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἁμαρτήσῃ : apart from the doubtful εἰς σὲ following, the reference appears to be to private personal offences, not to sin against the Christian name, which every brother in the community has a right t...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    SAVING THE STRAYING Matthew 18:10-20 How tenderly the Master speaks of the children! We must turn back to become like them, Matthew 18:3. To cause them to stumble is to incur terrible penalties, Mat...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    What a sad state of heart prompted this question! How absolutely opposed to the whole genius of the Master's teaching and example! He replied by an act, and a statement growing out of that act. The ch...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (5) Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against (e) thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (5) We must strive for agreemen...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Offend against thee. St. John Chrysostom, St. Augustine, and St. Jerome understand from this verse, that the injured person is to go and admonish his brother. Other understand against thee, to mean in...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    CHURCH DISCIPLINE Matthew 18:15-20. _“If thy brother may sin, go, convict him, between thee and him alone.”_ Many a time you can win him by thus going privately and quietly, with the loving overtures...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (16) But if he will not hear thee, then...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Chapter 8, which opens the portion that comes before us tonight, is a striking illustration as well as proof of the method which God has been pleased to employ in giving us the apostle Matthew's accou...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    Matthew 18:15._But if thy brother shall sin against thee. _As he had discoursed about bearing the infirmities of brethren, he now shows more clearly in what manner, and for what purpose, and to what e...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In chapter 18 the great principles proper to the new order of things are made known to the disciples. Let us search a little into these sweet and precious instructions of the Lord. They may be looked...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    MOREOVER, IF THY BROTHER SHALL TRESPASS AGAINST THEE,.... This is said to show, that as on the one hand, if any of those that believe in Christ, should commit a trespass against his fellow Christian,...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Ver. 15. _If thy brother shall trespass...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _But if thy brother_, &c. But how can we avoid giving offence to some? or being offended at others? especially suppose they are quite in the wrong? suppose they commit a known sin? Our Lord here teach...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    HEAR THEE; if he is reclaimed. GAINED THY BROTHER; thou hast been instrumental in restoring him. The way to reclaim an offending brother is for some brother to go and converse with him ALONE. If this...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    HOW TO DEAL WITH AN ERRING BROTHER....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Though the Lord Jesus has been seen to forego His own rights, He who is by right infinitely great, the disciples show the opposite attitude in desiring some rights above those of others in the kingdom...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-20 If a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often done merely upon report, but to go to the offender privately, state the matter kindly, and...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "MATTHEW 18:17"....

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

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  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

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  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

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  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

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  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

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  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    TRESPASS SIN (_ See Scofield) - (Romans 3:23). _...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

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  • Summarized Bible Commentary

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  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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  • The Bible Study New Testament

    IF YOUR BROTHER SINS AGAINST YOU. Compare Mark 9:38; Luke 9:49. A fellow believer who does you wrong in some way. GO TO HIM. You are to go to him! SHOW HIM HIS FAULT. Have a quiet talk with him. He ma...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

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  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

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  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

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  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    1-35 CHAPTER 18 _At that time came_, &c. There seems to be a discrepancy here with Mark 9:31, where it is said that the disciples disputed about this matter in the way, and that afterwards, when they...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 18:15. MOREOVER, etc.—Better, _and if thy brother shall sin_. A twofold train of thought is traceable in what follows. 1. The presence of “offences” implies sin, and the ques...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MATTHEW 18:1 _Discourse concerning the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and the mutual duties of Christians_._ _(Mark 9:33; Luke 9:46-42.)...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now at the same time there came disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 18:1) Oh, boy how they longed for this. You're talking about motivation, and the disc...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 6:6; 1 Corinthians 8:12; 1 Corinthians 9:19; 1 Peter 3:1;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Go [υ π α γ ε]. Do not wait for him to come to you. Tell him his fault [ε λ ε γ ξ ο ν]. Rev., shew him. The verb means, first, to test, try, search out; therefore, to cross - examine with a view of c...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    But how can we avoid giving offence to some? or being offended at others! Especially suppose they are quite in the wrong? Suppose they commit a known sin? Our Lord here teaches us how: he lays down a...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    In these words our Saviour gives us an excellent rule for the duty of fraternal correction, or brotherly admonition. Where note, 1. That brotherly reproof and admonition is. duty incumbent upon churc...

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Old Testament