Matthew 18

[Ryan&Amber2013]

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
Matthew 18:20

So people say this refers only to church discipline. But doesn't it have a wider context as well? William Bradford used this to speak of breaking away from the corruption of the church of the day. Meaning that the church can still be the church, even with just a few people, as seen when coming to north America. Personally, I love the comfort of thinking that the church can function as the church, even when it's broken away from the larger institution at times. Any thoughts?

 

[Ryan&Amber2013]

 

[C. Matthew McMahon]

Annexed to this, the puritans saw two aspects to its application. First, church discipline and the function of elders binding and loosing people in and out of the kingdom. Christ is in their midst when these decisions are made, but also, #2. That to the gathering of the saints, promises are made as Christ being in their midst. Such as in a public prayer meeting or small church service.

I usually see people adhering to the second one far more than understanding it in it rightful context on discipline.

Or, if you are in a Pentecostal church, binding and loosing means, to them, something contexturally and deviantly different.

 

[Cymro]

I am persuaded that the context strongly asserts the discipline necessary for the church to function as it should. The two or three witnesses of v16, harmonises with the two witnesses of v19 and the two or three in v20. The promise that Christ would be in the midst gives assurance and authority to discern and judge on the matter. This example does not deal with any schism in a church, as the matter ought to be taken to the church (v17)to hear the contention.