English Standard Version
Matthew 18:15
15"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Matthew 18:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“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.
Context of Matthew 18:15
13And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Read all of Matthew 18Matthew 18:15 word by word
Ἐὰν δὲ ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σὲ ὁ ἀδελφός σου, ὕπαγε ἔλεγξον αὐτὸν μεταξὺ σοῦ καὶ αὐτοῦ μόνου. ἐάν σου ἀκούσῃ, ἐκέρδησας τὸν ἀδελφόν σου.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Moreoverδέde · thenG1161
- ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- thyσύsu · youG4771
- brotherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- brotherἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- shall trespassἁμαρτάνωhamartanō · to sinG264
- againstεἰςeis · towardG1519
- goὑπάγωhupagō · to goG5217
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- tellἐλέγχωelegchō · to rebukeG1651
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- betweenμεταξύmetaxu · between/meanwhileG3342
- aloneμόνοςmonos · aloneG3441
- he shall hearἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- thou hast gainedκερδαίνωkerdainō · to gainG2770
Cross-references for Matthew 18:15
- Matthew 18:35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
- Leviticus 6:2"If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor
- Luke 17:3Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,
- 1 Corinthians 6:6but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?
- 1 Corinthians 8:12Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 7:12So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.
- Colossians 3:13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
- Leviticus 19:17"You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.
- Psalms 141:5Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
- Proverbs 25:9Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret,
- Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.
- Romans 12:21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
- James 5:19My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,
- 1 Peter 3:1Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,
Commentaries on Matthew 18:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15If 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, by thy messenger, or in writing, (which in many cases is likely to be the most effectual). Observe, our Lord gives no liberty to omit this, or to exchange it for either of the following steps. If this do not succeed,Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Moreover, 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 Father - God; and because they axe united in the same feelings, objects, and destiny. Trespass against thee - That is, injure thee in any way, by words or conduct. The original word means sin against thee. This may be done by injuring the character, person, or…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-20Verses 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 show him his conduct. This would generally have all the desired effect with a true Christian, and the parties would be reconciled. The principles of these rules may be practised every where, and under all circumstances, though they are too much…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15If another believer sins, love means we should talk to them privately and point out the wrong (Leviticus 19:17; Luke 17:3; Galatians 6:1; 1 Timothy 5:20; Titus 3:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. 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, &c.--Probably our Lord had reference still to the late dispute, Who should be the greatest? After the rebuke--so gentle and captivating, yet so dignified and divine--under which they would doubtless be smarting, perhaps each would be saying, It was not I that began it, it was not I that threw…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 18:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries