Matthew 18:17

Matthew 18:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
• New International Version (NIV)If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
• New Living Translation (NLT)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.

Context of Matthew 18:17

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. 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. If 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. 18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:17 word by word

ἐὰν δὲ παρακούσῃ αὐτῶν, εἰπὲ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ. ἐὰν δὲ καὶ τῆς ἐκκλησίας παρακούσῃ, ἔστω σοι ὥσπερ ὁ ἐθνικὸς καὶ ὁ τελώνης.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• he shall neglect to hearπαρακούωparakouō · to ignoreG3878
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• tellλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• let him beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• unto theeσύsu · youG4771
• asὥσπερhōsper · just asG5618
• an heathen manἐθνικόςethnikos · Gentile-likeG1482
• a publicanτελώνηςtelōnēs · tax collectorG5057

Cross-references for Matthew 18:17

• Acts 6:1Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
• Acts 15:6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
• 1 Corinthians 5:4When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
• 1 Corinthians 6:1When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?
• 2 Corinthians 2:6For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough,
• 3 John 1:9I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.
• Romans 16:17I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
• 1 Corinthians 5:3For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
• 1 Timothy 6:5and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
• 2 John 1:10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
• Matthew 6:7"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
• Ezra 6:21It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.
• Ezekiel 11:12and you shall know that I am the Lord. For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you."
• 2 Corinthians 6:14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
• Ephesians 4:17Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.

Commentaries on Matthew 18:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 173. Tell it unto the Church - Lay the whole matter before the congregation of Christian believers, in that place of which he is a member, or before the minister and elders, as the representatives of the Church or assembly. If all this avail not, then, Let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican - To whom thou art, as a Christian, to owe earnest and persevering good will, and acts of kindness; but have no religious communion with him, till, if he…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Tell it to the church - See the notes at Matthew 16:18. The church may here mean the whole assembly of believers, or it may mean those who are authorized to try such cases - the representatives of the church, or these who act for the church. In the Jewish synagogue there was a bench of elders before whom trials of this kind were brought. It was to be brought to the church in order that he might be admonished, entreated, and, if possible, reformed. This…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. 17The church is the local Christian community. An unrepentant person (someone refusing to turn from sin) is to be treated as an outsider, like a lawbreaker. Excluding a person from fellowship (sometimes called excommunication) comes from the belief that God’s people must be holy (Acts 5:1–6; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5:1–13; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18; Galatians 5:7–12; 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15). Sin harms fellowship with both other believers and with God. The…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 18:17

• Church
• Commandments
• Court
• Fellowship
• Fraternity
• Jesus, the Christ
• Publicans
• Reproof
• Strife
• Tax
• Trespass

In the dictionaries

• Gain
• Owe
• Patience
• Church
• Church Government
• Excommunication
• Forgiveness
• Intercession
• Jesus Christ
• Matthew, the Gospel of

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