God’s Word Translation
Matthew 18:15
15“If a believer does something wrong, go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"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.
- 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.
Context of Matthew 18:15
13I can guarantee this truth: If he finds it, he is happier about it than about the 99 that have not strayed. 14In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost. “If a believer does something wrong, go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer. 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you so that every accusation may be verified by two or three witnesses. 17If he ignores these witnesses, tell it to the community of believers. If he also ignores the community, deal with him as you would a heathen or 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 18:35That is what my Father in heaven will do to you if each of you does not sincerely forgive other believers.”
- Leviticus 6:2“If any of you sin against the Lord by failing to do your duty, if you lie to your neighbor about something you were supposed to take care of or if you lie about something stolen or seized from your neighbor, you are sinning and will be guilty.
- Luke 17:3So watch yourselves! “If a believer sins, correct him. If he changes the way he thinks and acts, forgive him.
- 1 Corinthians 6:6Instead, one believer goes to court against another believer, and this happens in front of unbelievers.
- 1 Corinthians 8:12When you sin against other believers in this way and harm their weak consciences, you are sinning against Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 7:12So, when I wrote to you, I didn’t write because of the man who did the wrong or the man who was hurt by it. Rather, I wrote because I wanted you to show your devotion to us in God’s sight.
- Colossians 3:13Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6No one should take advantage of or exploit other believers that way. The Lord is the one who punishes people for all these things. We’ve already told you and warned you about this.
- Leviticus 19:17“Never hate another Israelite. Be sure to correct your neighbor so that you will not be guilty of sinning along with him.
- Psalms 141:5A righteous person may strike me or correct me out of kindness. It is like lotion for my head. My head will not refuse it, because my prayer is directed against evil deeds.
- Proverbs 25:9Present your argument to your neighbor, but do not reveal another person’s secret.
- Proverbs 11:30The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life, and a winner of souls is wise.
- Romans 12:21Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19Although I’m free from all people, I have made myself a slave for all people to win more of them.
- James 5:19My brothers and sisters, if one of you wanders from the truth, someone can bring that person back.
- 1 Peter 3:1Wives, in a similar way, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority. Some husbands may not obey God’s word. Their wives could win these men ⌞for Christ⌟ by the way they live without saying anything.
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
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