New English Translation
Matthew 18:16
16But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established.
Matthew 18:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
- New International Version (NIV)But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)But 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’
Context of Matthew 18:16
14In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost. 15“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector. 18“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
Read all of Matthew 18Matthew 18:16 word by word
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀκούσῃ, παράλαβε μετὰ σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἢ δύο ἵνα ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- he willἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- notμήmē · notG3361
- takeπαραλαμβάνωparalambanō · to takeG3880
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- theeσύsu · youG4771
- oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- orἤē · orG2228
- twoδύοduo · twoG1417
- moreἔτιeti · stillG2089
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
- ofμάρτυςmartus · witnessG3144
- threeτρεῖςtreis tria · ThreeG5140
- everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
- wordῥῆμαrhēma · declarationG4487
- may be establishedἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
Cross-references for Matthew 18:16
- Numbers 35:30“Whoever kills any person, the murderer must be put to death by the testimony of witnesses; but one witness cannot testify against any person to cause him to be put to death.
- Deuteronomy 17:6At the testimony of two or three witnesses they must be executed. They cannot be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
- Deuteronomy 19:15A single witness may not testify against another person for any trespass or sin that he commits. A matter may be legally established only on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- 1 Kings 21:13The two villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified against Naboth right before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death.
- John 8:17It is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.
- 2 Corinthians 13:1This is the third time I am coming to visit you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter will be established.
- 1 Timothy 5:19Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.
- Hebrews 10:28Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- 1 John 5:7For there are three that testify,
- Revelation 11:3And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.
Commentaries on Matthew 18:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 162. Take with thee one or two more - Men whom he esteems, who may then confirm and enforce what thou sayest; and afterwards, if need require, bear witness of what was spoken. If even this do not succeed, then, and not before,Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16But if he will not hear thee - That is, if he spurns or abuses you, or will not be entreated by you, and will not reform. Take with thee one or two more - The design of taking them seems to be, 1.That he might be induced to listen to them, Matthew 18:17. They should be persons of influence or authority; his personal friends, or those in whom he could put confidence. 2.That they might be witnesses of his conduct before the church, Matthew 18:17. The law…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. 16By requiring one or two others to be present, Jesus stopped slander and false accusations among the congregation (see John 8:17; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 18:16
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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