Daily Lectionary | Exodus 17 & Matthew 18:25-end

Exodus 17

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, comes out to meet Moses, bringing along Moses’ wife and two sons. Jethro is a priest who recognizes Yaweh’s preeminence among other Gods and leads Moses and the people in worship. He offers burnt offerings and makes sacrifices to God. 

Jethro tells Moses that he cannot both be the judge and the teacher of Israel; it’s too much work. So he takes his father-in-law’s advice and appoints judges. Moses’s role will be one of representation and teaching the people the law of God. 

The bulk of judging is delegated to worthy men. This represents a change in Israel’s political order. 

Reflection

What do we learn about God’s desire for leadership and government among his people in Exodus 18?

Matthew 18:15-end

Summary

This remainder of Matthew 18 deals with “church discipline” among the family of God. It’s important to remember the familial terms used in this section: “If your brother sins against you…” Jesus says that a direct confrontation between the offended and offender should take place. If the offending party acknowledges his wrongdoing, “then you have gained your brother.” Peace has been restored. But if he doesn’t listen, then take “two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of at least two or three witnesses.” 

In the background of this next step is the due process set out in the Old Testament (cf. Deut. 19:15). A charge must be established by at least two witnesses. And if the brother refuses to listen again, then Jesus commands, “tell it to the church.” And if he refuses this more public disclosure of his offense, then he should be cast out and treated as a Gentile, that is, a target of evangelism who needs to be re-won to the Gospel. And if the church, established by the two or three witnesses, agrees on casting out an unrepentant brother then they can bring their case before God and he will accept the church’s ruling--it will be binding. 

Jesus has just talked about the unrepentant offending brother, and now Peter asks about how many times he should forgive an offending brother: “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?” Jesus says seventy times seven, which is to say, always.

Jesus then tells the parable of the unforgiving servant to illustrate the important of forgiving one another.

Reflection

How does the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant set our posture towards Jesus’ earlier discourse on church discipline? Are Christians obligated to forgive those who sin against us even when they are unrepentant and don’t seek forgiveness?