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I don’t know how many times I have heard Christians completely miss the point of Matthew 18:20. 

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (ESV).

You often hear this when someone is making some kind of announcements at the beginning of some congregational assembly or in some class.

“Brothers and Sisters, it is wonderful to be here in the presence of Jesus, because we know He said where two or three are gathered in His name, He is here.”

That just isn’t what Jesus was talking about. We must not forget Hebrews 13:5–”Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you” (ESV). God is with us even when we are by ourselves. Jesus was not telling us when we are in His presence because He is always with us Christians.

Rather, we need to keep this verse in its context. He had been talking about discipline. Remember he had said if you know someone is sinning, you go talk to them alone. Then if they refuse to repent, take one or two with you to establish evidence based on two or three witnesses. Then if the person still won’t repent the two or three witnesses can take it to the church. If the person still doesn’t repent, then mark them and treat them as a tax-collector or Gentile; that is, have no common association with them, but withdraw yourselves.

This brings up an immediate question. Does the matter have to be witnessed by every member of the congregation for the congregation to act? No, the two or three witnesses can make the case for the congregation to act. Why? Because when two or three are acting in Jesus’ name, He is right there with them.

You see, the point is not that we have to have two or three people gathered to be in Jesus’ presence. We are always in His presence. However, in the cases of disciplining impenitent sinners, we need to have two or three witnesses acting in Jesus’ name. Then Jesus is also there acting and supporting the decision to discipline.

Please, don’t use this verse to say Jesus is present at your church’s assemblies because more than two or three or gathered. Even more, please don’t use this verse to say you are having a church assembly because you have two or three Christians gathered. That just isn’t what Jesus was saying.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC