Mat 18:17 | TNotes | STEP | 18:17 The church is the local Christian community. • The unrepentant person is to be considered a pagan or a corrupt tax collector , a wicked transgressor of the law. Church discipline by exclusion (excommunication; see Acts 5:1-6 ; Rom 16:17 ; 1 Cor 5:1-13 ; 2 Cor 6:14-18 ; Gal 5:7-12 ; 2 Thes 3:14-15 ) is rooted in the conviction that God’s people are to be holy and that sin corrupts fellowship, both between people and between the people and God. The goal is neither vindictive retribution nor a public display of power, but restoration of the wayward to holiness and fellowship (Matt 18:10-15 ; Gal 6:1 ; Jas 5:19-20 ).

a18:17►

bActs 5:1-6►

cRom 16:17►

d1 Cor 5:1-13►

e2 Cor 6:14-18►

fGal 5:7-12►

g2 Thes 3:14-15►

hMatt 18:10-15►

iGal 6:1►

jJas 5:19-20►

‏ Matthew 18:17

18:17 ^a The church is the local Christian community.

• The unrepentant person is to be considered a pagan or a corrupt tax collector, a wicked transgressor of the law. Church discipline by exclusion (excommunication; see Acts 5:1-6 ^b; Rom 16:17 ^c; 1 Cor 5:1-13 ^d; 2 Cor 6:14-18 ^e; Gal 5:7-12 ^f; 2 Thes 3:14-15 ^g) is rooted in the conviction that God’s people are to be holy and that sin corrupts fellowship, both between people and between the people and God. The goal is neither vindictive retribution nor a public display of power, but restoration of the wayward to holiness and fellowship (Matt 18:10-15 ^h; Gal 6:1 ⁱ; Jas 5:19-20 ^j).