Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 18:15

"And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." — Matthew 18:15 (ASV)

Now the thought shifts. Jesus is looking at offenses within the messianic community from the opposite perspective—from the viewpoint of the brother against whom the sin is committed. The proper thing is to confront the brother privately and “show him his fault.” The aim is not to score points over him but to win him over (GK 3045; cf. 1 Corinthians 9:19–22; 1 Peter 3:1), for all discipline, even this private kind, must begin with redemptive purposes (cf. Lk 17:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15; James 5:19–20). Jesus assumes that the individual who personally confronts a brother will do so with true humility (vv.3–4; cf. Galatians 6:1): if it is hard to accept a rebuke, even a private one, it is harder still to administer one in loving humility. Behind this verse stands Lev 19:17.