For Where Two or Three are Gathered

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." 

Matthew 18:20

I have often quoted this verse when interceding for someone in a group. It's a comforting verse that says when there are two or more of us, Jesus is present. But we know that we don't need other people for Jesus to be with us! He is with us whether we are in a huge prayer rally or when we are alone in our prayer room at dawn. He is with us even when we are busy working or when we are asleep!

So what is this verse about? 

I may be wrong but it seems to be about judgement against sin. We need to be very careful about accusing others of sin. “Take one or two others with you, so that every fact may be established in the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses," it says in verse 16 of the same passage. If we can't work out our problem between just two of us, best get other brothers and sisters to help out! And never talk behind each other’s back! 

Jesus also instructs in the same passage about how to behave towards an offending party: “If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.” Lest we think we are supposed to shun him or shame him, we must remember how Jesus treated the tax collectors and Gentiles. Always with love, compassion and acceptance! 

Sound teaching!