Comment/Question:
Why has Matthew 18:20 been robbed of its blessed simplicity? Christians around the world (most especially those being persecuted) draw a great deal of peace and comfort from that verse. They take it at face value (aka. meaning exactly what it says). They are free to enjoy the “simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). The promise of Jesus that He will be wherever 2+ Christians come together for fellowship has encouraged many a group of persecuted Christians over the centuries. To know that Jesus is right there with them cannot but heal up the broken in spirit and bring blessing upon those who trust in His Word (Psalm 119:50). Why do we not have that same comfort? Are we truly so carnal as to rob the Word of God of its power? (Col. 2:8)
Answer:
The problem here is misunderstanding the difference between the interpretation and the application of Scripture. If we substitute one for the other, we will run into trouble.
The Interpretation and Application of Scripture
When teaching the truth of Scripture, we are responsible to give the meaning of a particular verse under consideration in the context of the whole passage. This is called the interpretation of the passage. The “workman” who is approved unto God will do this; he will “rightly divide the Word of truth,” giving the meaning of a particular passage in its proper context (2 Tim. 2:15). But in doing this, he by no means restricts the use of the passage in its various applications. When it comes to application, the Word of God is “exceeding broad” (Psa. 119:96). It has many applications to many people in many circumstances. Setting forth the meaning of a passage does not set aside the many applications to which the passage could be applied. This is something that our questioner has evidently misunderstood.
Matthew 18:18-20 has to do with the local assembly acting in its administrative capacity in binding and loosing disciplinary actions. The authority for such actions comes from the fact that the assembly (which could be as small as two or three persons) has been gathered to the Lord’s name by the Spirit of God, and the Lord is in its midst sanctioning the ground upon which they are gathered. The context has nothing to do with two Christians in the mission field needing comfort. But does this mean that Christians in the mission field can’t use this verse for comfort? No, they most assuredly can. The Bible says, “All [every] Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). If someone can get comfort in the midst of their sorrows in regard to their dying mother from Genesis 1:1, then let them do it. Who would want to take that away from them? But does that mean that Genesis 1:1 has to do with comfort in circumstances of sorrow? No, it is not the meaning of the verse.
In teaching the truth of a particular passage, we do not want to take away any practical application that a person may get from it. But, as we said earlier, interpretation and application are two different things. Those who “rightly divide the Word of truth” will recognize this. An example of this is found right in this passage (Matthew 18). Verse 19 has been applied to a prayer meeting. It is not the meaning of that verse, but if someone can get help and comfort from it, we wouldn’t take that away from them. The verse is really speaking of the assembly invoking God to bind in heaven what they have bound on earth.
It is a mistake to think that those who teach the proper interpretation of Matthew 18:20 are “robbing” the verse of its “blessed simplicity.” The problem is that when we live on applications of Scripture without ever learning the true meaning of a passage, when the proper interpretation of it is given, it sounds like strange doctrine. For example, Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This verse is used in the gospel, and we have all come to know and enjoy it in that way—and there is nothing wrong with that. It is taken to mean that the Lord is calling sin-laden sinners to Himself for salvation. But this is a gospel application. The correct interpretation and teaching of the passage has to do with the Lord, not calling sinners ladened with the burden of their sins, but believers in the Mosaic economy who were burdened with trying to keep the law. Their burden resulted from trying to do right things, not from doing wrong things (sins). In fact, the more fastidious they were in trying to do those right things enjoined upon them in the law, the greater their burden became, because it was not possible to fulfill them. The Lord was calling a remnant of believers out of the nation to be part of a new thing that He was about to begin—the Church (Matt. 16:18). In coming to Christ, He would deliver them from that yoke of the law (Acts 15:10) and give them another “yoke” that was “easy” and “light” (Matt. 11:30). This probably sounds like strange doctrine to many, having never heard the true interpretation of the passage.
We would encourage our younger brethren to “fully follow up” on these subjects and passages in God’s Word—especially those that have to do with the truth of gathering. Then we will each be “a good minister of Christ Jesus,” able to accurately set forth the truth in an orderly way (1 Tim. 4:6 – J. N. Darby Trans.).
Summary:
Applications of Scripture to various situations in life are fine, but we must not confuse those applications with the interpretation of the passage.