All That Jesus Taught (Bible Study – 59 of 80) - Zac Poonen
Summary
The speaker continues studying Jesus' teachings, focusing on Matthew 18. He emphasizes that Jesus came to seek and save the lost, using the parable of the lost sheep to illustrate God's deep care for every individual. The discussion then moves to church discipline, outlining a three-stage process: private confrontation, involving two or three witnesses, and finally, bringing the matter before the church if the individual remains defiant. The speaker concludes by noting the authority given to the local church to bind and loose.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Did Jesus come to seek and save little children?Examining Matthew 18:11 in its context reveals that Jesus actively seeks to bring little children to faith, emphasizing that the Father does not want any of these little ones to perish.Matthew 18:11
Handling sin and discipline in the local churchTransitioning from Matthew 16 which speaks of the universal church, Jesus addresses the local church in Matthew 18, instructing believers to handle sin by first confronting a brother privately.Matthew 16:18
The three stages of church disciplineIf an unrepentant brother refuses to listen to a private rebuke, the matter escalates to bringing one or two witnesses, and finally telling the church so he can be treated as an outsider.
Spiritual authority to bind and looseThe elders and the church hold the spiritual authority to bind and loose on earth, agreeing together in prayer to deal with confusion and satanic disruption caused by unrepentant behavior.Matthew 16:19
What does it mean to gather in Jesus' name?Gathering where two or three are in Jesus' name refers to people who understand the meaning of Jesus—one who saves His people from their sins—rather than merely invoking a religious label.
How often must we forgive a brother?When Peter asks if he should forgive up to seven times, Jesus answers seventy times seven, indicating an infinite number of times modeled after God's endless forgiveness.Luke 17:3–4
The story of the king and the unforgiving slaveJesus tells a parable of a king who forgave a massive debt of one billion rupees, but that same servant refused to forgive a fellow slave a much smaller amount.
The warning against an unforgiving heartThe heavenly father will likewise deal with any believer who does not forgive their brother from the heart, delivering them to torturers until the debt is repaid.
Could sickness be linked to an unforgiving spirit?Unforgiving attitudes, bitterness, and a lack of release toward others can open the door to spiritual torment and physical sickness among believers until true forgiveness is granted.
