Commentary on Matt. 18:18<br>Commentary by Louis A. Barbieri, Jr.<br>The Bible Knowledge Commentary<br>Dallas Theological Seminary<br><br>The comments are on 18:15-20:<br><br>The Lord had just spoken about offenses; now He talked about what should be done when known sin occurs. When a brother sins aginst another, the two of them should discuss the matter. If the matter can be settled at that level, there is no need for it to go any futher. But if the sinning brother refuses to listen....two or three witnesses should be taken along for a clear testimony. This was in keeping with Old Testament precedents, as in Deuteronomy 19:15. If the sinning brother still failed to recognize his error, the situation should be told before the entire church, or "assembly." The disciples probably would have understood Jesus to mean the matter should be brought before the Jewish assembly. After the establishment of the church, on the day of Pentecost, these words would have had greater meaning for them. One who refuses to acknowledge his sin is then to be treated as an outsider (a pagan or a tax collector).<br><br>This corporate action was entrusted to the entire apostolic group. Their actions of binding and loosing were to be directed by heaven (Matt. 18:18). Clearly all are addressed for the you pronouns are plural. Besides their binding and loosing, they were also to engage in corporate prayer. Whenever they came together in the name of the Lord, He would be with them. And if two or three would agree together about anything it would be done for them by the Father in heaven.<br><br><br>John 20:23<br>Commentary by Edwin A. Blum<br><br>The comments are on 20:21-23:<br><br>Jesus then recommissioned the disciples as His apostles: He was sending them as His representatives, as the Father had sent Him. They were sent with His authority to preach, teach, and do miraculous signs (Matt. 28:16-20; Luke 24:47-49). for their new commission they needed spiritual power. So He breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. The image and wording of breathing on them recalls God's creative work in making Adam (Gen. 2:7). Now this post-Resurrection "breathing" was a new kind of creative work for they would soon become new creations (Eph. 2:8-10). This reception of the spirit was in anticipation of the day of Pentecost and should be understood as a partial limited gift of knowledge, understanding, and empowerment until Pentecost, 50 days later.<br><br>Forgiveness of sin is one of the major benefits of the death of Jesus. It is the essence of the New Covenant. Proclaiming the forgivness of sins was the prominent feature of the apostolic preaching in the Book of Acts. Jesus was giving the aposteles (and by extention, the church) the priviledge of announcing heaven's terms on how a person can receive forgivness. If one believes in Jesus, then a Christian has the right to announce his forgivness. If a person rejects Jesus' sacrifice, then Christian can announce that that person is not forgiven.
