Matthew 18:20

Warning: Heavy Blog item

Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

This verse must be the most over-used verse EVER committed to prayer by believers. Come on… admit it. You’ve used it before too, right? ;) Whenever anyone wanted to ask the Lord for anything in a group, this verse would be conveniently used to add to the impact of the prayer. Makes me wonder… how many of us actually take the time to go to scripture where the verse was found and read the context of how the verse came about, instead of just immediately incorporating it into our prayers?

Hmm… kindly allow me to cut and paste a couple of verses before Matthew 18:20 from the New International Version bible.

15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Uh-huh… the verse was written in the context of how to handle a brother who sins against us. It is not a license for us to ask for things that we want in prayer within groups of two or three. Does this mean that we should stop praying using the verse above? Certainly not… I believe that it’s a powerful verse, and throughout the bible, we know that there is a power in the gathering of many. These are just a couple of examples:

• Deuteronomy 17:6 - On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
• Deuteronomy 19:15 - One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
• 1 Timothy 5:19 - Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.
• John 8:17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
  

Sometimes, we unknowingly allow “most commonly used verses” to slip into our daily sharing, testimonies or prayer life. It is our responsibility as a believer not to follow blindly, but know where the verses originate from; Let us be mindful of this, as we use His Word daily… :)