“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.  But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:15 – 20

I think it is safe to assume that Jesus taught this in his final days before his crucifixion.  I say so because Matthew, the writer, included the teaching in Jesus’ final teaching and, secondly, because he wants to impress on his disciples how important it is for them to agree.  If they hold things against one another and live in a state of disagreement, their prayers will have no effect at all upon God.

Jesus begins his teaching by insisting that his disciples must work hard on seeking agreement, especially regarding right and wrong.  He begins by assuming that a follower of Jesus sins.  Jesus does not define sin as such in this passage, just assumes the readers will be able to define it. His point is on how to maintain peace and unity when one among them sins.  There is not a more important issue in pursuing God-honoring and serving fellowship.

Then the pure words of Jesus.  “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  This is astonishing but true.  Oneness in Christ Jesus opens the doors of heaven.  We can pray our hearts out, so to speak, but if we are not experiencing unity in fellowship we are indeed helpless to bind anything, either here on earth or in heaven.

Jesus is facing the cross, that is why he can say what he is saying.  He will spill his atoning blood that will enable us believers to live forgivingly and loving with one another.  I believe this is one of the most fundamental truths of all.  May we live it and experience it!