Principles of Matthew 18 Covenant
by Thurlow J. Switzer
What does Jesus Christ himself teach about covenant relationships. Let’s take a look at covenant principles as taught by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 18. The key to this whole section is a “humility” rooted in Divine Reconciliation (cf. II Cor. 5:17-21; Matt. 5:23-24; Phil. 2:1-11). Note three groupings:
1. One Basic Issue
2. Three Fundamentals
3. Seven Rules
I. THE BASIC ISSUE IN COVENANT COMMUNITY - Mathew 18:1
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ Jesus called a little child and had him stand among them, and he said, ‘I tell you the truth unless you change and become like little children...therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’”
The most critical and often observed reality that comes to the forefront in issues of covenant community concerns “greatness.” Jesus began his discussion about covenant by responding to the question of the disciples: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of hea-ven?” (Matt. 18:1). This is an important question to ask, to answer and to implement in one’s life.
How does one become great in the Kingdom of Heaven?
The Kingdom of Heaven may be defined as the all-inclusive sphere of the received authority, rule and dominion of Jesus Christ as Lord. It speaks of those who have humbled themselves and, in repentance of their own mind and heart, have submitted to the covenant, governmental and servanthood patterns of Christ.
The Kingdom of God is that special and significant spiritual order of ethical truth and empowering grace that characterizes the Lord Jesus Christ and his followers.
Anarchy exists where people do not care to come to agreement and walk in right relationship with others. Humanistic society has tragic implications as described in II Timothy 3:1-8.
A Christian family or community is believers sharing their lives together in the Spirit’s power on a committed, sustained, sacrificial basis.
Matthew 18 clearly outlines the practices and attitudes vital to maintaining a sense of common life together. It speaks of how to become great in submission to and by the proper exercise of the keys of the kingdom and authority of Christ. Matthew 18 goes on to speak of three fundamentals and then of seven rules of covenant loyalty.
II. THE THREE FUNDAMENTALS OF COVENANT - Matt. 18:3-5
Covenant relationships may be boiled down to the following three fundamental principles. Jesus set forth the fundamental principles of human relationships in this passage. His portrayal in Matthew 18:1-5 must not be ignored. It sets the proper basis for inter-personal and covenant relationships fundamental to the family. If a family will practice the truths in this chapter, as taught by Jesus, their family will be transformed and they will experience regular touches of heaven on earth. Disregard these principles to your own harm and confusion.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #1 – ATTITUDE CONVERSION
“Except you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 18:3).
The principle is found in the words “Except you change”. This literally means, “repent, be converted”. The basic problem of life is adult pride and the matter of self-rule. Anarchy and independence exist where people do not wish to come into agreement and into a willingness to walk in relationship.
The requirement is simple: seeing the need to repent, to reorient one’s thinking, and to convert to a kingdom way of life. This requires a deliberate submission to the kingdom authority of Christ and to his mandate of how relationships are supposed to be conducted.
Humanistic society practices a pattern of inter-personal interactions that are often quite destructive, selfish, and ego-centered. Attitudes must change. We must be teachable.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #2 – VOLUNTARY HUMILITY
“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 18:4).
The principle is found in the words “whoever humbles himself”. The crucial issue addressed here is the problem of ego superiority and self pride. True Christianity requires the voluntary examination of prideful attitudes.
Society has a way of subtly building into us pseudo adult-learned patterns and hypocrisies. Covenant requires a willingness to humble one’s self and to become teachable. Entering that frame of reference, which is crucial to any expression of covenant community including the family, begins with a humble turning.
Turn from a focus on my individual good to become like a child who is participating fully in a family, where the primary concern is the common good. This principle alone would transform many families where pride, anger, insecurity and offense reign. Humility is like “humus soil,” it is a person who has a good soil heart, pure, rich and able to produce a harvest of fruitfulness in the lives of others. People enjoy picking the fruit from the heart and life of a humble person, but they, as does God, resist the pride of a self-sufficient person.
What does it mean to avoid pride trips and to humbly help one another? What does it mean to avoid hurting the “child-heart” of the next person? It means the surrender of selfish pride and an egotistical, self-centered focus.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #3 – MUTUAL ACCEPTANCE
“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me” (Matthew 18:5).
The principle is found in the words, “whoever welcomes in my name.” Most people struggle in part with the real problems of inner rejection and fear projection. It takes the grace of God to renounce and crucify the tendency to judge, super-evaluate and then reject other people.
What is required? A decisive decision to move from a focus on “my needs, my perspective, my convenience,” to focusing on “your needs, your perspective, your concerns”. It means embracing the open-arms, open-heart practice of welcoming people, just as they are, even undesirable people, in the agape love of God. I don’t try to change you; I accept you.
Accepting one another as children of God, in the same spirit that God, our Abba Father, accepts is key. We practice tender, inter-dependent sensitivity. Since you have a child-like teach-ability, (now), and I, also, have a child-like sensitivity, (now), we can truly focus on accepting and loving each other, as God progressively teaches us by his Spirit, and as God writes his laws on our hearts (cf. Heb.10:16, 17; 8:10-13).
How does one make this transition? In the rest of chapter 18 of Matthew, Jesus went on to describe seven practical rules that guide covenant relationships and communication. If we faithfully discern and follow these rules of communication and interaction, loyalty will deepen in our midst. The seven rules are as follows:
III. SEVEN RULES OF COVENANTAL LOYALTY - Mt. 18:6-32
If these rules guide a family, that family will be able to maintain fellowship, friendship and fruitfulness, and avoid futility, fights and flesh.
Rule Number 1 – PROTECT ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:6-9)
Needed is a loyalty that carefully guard’s personal dignity and avoids insensitive wounding of one another. Leaders need to protect the folk, the flock, the family and sheep. Leaders also need to protect one another. Elders need to protect the pastor. Pastors need to protect the apostles. Apostles need to protect everyone.
The basic problem here is insensitive wounding. The covenantal solution is to guard one another’s personal dignity. Compare: Proverbs 16: 5,6; Leviticus 19:17, 18; Ephesians 5:3,4. The bottom line need: a LOYALTY that carefully guards personal dignity.
Rule Number 2 – ESTEEM ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:10-11)
Needed is a sensitivity that seeks genuinely esteems the person and personal dignity of others. The basic problem here is soulish judgmentalism. There are three ways to esteem one another: (1) grant brotherly favor; (2) understand the heavenly Father’s perspective; and (3) appreciate the ministry of angels.
The bottom line need: a SENSITIVITY that avoids causing personal offenses. Read about the power of words: James 3:1-18; Prov. 17:1, 9, 10, 14, 17; 18:10-14. Compare: II Tim. 2:23; Tit. 3:10, 11; Rom. 16:17-18; I Tim.5:19-21.
Rule Number 3 – RESTORE ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:12-14)
Needed is a sense of solidarity that seeks the welfare of each individual within the group and avoids the problem of complacent selfishness. The basic problem here is complacent selfishness. The solution: seeking the welfare of each person and maintaining solidarity within the group. The bottom line need: a SOLIDARITY that sacrificially seeks individual welfare. Compare with I Cor. 12:12-27; Ezekiel 34:15-21.
Rule Number 4 – CONFRONT ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:15-27)
Needed is communication and integrity when dealing with unresolved issues and breached faith. The basic problem is breached faith and covenant. The solution: an integrity in dealing with unresolved issues.
Jesus gave a four-fold procedure to follow:
1. COMMUNICATION (one on one). Keep the matter private just between the primary parties.
2. CLARIFICATION (one with two or three). Ask for the help of others in order to gain an expanded viewpoint.
3. CONFIRMATION (one with a group). Counsel with the leadership of the congregation (Proverbs 13:10).
4. NON-COMMUNION (removed from fellowship). At this stage, association and interaction on a personal fellowship basis ceases. One relates to the offending person as one would seek to lovingly relate to unbelievers. Indeed, what is needed is an INTEGRITY in the above process by all parties involved.
Rule Number 5 – UNIFY ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:18-20)
Needed is the commitment to come into agreement through the process of patient dialogue, counsel and prayer, rather than magnify one’s rebellious independence. The basic problem: autonomous independence. The solution: patient dialogue, counsel, and prayer. Note three principles:
A. Power of Divine Authority (vs.18)
B. Power of United Agreement (vs.19)
C. Power of Jesus’ Name (vs.20)
What is needed is a COMMITMENT to come into mutual agreement.
Rule Number 6 – FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:21-27)
Needed is a commitment to forgiveness, reciprocally exchanged. A basic problem is bitterness of heart. The solution is learning to grant continuous forgiveness (490 times). Forgiveness is releasing another from my own personal judgment” (Quote from Catherine Marshall). The bottom line is the need for SINCERITY that harmoniously grants continuous forgiveness. Compare: I Cor.13:5; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13; I Pet. 3:9; Heb. 10:17; Mt. 6:14-15; Rom.12:19; Lk. 6:37.
Rule Number 7 – SHOW MERCY TO ONE ANOTHER (Matt. 18:28-32)
Needed is an understanding of the power of mercy. A deeply rooted problem is resentfulness, and the acidity of tormenting memory. Three solutions for avoiding torment: (1) Reject an unmerciful approach to people (vs. 30). (2) Grant restitution (vs.33). (3) Avoid the tormentor (vs.34). The bottom line need is a CONSISTENCY that graciously manifests a gentle, teachable spirit. (Prov. 3:10).
1. One Basic Issue
2. Three Fundamentals
3. Seven Rules
I. THE BASIC ISSUE IN COVENANT COMMUNITY - Mathew 18:1
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ Jesus called a little child and had him stand among them, and he said, ‘I tell you the truth unless you change and become like little children...therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’”
The most critical and often observed reality that comes to the forefront in issues of covenant community concerns “greatness.” Jesus began his discussion about covenant by responding to the question of the disciples: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of hea-ven?” (Matt. 18:1). This is an important question to ask, to answer and to implement in one’s life.
How does one become great in the Kingdom of Heaven?
The Kingdom of Heaven may be defined as the all-inclusive sphere of the received authority, rule and dominion of Jesus Christ as Lord. It speaks of those who have humbled themselves and, in repentance of their own mind and heart, have submitted to the covenant, governmental and servanthood patterns of Christ.
The Kingdom of God is that special and significant spiritual order of ethical truth and empowering grace that characterizes the Lord Jesus Christ and his followers.
Anarchy exists where people do not care to come to agreement and walk in right relationship with others. Humanistic society has tragic implications as described in II Timothy 3:1-8.
A Christian family or community is believers sharing their lives together in the Spirit’s power on a committed, sustained, sacrificial basis.
Matthew 18 clearly outlines the practices and attitudes vital to maintaining a sense of common life together. It speaks of how to become great in submission to and by the proper exercise of the keys of the kingdom and authority of Christ. Matthew 18 goes on to speak of three fundamentals and then of seven rules of covenant loyalty.
II. THE THREE FUNDAMENTALS OF COVENANT - Matt. 18:3-5
Covenant relationships may be boiled down to the following three fundamental principles. Jesus set forth the fundamental principles of human relationships in this passage. His portrayal in Matthew 18:1-5 must not be ignored. It sets the proper basis for inter-personal and covenant relationships fundamental to the family. If a family will practice the truths in this chapter, as taught by Jesus, their family will be transformed and they will experience regular touches of heaven on earth. Disregard these principles to your own harm and confusion.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #1 – ATTITUDE CONVERSION
“Except you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 18:3).
The principle is found in the words “Except you change”. This literally means, “repent, be converted”. The basic problem of life is adult pride and the matter of self-rule. Anarchy and independence exist where people do not wish to come into agreement and into a willingness to walk in relationship.
The requirement is simple: seeing the need to repent, to reorient one’s thinking, and to convert to a kingdom way of life. This requires a deliberate submission to the kingdom authority of Christ and to his mandate of how relationships are supposed to be conducted.
Humanistic society practices a pattern of inter-personal interactions that are often quite destructive, selfish, and ego-centered. Attitudes must change. We must be teachable.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #2 – VOLUNTARY HUMILITY
“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 18:4).
The principle is found in the words “whoever humbles himself”. The crucial issue addressed here is the problem of ego superiority and self pride. True Christianity requires the voluntary examination of prideful attitudes.
Society has a way of subtly building into us pseudo adult-learned patterns and hypocrisies. Covenant requires a willingness to humble one’s self and to become teachable. Entering that frame of reference, which is crucial to any expression of covenant community including the family, begins with a humble turning.
Turn from a focus on my individual good to become like a child who is participating fully in a family, where the primary concern is the common good. This principle alone would transform many families where pride, anger, insecurity and offense reign. Humility is like “humus soil,” it is a person who has a good soil heart, pure, rich and able to produce a harvest of fruitfulness in the lives of others. People enjoy picking the fruit from the heart and life of a humble person, but they, as does God, resist the pride of a self-sufficient person.
What does it mean to avoid pride trips and to humbly help one another? What does it mean to avoid hurting the “child-heart” of the next person? It means the surrender of selfish pride and an egotistical, self-centered focus.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE #3 – MUTUAL ACCEPTANCE
“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me” (Matthew 18:5).
The principle is found in the words, “whoever welcomes in my name.” Most people struggle in part with the real problems of inner rejection and fear projection. It takes the grace of God to renounce and crucify the tendency to judge, super-evaluate and then reject other people.
What is required? A decisive decision to move from a focus on “my needs, my perspective, my convenience,” to focusing on “your needs, your perspective, your concerns”. It means embracing the open-arms, open-heart practice of welcoming people, just as they are, even undesirable people, in the agape love of God. I don’t try to change you; I accept you.
Accepting one another as children of God, in the same spirit that God, our Abba Father, accepts is key. We practice tender, inter-dependent sensitivity. Since you have a child-like teach-ability, (now), and I, also, have a child-like sensitivity, (now), we can truly focus on accepting and loving each other, as God progressively teaches us by his Spirit, and as God writes his laws on our hearts (cf. Heb.10:16, 17; 8:10-13).
How does one make this transition? In the rest of chapter 18 of Matthew, Jesus went on to describe seven practical rules that guide covenant relationships and communication. If we faithfully discern and follow these rules of communication and interaction, loyalty will deepen in our midst. The seven rules are as follows:
III. SEVEN RULES OF COVENANTAL LOYALTY - Mt. 18:6-32
If these rules guide a family, that family will be able to maintain fellowship, friendship and fruitfulness, and avoid futility, fights and flesh.
Rule Number 1 – PROTECT ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:6-9)
Needed is a loyalty that carefully guard’s personal dignity and avoids insensitive wounding of one another. Leaders need to protect the folk, the flock, the family and sheep. Leaders also need to protect one another. Elders need to protect the pastor. Pastors need to protect the apostles. Apostles need to protect everyone.
The basic problem here is insensitive wounding. The covenantal solution is to guard one another’s personal dignity. Compare: Proverbs 16: 5,6; Leviticus 19:17, 18; Ephesians 5:3,4. The bottom line need: a LOYALTY that carefully guards personal dignity.
Rule Number 2 – ESTEEM ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:10-11)
Needed is a sensitivity that seeks genuinely esteems the person and personal dignity of others. The basic problem here is soulish judgmentalism. There are three ways to esteem one another: (1) grant brotherly favor; (2) understand the heavenly Father’s perspective; and (3) appreciate the ministry of angels.
The bottom line need: a SENSITIVITY that avoids causing personal offenses. Read about the power of words: James 3:1-18; Prov. 17:1, 9, 10, 14, 17; 18:10-14. Compare: II Tim. 2:23; Tit. 3:10, 11; Rom. 16:17-18; I Tim.5:19-21.
Rule Number 3 – RESTORE ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:12-14)
Needed is a sense of solidarity that seeks the welfare of each individual within the group and avoids the problem of complacent selfishness. The basic problem here is complacent selfishness. The solution: seeking the welfare of each person and maintaining solidarity within the group. The bottom line need: a SOLIDARITY that sacrificially seeks individual welfare. Compare with I Cor. 12:12-27; Ezekiel 34:15-21.
Rule Number 4 – CONFRONT ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:15-27)
Needed is communication and integrity when dealing with unresolved issues and breached faith. The basic problem is breached faith and covenant. The solution: an integrity in dealing with unresolved issues.
Jesus gave a four-fold procedure to follow:
1. COMMUNICATION (one on one). Keep the matter private just between the primary parties.
2. CLARIFICATION (one with two or three). Ask for the help of others in order to gain an expanded viewpoint.
3. CONFIRMATION (one with a group). Counsel with the leadership of the congregation (Proverbs 13:10).
4. NON-COMMUNION (removed from fellowship). At this stage, association and interaction on a personal fellowship basis ceases. One relates to the offending person as one would seek to lovingly relate to unbelievers. Indeed, what is needed is an INTEGRITY in the above process by all parties involved.
Rule Number 5 – UNIFY ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:18-20)
Needed is the commitment to come into agreement through the process of patient dialogue, counsel and prayer, rather than magnify one’s rebellious independence. The basic problem: autonomous independence. The solution: patient dialogue, counsel, and prayer. Note three principles:
A. Power of Divine Authority (vs.18)
B. Power of United Agreement (vs.19)
C. Power of Jesus’ Name (vs.20)
What is needed is a COMMITMENT to come into mutual agreement.
Rule Number 6 – FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER (Matthew 18:21-27)
Needed is a commitment to forgiveness, reciprocally exchanged. A basic problem is bitterness of heart. The solution is learning to grant continuous forgiveness (490 times). Forgiveness is releasing another from my own personal judgment” (Quote from Catherine Marshall). The bottom line is the need for SINCERITY that harmoniously grants continuous forgiveness. Compare: I Cor.13:5; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13; I Pet. 3:9; Heb. 10:17; Mt. 6:14-15; Rom.12:19; Lk. 6:37.
Rule Number 7 – SHOW MERCY TO ONE ANOTHER (Matt. 18:28-32)
Needed is an understanding of the power of mercy. A deeply rooted problem is resentfulness, and the acidity of tormenting memory. Three solutions for avoiding torment: (1) Reject an unmerciful approach to people (vs. 30). (2) Grant restitution (vs.33). (3) Avoid the tormentor (vs.34). The bottom line need is a CONSISTENCY that graciously manifests a gentle, teachable spirit. (Prov. 3:10).