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12 What do you think? If a person had a hundred sheep, and one of them wandered away, would he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the one that had strayed? 13 And if he should find it, amen I say to you that he rejoices over it more than the ninety-nine that did not stray. 14 Likewise, it is not the will of my Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

15 If a brother sins against you, go and speak to him privately. If he listens to you, then you have saved your relationship. 16 But if he will not listen to you, then take along one or two more, so that every word may stand on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17 If he ignores them, tell the church. If he ignores the Church, consider him as a gentile or a tax collector.

18 Amen I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Amen, I say to you again, if two of you on earth agree to ask for anything, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.”

Comments

In their treatment of members of the community, the disciples are to imitate God, who is like a shepherd who would leave ninety-nine sheep to seek out one lost sheep. (This represents an extravagant care for the individual, since no literal shepherd would ever leave the vast majority of his flock unattended for the sake of a single animal.) The image of a sheep that has strayed is a segue for Jesus to discuss how the disciples are to treat difficult members of their community: First they are to speak to them in private, and then if necessary with a small group, and then as a last resort the entire community is to intervene. Even in the extreme, Jesus is ambiguous as to whether a person should be fully cut off from the community: He says someone who does not listen to the Church should be treated as a gentile or a tax collector, but Jesus himself has been associating and eating with gentiles and tax collectors throughout the Gospel (e.g. 9.9-13, 15.29-39). The disciples may have been hoping for a militarily revitalized Kingdom of Israel, but what Jesus is offering is a non-violent Church that can only rely on love and moral suasion to guide its members. Nevertheless, it will be mighty: the prayers of the Church will sway heaven itself, because Christ will be present wherever two or three are gathered in his name.