INTRO

I’ve been absent from my blog, I apologize. My intent was to keep posting weekly, twice a week actually. Things don’t always go according to plan and you tend to get distracted or involved in something that takes your time from you. However, what I wanted with this blog has not changed and it remains important even for as little people who might view it. I won’t bore you with details but I’ve had a lot on my plate. There were so many times I wanted to sit down and get a post written but I felt drained and wasn’t able to give my full attention. I don’t want to post simply to post. I want them to have some meaning. Moving forward I am not sure how often I will get to post during this season I am going through. But today I have something to say and I have chance to say it. Grab your Bible and check what I am going to share.

THE ISSUE

If you’ve read my blog for any length of time you know that I made a couple posts about what the Bible really says. (here and here) You may also know that reading in context of the who, what, how, and where, is important to me in my study. If you look at it without context you can easily change the meaning and twist scriptures intent. If you have read those posts you know one of the verses that is taken out of the context and greatly changes the meaning is Matthew 18:20. This is the time to go read the chapter.

Far too often people who claim to know Jesus and read the scripture mis-use it by misunderstanding what scripture is actually conveying. They usually have no idea they are doing it. Some claim to read in context and yet still don’t represent a verse in its actual meaning and want instead for it to look like it says something else. This is not a good way to read the word given to us. Just read what it says, don’t change what it means. This is how we get “prosperity gospel pastors”. Often this is why an unbeliever rejects Christianity because of how the Bible is being represented to them (incorrectly). It’s also why some who grew up in the Faith leave the Faith because of how the Bible is being used as a weapon against them or others. These are only a few examples. This is not a good thing.

Back to our text, Matthew 18. I want you to hone in on verses 19 and 20. Why? Because this is why I am writing this post today. I’m sorry if someone I know personally sees this and doesn’t agree, my intent is not to call out anyone or offend. This topic was brought up and it was disappointing to me and I felt strongly that I could share my thoughts on it as others may need to hear it. My intent is only to represent scripture in context. When I hear or read something that scrunches my face, I turn to scripture, review the passage, and most often I take notes about it. This was one such case. I’m not pretending to have all the answers, I want you to read it and take notes and decide what it says.

So, attempting to leave out any personal information, let’s just say I got a group message about a prayer request. Those are fine but in this request it asked us to “pray in agreement” with this person and gave us a prayer to repeat. That was weird to me but it went on and quoted Matthew 18:19-20, I suppose to support this idea of “praying in agreement.” Below you will see the verses:

19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.” — Matthew 18:19-20 (CSB)

On the surface you might think, huh, Jesus will do what I ask if I pray with others in agreement. But is that what this passage is saying? I’ve already mentioned the problems with using verse 20 out of context in my other posts so let’s focus more on verse 19. This immediately to me sounded like the “name it and claim it” way of thinking about prayer. God is not a genie. Probably not the persons intent, but it is problematic to me to send to a group of Christian women with varying degrees in their walks with Jesus.

THE CONTEXT

Jesus is talking about how to handle conflicts between a body of believers. This is about how to reconcile. This isn’t Jesus saying he is going to grant anything they want as long as 2 of them pray for it in agreement. They weren’t praying to Jesus anyway. Jesus is the mediator between God and Man and when he ascended to the Father he left the Spirit to dwell within those who follow Christ, who believe in him as God’s son who died and rose again to reconcile us to the Father.

Jesus is referencing spiritual authority in accordance to the will of God here. Reconciliation done in a certain way, and how to handle issues when it comes to a brother sinning or something else. Prayer is not about us imposing our will onto God, it should be about aligning ourselves with his. By not reading this passage in entirety you completely change the meaning. This is really about those who have been given authority over the body of believers having to make decisions when it comes to individuals who may be making the body sick. Someone who is not following truth, who is corrupting others or refuses to acknowledge something unbecoming they may be participating in. This could be spiritual or moral issues.

CONCLUSION

The word “agree” here is referring to unity or harmony. Read the entire chapter. We see Jesus speaking about correction, forgiveness and restoration. (as a side note, I have another article I want to write and post about forgiveness, as a well known podcaster recently got it very wrong) Read the scriptures and see for yourself what was being prayed for and how. They didn’t use prayer as a wish list or God as a genie who would grant them. What if you do this, “pray in agreement” and your prayer is not answered. What then? Do you think you did something wrong? Do you think God didn’t hear you? Do you think God ignored you? Worse yet I’ve heard people say that if your prayers are unanswered it’s because you haven’t repented enough, you haven’t done enough, there’s something in your life, like a bad marriage, that prevents God from hearing you. Don’t fall for that lie. That’s not based on truth found in the Jesus I know.

Matthew 18:19-20 was taken out of context and it was probably not intentional but it still happened. I see this often in the Christian community. When you read things not in their entirety you almost always can get a different meaning. This is why context is key. We don’t want to mis-represent scripture.