• Two or Three is All it Takes, Matthew 18:15-20      (see below)
  by Rev. Randy Quinn
   

• Christ in Us, Matthew 18:15-20
  Rev. Frank Schaefer
   

• A Day to Commemorate,  Exodus 12:1-14
  by Rev Randy L Quinn
    

• How to Deal with Offences, Matthew 18:15-20
  by Rev. Frank Schaefer
   

• What Jesus taught about Forgiveness, Mt, 18:15-20, by Rev. Thomas Hall
   

• Why can't we just get along?  Mat. 18:15-20, by Jim from B.C.
   

• The Church--a stumbling Block? Mat. 18:15-20, by DG Bradley
   

• They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love, Exodus 12:1-14, by Brad Hall

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Two or Three is All it Takes
Matthew 18:15-20
by Rev. Randy Quinn

Let me read that last verse again: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them" (Matt. 18:20).

That sentiment is consistent with what Matthew has presented about Jesus throughout the Gospel. In the very first chapter, for example, Jesus is named Immanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23). And in the very last verse of the last chapter we hear Jesus make the promise to be with us always (Matt. 28:20).

It's no surprise then when we hear an echo of that in the promise that "where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them" (Matt. 18:20).

But what Jesus says in our text today is more than a promise that he will be with us. It's also a variation of a popular Jewish thought circulating from that era in time - although, like the gospels, it wasn't put into writing until a century or so later. Listen to one translation of the Rabbinic saying:

If two sit together and words of the Law are between them, the Divine Presence rests between them¹.

In other words, whenever two people discuss the scriptures, God is there.

In meetings - public meetings, club meetings, even church meetings - we often make reference to a quorum. And depending upon the organization, the size of the quorum varies. One of the most commonly used definitions is more than half of the members, such as 4 out of 7. (For United Methodists, a quorum is defined as anyone who is present at a properly announced meeting².)

For Jews, however, a congregational quorum consisted of ten men - although more liberal Jews today might say ten people or members of ten households. This Rabbinic saying makes the radical suggestion that God's presence is not limited to the congregation. Even if there is no quorum, the Divine Presence can be honored whenever two people discuss the scriptures.

The variation Jesus offers, pushes the story away from God's presence, however, and makes it clear that we cannot experience that presence on our own. In recording this scene for us, I believe Matthew wants us to know the important thing is that there needs to be a quorum of at least two - a reminder that we not only cannot be the church on our own; we cannot experience the presence of Christ our own, either.

You may have heard the story about the man who stopped attending church. The reasons he stopped attending were not as important as his absence. After many months had passed, in the dead of winter, the pastor called on the man.

Because it was so cold outside, the man reluctantly invited the pastor into his small living room. No words were spoken. Both men knew what this was about.

As they sat there in silence, the pastor went over to the fireplace and pulled an ember from the fire and placed it on the hearth. In a short amount of time, the ember began to fade and stopped producing any heat.

At that point the pastor walked back over to the fireplace and returned the charred piece of wood to the fire - and it was immediately lit up.

Recognizing the simple truth of the unspoken sermon, the man interrupted the silence, thanked the pastor for the visit and assured him that he would be in church on Sunday, and showed him to the door...[continue]