two or three

For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.18.20.NLT

This is the last verse in a block which is addressing forgiveness and restoring one who has sinned. Many assume that whatever we pray for, usually mercinary pleasures, we receive.

The previous verses instruct how to approach an offender: first go in person, if not successful take someone else along, finally if the person will not listen tell the chuch. If her refuses to listen to the church, have nothing to do with him. Jesus then goes on to say: whatever you bind on earth, is already bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven.

I can really see loosing being the releasing of someone from their sin, and binding is retaining their sins against them. I would much rather loose than bind. However, some people are determined to hold onto offence amd attitude.

I cannot be reponsible for keeping someone bound in their sins. I need to be mindful about how I speak about them. Amen!