Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
2007-01-30 22:01:02 · 17 answers · asked by Kimo 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It simply means to not treat him as though he is not saved. In other words, do not offer to him the "member privileges" of the church community.
2007-01-31 16:04:10 · answer #1 · answered by Seraph 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically to put it in modern English, if a man is grossly sinning, as in fornication, homosexuality, etc... you are to tell him he is sinning against God and if he doesn't repent from his sin then he is to be removed from the church and looked upon as an unrepentant sinner. Heathens would be pretty much the same as a pagan. A publican? A politician that is considered to be corrupt. That is going by today's terms. But I think that is pretty much the basic gist of it all. The church is supposed to correct its members and keep the church healthy.
2007-01-31 06:11:51 · answer #2 · answered by celticwarrior7758 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the New American Bible, "let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican" is rendered as "treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector."
In other words, be over and done with him.
This doesn't mean, by the way, that Jesus was saying it was okay to mistreat Gentiles or tax collectors.
After all, He healed the servant of at least one Gentile (the Roman centurion) and He had at least one tax collector (Matthew) as one of His disciples.
He was simply making a point in a way that people around Him would understand -- because the common way of treating Gentiles and tax collectors for Jews back then was to just ignore them.
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2007-01-31 06:08:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Now that's interesting. On the one hand, he's saying, if he doesn't get God's message, treat him like a Heathen (Dumb brute) -- don't go harrasing him and trying to convert him; on the other hand, the Bible itself is comparing a heathen to a tax collector (Publican meant a tax collector in ancient rome; today, it really is the owner of a Brittish pub).
Sounds to me like our good ol christian friends are being told to treat non christians as they would other people they hate -- barbarians and tax collectors.
Doesn't sound very christian, does it?
Also, since the church wasn't around in Jesus' time, what does "church" here mean? According to literalists, he meant church just as we understand the term. So, he must be saying to hate non believers, but not for a thousand+ years, since we have to give the unbeliever a chance to listen to said church.
2007-01-31 06:28:18 · answer #4 · answered by Howard K 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
In the UK a publican is someone who runs a pub or bar. Obviously Jesus didn't have time to turn water into wine that day so he was looking for a publican to serve him an alcoholic drink, possibly with an umbrella or olive in it.
2007-01-31 06:25:38 · answer #5 · answered by Peter F 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus didn't say anything that the Bible claims he did. Just think about it - 2000 years ago they didn't have dictaphones, typewriters, shorthand or any quick writing implements. No one stood around with notepads and jotted down as Jesus spoke. It is increduluous that anyone can believe this is what Jesus actually said. How accurately could someone record your words if they followed you around for a few years, especially if it was 2000 years ago? The books in the bible that Jesus is quoted in where written by working class men, I reckon that 2000 years ago these people would of been illiterate!
2007-01-31 06:17:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It means that if someone is living in sin, you should tell them, then you should have more christians tell them (church). If they still won't listen then they are considered a heathen(one that doesn't follow God).
2007-01-31 06:09:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Reading the whole passage will help.
If your brother sins against you,[b] go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'[c] 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be[d]bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.
19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
hope it helped you.
Brothers in Christ
2007-01-31 06:21:11 · answer #8 · answered by Sue 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is speaking as if a friend or Brother in the Lord has done somethhing against thee go & talk to him & if he won't listern take a another Brother or 2 with you to try to talk to them, & then if they won't listern take it before the church, before going before a man made court, that also takes you over to 1st Cor. 6:1-4
2007-01-31 06:08:58 · answer #9 · answered by birdsflies 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is refering to ones ignorance, and disregard for truth and correction, if he doesnt listen to you, tell him to the church, if he denies them, let him be as the heathen unto you ( or the heathen he is)
It referancing ignorance and lack of judgment, disobediance, condemnation
2007-01-31 06:07:10 · answer #10 · answered by i am corban 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋