SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:16
Mas si no te oyere, toma an contigo uno o dos, para que en boca de dos o de tres testigos conste toda palabra.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:16
Verse 16. 2. Take with thee one or two more] Men whom he esteems, who may then confirm and enforce what thou sayest; and afterwards, if need require, bear witness of what was spoken. If even this do not succeed, then, and not before,
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. But if he will not hear thee , etc.]. But will either deny the fact, or extenuate and excuse it, or defend it, or at least is obstinate and incorrigible, shows no signs of repentance, but is angry, gives hard words, and ill language: then take with thee one or two more ; members of the church, and perhaps of weight, reputation, and character, who either know some thing of the matter, and so can confirm, by their testimony, what has been alleged, in order to bring the person to conviction and acknowledgment; or if they do not, and which seems rather to be the sense, they may, by hearing what is said on both sides, judge where the truth lies, and join with the offended person in the admonition, that it may fall with the greater weight, and become more effectual: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established , referring to ( Deuteronomy 19:15). So that should the matter be brought before the whole church, these witnesses would be able to testify the truth of the case, and report the steps that had been taken, and what effect they had had; so that things being thus prepared, the case would appear plain and easy, and without difficulty. The whole of this is very agreeable to the rules and customs of the Jews, and is founded on the law, in ( Leviticus 19:17), upon which they form rules very much like to these. They represent God himself taking such a method as this, with the sons of men f999 : When the holy blessed God reproves a man, he reproves him in love, privately: if he receives it, it is well; if not, he reproves him among his friends: if he receives it, it is well; if not he reproves him openly before the eyes of all; if he receives it is well; if not, he leaves him, and reproves him no more. And this is an instruction to men, how they should reprove their friends.
They say f1000 , he that sees anything in his friend that is not becoming, he ought to reprove him. And which is elsewhere more largely expressed: he that seeth his friend walking in a way that is not good, he is bound to reprove him, even a disciple his master; and this he shall do for his good, and in order to bring him to the life of the world to come, or eternal life; and if he takes it of him, it is well: but if not, he must reprove again, a second and a third time; and so he must reprove him many times, if, or until he hears him.
And this they require to be done, in the most private manner: reproof out of love (they say) is secret from the children of men; whoever reproves his friend in love, seeks to secrete his words from the sons of men, that he may not expose him thereby to shame and reproach.
That is, as the gloss on it observes, he seeks to reprove him in secret, so that he may not be put to shame before many.
If this way does not succeed, they allow of a public reproof, for so it is said f1004 ; thou mayest not reprove him with hard words, till his countenance changes; for whoever causes the face of his friend to turn pale publicly, has no portion in the world to come; but thou mayest reprove in the words of heaven, or God; and if he does not return privately, thou mayest make him ashamed publicly, and expose his sin before him; and reproach and curse him, until he returns to do well; so did all the prophets to Israel.
They plead also for a second reproof, from the text in ( Leviticus 19:17) f1005 .
From whence does it appear, that he that sees anything in his friend unbecoming, ought to reprove him? As it is said, thou shalt in any wise rebuke, etc. if he reproves him, lbq alw , and he does not receive it, (he does not take it kindly, or, as here, he does not hear him,) from whence is it manifest, that he must return and reprove him (or repeat the reproof)? from what is said, reproving thou shall reprove.
The whole of this is very fully expressed in a few words, by one of their best writers, and in great agreement with these rules of Christ: He that sees his friend sinning, or going in a way not good, he is commanded to cause him to return to that which is good; and to let him know, that he sins against himself by his evil works; as it is said, thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour: he that reproveth his friend, whether for things between him and himself, or whether for things between him and God, ought to reprove him, wmx[ ybl wnyb , between him and himself; and should speak to him mildly, and in tender language; and let him know that he does not speak to, him, but for his good, and to bring him to everlasting life; and if he receives it of him, it is well, and if not, he must reprove him, tyylw hyyn [p a second and a third time; and so a man must continually reprove, until the sinner strikes him and says, I will not hear. Buxtorf has produced a passage out of one of their writers f1007 , in the very language in which Christ here delivers himself: The wise man says, if thy friend does thee an injury, reprove him between him and thee alone: if he hears thee, thou hast already gained; if he does not hear thee, speak to him before one or two, who may hear the matter, and if he will not hear reckon him a worthless friend.
One would almost be ready to think, that this writer should mean Christ by the wise man, were it not for the implacable enmity they bear unto him.
The above author has cited also the following passage out of the same f1008 writer, pertinent to the present purpose: A friend that declares to thee thy faults, between him and thee, whenever he meets thee, is better to thee than a friend, that whenever he meets thee, gives thee a golden penny.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-20 - If a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often done merely upon report, but to go to the offender privately, state the matter kindly, and show him his conduct. This would generally have all the desired effect with a tru Christian, and the parties would be reconciled. The principles of thes rules may be practised every where, and under all circumstances, thoug they are too much neglected by all. But how few try the method whic Christ has expressly enjoined to all his disciples! In all ou proceedings we should seek direction in prayer; we cannot too highl prize the promises of God. Wherever and whenever we meet in the name of Christ, we should consider him as present in the midst of us.
Greek Textus Receptus
εαν 1437 COND δε 1161 CONJ μη 3361 PRT-N ακουση 191 5661 V-AAS-3S παραλαβε 3880 5628 V-2AAM-2S μετα 3326 PREP σου 4675 P-2GS ετι 2089 ADV ενα 1520 A-ASM η 2228 PRT δυο 1417 A-NUI ινα 2443 CONJ επι 1909 PREP στοματος 4750 N-GSN δυο 1417 A-NUI μαρτυρων 3144 N-GPM η 2228 PRT τριων 5140 A-GPM σταθη 2476 5686 V-APS-3S παν 3956 A-NSN ρημα 4487 N-NSN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. In the mouth (epi stomatov). Better Rev., "atthe mouth," or on the testimony of.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:16 {Take with thee} (paralabe meta sou). Take alone (para) with (meta) thee.
