WHAT Exactly do "2 or 3 GATHER and AGREE" ABOUT? Matthew 18:19 (Episode #189)

WHAT do "2 or 3 GATHER and AGREE" ABOUT? Matthew 18:19 (Episode #189)

You have heard this passage before.  That is always a danger.  A fun rule of Bible study is to "whatever you do, DON'T READ AHEAD" and let YOUR surprise of the account parallel the surprise of the person IN the account.  Its' corollary today: "Whatever you do DO READ BEHIND."  ie:  what is the context of the verse you are studying?  In what Soup does it lie?

The famous "wherever 2 or 3 are gathered and agree" passage is in the context of Church discernment/discipline in trying to GAIN a brother back.  It is in the soup of DEFCON 1, 2, 3, and then 4.  They are measured, discrete, defined, progressive steps that are likely THE most difficult part of being a member of a church.  It's probably even doubly worse if you are a Pastor of the flock.  This passage is not so much MIS-Understood, but understood in too LIMITED a way.  This is to gather and agree and discern and discipline in the HARDEST of situations.

We are all to be using these tools of Borrowed Authority (Episode #188) to try and get your wayward Sister home.  Listen.  God promises to Be With US in this passage.  Yes, it is in the Podcast's title.