Matt 18.18 The Church

[Fatima-Crusader]

In Matthew 18 18 it says for the sinners to listen to the Church, however how can this be since the Church came into exstince on pentacost?, also another question on the passage when it says tell it to the church, what does this mean exactly since it is talking about a local church?

 

[Donald_S]

In Matthew 18 18 it says for the sinners to listen to the Church

I’m not sure how you’re getting that interpretation from Matthew 18:18?

Matthew 18:18 Revised Standard Version (RSV)​

“18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

 

[Fauken]

In Matthew 18 18 it says for the sinners to listen to the Church, however how can this be since the Church came into exstince on pentacost?,

Jesus already said He was going to establish it in Matthew 16. Why can’t He talk about it before Pentecost which, by that point, He had left and assumed into Heaven?

when it says tell it to the church, what does this mean exactly since it is talking about a local church?

From Haydock’s Commentary:

" Ver. 17. Tell the church. This not only shews the order of fraternal correction, but also every man’s duty in submitting to the judgment of the Church. Wi. — There cannot be a plainer condemnation of those who make particular creeds, and will not submit the articles of their belief to the judgment of the authority appointed by Christ. A."

 

[Fauken]

He’s referring to Matthew 18:17.

 

[Fatima-Crusader]

So when someone tells it too the church is it just other Mass going Christians correcting him or also the Bishop/priest?

 

[Fauken]

So when someone tells it too the church is it just other Mass going Christians correcting him or also the Bishop/priest?

The Church practices subsidiarity: issues are handled at the lowest level of authority needed. So it would first go to the pastor, and if necessary, the bishop would then get involved.

 

[DIERM]

A couple of additional points to make it even more confusing:

1. The Gospels were written well after the Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension, so any reference to the Church by the Evangelists could have been a retrospective view.
2. The “Church” by some posters seems to be thinking of the administrative hierarchy of the Holy Catholic Church, when another important definition of the “Church” is the total sum of the Communion of the Saints - those in heaven (The Church Triumphant), those in Purgatory waiting their eventual entry into heaven (The Church Expectant), and the faithful on Earth (The Church Militant).