Two or more agree in prayer Mt 18:19

[georgemiller]

How does one correctly interpert today’s Gospel of Matthew 18:19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."

Assuming two or more agree earnestly in faith and prayer is this Scripture then to believed literally? Is it suppose to be true some of the time or all the time? Are there other conditions that need to be met before any or all of it can be true?
The diffuculty I have is that I know many good Christians have prayed as a group for many good things, illness cures, marriage problems resolved, safe trips, end of abortions and wars or conflicts, ect but often it still does not work out as the prayer intention.
All Scripture is from God and I truly wonder what interpretation God wants us to embrace relative to this Scripture? Can you help?

 

[mirandajb]

We really cannot understand God’s ways and He knows what is best for us, so if He doesn’t answer some of our prayers, just continue to trust Him and wait on Him…He is faithful and always has our best in His mind

 

[YourAverageJoe]

If I am correct Jesus is talking to only his apostles at the beginning of what would be the infant Church. This verse is giving them passage to the development of doctrine, the power to bind and loose, etc…

in Christ

 

[YourAverageJoe]

just a thought came to my mind, what if Christian Denomination A, prayed the conversion of Christian denomination B, to A, and B to A… I doubt Christ is talking about this type of prayer

agian, Jesus is asking that two or more “agree”… before a agreement can be made, a declaration must be made or proposed,

The Church (two or more) agreed on what books belong in the NT… aka Doctrine…

 

[lyrikal]

Since the context mentions Church and Jesus tells the Apostles that they have the authority to bind and loose, then that would seem to suggest that this is in reference to a council gathering. Primarily, Jesus is talking about gathering in councils. On a secondary level, 2 or 3 people can gather in Jesus’ name as well and He will be there in their midst. In fact, Jesus is in our midst when we are praying alone in our room, correct? So being there in the midst where 2 or 3 are gathered cannot be what Jesus means primarily. He is there regardless if there are 1, 2, or 3. However, since the last verse mentions giving authority to the Apostles to bind and loose, then this is in reference to the authority of the Bishops (who are the Apostles).

[15]“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
[16] But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
[17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
[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.
[19] Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
[20] For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Notice how the first “2 or 3” witnesses (in verse 16) is a contrast to the witness of the church (in verse 17). The first “2 or 3” witnesses are people in general. The latter witness of the Church are to be understood as Apostles since in verse 18 and 19 Jesus is tying in the “listening to the Church” with the Apostles. Then in verse 19, Jesus goes back to the “2 or 3” witnesses and this time there is a “YOU” (if two of YOU agree…) which means the Apostles and not just anyone in general.

God bless.

 

[DaveBj]

If I am correct Jesus is talking to only his apostles at the beginning of what would be the infant Church. This verse is giving them passage to the development of doctrine, the power to bind and loose, etc…

in Christ

I think you may be right, for no other reason than that this is certainly not the way things are happening now.

 

[georgemiller]

I thank all of you for your insight on these verses. Your comments and observations were very helpful in better understanding these Biblical verses. God bless. george.

 

[White_Peony]

How does one correctly interpert today’s Gospel of Matthew 18:19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."

Assuming two or more agree earnestly in faith and prayer is this Scripture then to believed literally? Is it suppose to be true some of the time or all the time? Are there other conditions that need to be met before any or all of it can be true?
The diffuculty I have is that I know many good Christians have prayed as a group for many good things, illness cures, marriage problems resolved, safe trips, end of abortions and wars or conflicts, ect but often it still does not work out as the prayer intention.
All Scripture is from God and I truly wonder what interpretation God wants us to embrace relative to this Scripture? Can you help?

This verse works like all prayer requests work. Sometimes God says yes,no, wait. If it’s not His will, you’re not gonna get it. Like my cousin was killed in a car accident on May 4. For the days leading up to the funeral, we prayed constantly that Yeshua would give “Kevin” back to us. I’m sorry to say that prayer wasn’t answered. The request that He would help us get through the grief comes slowly as time goes by. Isn’t Yeshua wonderful?!