Matthew 18:16 (WEB)
But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Catechism · 1
“Witness is an act of justice that establishes the truth or makes it known.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 18:16.
Fathers and councils · 35
Augustine of Hippo
“…of the Jews;” in three tongues as though by three witnesses the Title was confirmed: because “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall stand every word.”…” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 16; Deut. xix. 15.
Read the whole comment“…established; and if he will not hear them, refer it to the Church; but if he will not hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 16, 17.
Read the whole comment“But if he shall neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 15–17.
Read the whole comment“For it is a great question, my brethren, and to me it certainly appears to have been ordained in a mystery, where God said, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall stand.”” — editor's note: Deut. xix. 15; Matt. xviii. 16.
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John Chrysostom
“But if even so he contradict, “tell it to the Church, but if he shall also refuse to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.” ( Matt. xviii. 15, 16, 17.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“And Christ too to Peter, “Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone,” and if he neglect to hear, add to thyself another also; and if not even so doth he yield, declare it to the church likewise?”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 15, 16, 17.
Read the whole comment““Take with thyself yet one or two, that in the mouth of two witnesses every word may be established.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 16. [The words “or three” are omitted in the Homily here, but not below. In both cases the form of the verb is changed.—R.]
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Jerome
“The Lord gives commandment that those who sin against us are to be arraigned privately or else in the presence of a witness, and that if they refuse to hear reason, the matter is to be laid before the church, and those who persist in their wickedness are to be regarded as heathen men and publicans.” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 15–17.
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Basil the Great
“…“neglect to hear, tell it unto the Church; but if he neglect to hear even the Church, let him be unto thee henceforth as an heathen man, and as a publican.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 15–17.
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Tertullian
“For if “in the mouth of three witnesses every word shall stand:”—while, through the benediction, we have the same (three) as witnesses of our faith whom we have as sureties of our salvation too—how much more does the number of the divine names suffice for the assurance of our hope likewise!” — editor's note: Deut. xix. 15; Matt. xviii. 16; 2 Cor. xiii. 1.
Read the whole comment“For just so many honorary companions were required by the word of God, which usually prescribes “two witnesses.”” — editor's note: Deut. xvii. 6, xix. 15, compared with Matt. xviii. 16 and 2 Cor. xiii. 1.
Read the whole comment“…not a Christian; in order that he might not, after the manner of a Christian, seem to require correction again and again, and “before two or three witnesses,” seeing that he ought to be corrected, for the very reason that he is not to be disputed with; and in the next place, because a controversy over the Scriptures…” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 16.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Having above given a severe sentence against those who were the cause of offence, making them to fear on all sides; so now that they to whom the offence is offered should not fall into the opposite fault of…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Our Lord admonishes us not to overlook one another’s faults, yet not so as seeking for matter of blame, but watching what you may amend. For our rebuke should be in love, not eager to wound, but anxious to amend. If…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
For often we wrongly shun to teach and admonish, or to rebuke and check the wicked, either because the task is irksome, or because we would escape their enmity, lest they should harm or obstruct us in temporal…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is to be noted, that onewhile the Lord brings the offender to him whom he has offended; as when He says, “If thou remember that thy brother has ought against thee, go, be reconciled to thy brother:” [Matt 5:23]…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
He does not command us to forgive indiscriminately, but him only that will hearken and be obedient, and do penitence; that neither should forgiveness be unattainable, nor sufferance be too far relaxed.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And He says not, Accuse him, nor, Chide with him, nor, Demand redress,— but, “Tell him of his fault;” that is, remind him of his sin, tell him what things you have suffered from him. For he is held down by anger or…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
If then your brother have sinned against you, or hurt you in any matter, you have power, indeed must needs forgive him, for we are charged to forgive our debtors their debts. But if a man sin against God, it is no…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
We are to tell his fault to the man himself who did it, and not to another, because the party takes it with the more patience from him, and above all when they are together alone. For when he who had a right to…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
When any one therefore offends against us, let us be very careful, not for ourselves, for it is glorious to forget an injury; forget therefore your own wrong, but not the wound your brother has sustained; and tell…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Thy brother is to be reproved in private, lest if once he has lost a sense of shame, he should continue in sin.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
But the Apostle says, “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others may fear to do the like.” [1 Tim 5:20] Sometimes therefore your brother is to be spoken to between thee and him alone, sometimes to be rebuked…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
In this it is made plain that enmities are a loss to both sides; for he said not, he has gained himself, but, you have gained him; which shews that both of you had suffered loss by your disagreement.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
For in saving another, salvation is gained for ourselves also.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
What you should do if he does not yield is added, “If he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two.” For the more shameless and stubborn he shews himself, the more studious should we be of applying the medicine,…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or it is to be understood in this way; If he will not hear thee, take with thee one brother only; if he yet will not hear, take a third, either from your zeal for his amendment, that shame or admonition may move him;…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, that if he affirm that it is no trespass, that they may prove to him that it is a trespass.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
If yet he will not hear them, then it must be told to many, that he may be held in abhorrence; so that he who could not be saved by his own sense of shame, may be saved by public disgrace; whence it follows, “If he…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
That is, to those that are over the Church.
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, tell it to the whole Chinch, that his infamy may be the greater. After all these things follows excommunication, which ought to be inflicted by the mouth of the Church, that is, by the Priest, and when he…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
That is, regard him no longer in the number of thy brethren. Though even thus we are not to neglect his salvation; for the heathens themselves, that is, the gentiles and pagans, we do not indeed regard in the number…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Yet the Lord enjoins nothing of this sort to be observed towards those who are without the Church, such as He does in reproving a brother. Of those that are without He says, “If any smite thee on the one cheek, offer…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
That He says, “As a heathen and a publican,” shews that he is to be more abhorred, who under the name of a believer does the deeds of an unbeliever, than those that are openly gentiles. Those He calls publicans, who…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Let us look well whether this precept extends to all sin; for what if any one sin any or those sins which are unto death, such as unnatural crimes, adultery, homicide, or effeminacy, it cannot be meant that such as…
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Cross-references · 13
Cross-reference given by the World English Bible's translators.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 5.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 5.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 5.
Cited together in Letters Letter 288.
Cited together in The Prescription Against Heretics Chapter 15.
Cited together in The Prescription Against Heretics Chapter 15.
Cited together in The Prescription Against Heretics Chapter 15.
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 18:15–17 (6) (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 5.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 5.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 5.
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 18:15–17 (2) (Catena Aurea).