September 10, 2023

Today's Reading: Matthew 18:1-20

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 3:1-15, 2 Corinthians 1:1-22

“For where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Where is Jesus? He says, “Where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I among them.” Notice the three parts of that: two or three gathered; in My Name; and there am I. So is Jesus not with us when we are alone? Do we have to meet another Christian so there are at least two of us, before Jesus will be present with us? No. Of course, Jesus is with each and all of His baptized children, “all the days, until the completion of this age” (Matthew 28:20). Here in Matthew 18, Jesus is speaking within the particular context of repentance and forgiveness. The idea of “two or three” goes back to Deuteronomy 19:15, where two or three witnesses are necessary to establish a charge against someone (see also 2 Corinthians 13:1). If there are two or three witnesses to a sin in the Body of Christ, then Jesus forgives that sinner and restores him or her within the gathering of two or three. 

Within the assembly of the Church (“two or three”), who are created and gathered in the Name of Jesus in Holy Baptism, there Jesus Himself will be present to forgive. Jesus is certainly present everywhere, because He is God, but He has not given us the promise of forgiveness everywhere. This is because He does not want us to be in doubt about where that forgiveness can be received. So here and in the last chapter of Matthew, He has given us a sure and certain promise: by the same Name into which people are baptized, Jesus will be present to forgive and restore us. 

The Name marks our existence as His people: we are baptized into that Name; each week, we hear the Invocation of that Name, which marks the gathering of His baptized Christians; then we hear the Absolution, which is proclaimed in that same Name, and which keeps us in and restores us to Christ’s baptismal grace. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

My faithful God, You fail me never; Your promise surely will endure. O cast me not away forever  If words and deeds become impure./Have mercy when I come defiled; Forgive, lift up, restore Your child” (LSB 590:3). 

O God, from whom all good proceeds, grant to us, Your humble servants, Your holy inspiration, that we may set our minds on the things that are right and, by Your merciful guiding, accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

- Pastor Timothy Winterstein is pastor at Faith Lutheran Church, East Wenatchee, Washington.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.