Comment/Question:
Why has Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) been robbed of its blessed simplicity? Christians around the world (most especially those being persecuted) draw a great deal of peace and comfort from that verse. They take it at face value (aka. meaning exactly what it says). They are free to enjoy the “simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:33But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)). The promise of Jesus that He will be wherever 2+ Christians come together for fellowship has encouraged many a group of persecuted Christians over the centuries. To know that Jesus is right there with them cannot but heal up the broken in spirit and bring blessing upon those who trust in His Word (Psalm 119:5050This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. (Psalm 119:50)). Why do we not have that same comfort? Are we truly so carnal as to rob the Word of God of its power? (Col. 2:88Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8))
Answer:
The problem here is misunderstanding the difference between the interpretation and the application of Scripture. If we substitute one for the other, we will run into trouble.
The Interpretation and Application of Scripture
When teaching the truth of Scripture, we are responsible to give the meaning of a particular verse under consideration in the context of the whole passage. This is called the interpretation of the passage. The “workman” who is approved unto God will do this; he will “rightly divide the Word of truth,” giving the meaning of a particular passage in its proper context (2 Tim. 2:1515Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)). But in doing this, he by no means restricts the use of the passage in its various applications. When it comes to application, the Word of God is “exceeding broad” (Psa. 119:9696I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. (Psalm 119:96)). It has many applications to many people in many circumstances. Setting forth the meaning of a passage does not set aside the many applications to which the passage could be applied. This is something that our questioner has evidently misunderstood.
Matthew 18:18-2018Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:18‑20) has to do with the local assembly acting in its administrative capacity in binding and loosing disciplinary actions. The authority for such actions comes from the fact that the assembly (which could be as small as two or three persons) has been gathered to the Lord’s name by the Spirit of God, and the Lord is in its midst sanctioning the ground upon which they are gathered. The context has nothing to do with two Christians in the mission field needing comfort. But does this mean that Christians in the mission field can’t use this verse for comfort? No, they most assuredly can. The Bible says, “All [every] Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:1616All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)). If someone can get comfort in the midst of their sorrows in regard to their dying mother from Genesis 1:11In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1), then let them do it. Who would want to take that away from them? But does that mean that Genesis 1:11In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) has to do with comfort in circumstances of sorrow? No, it is not the meaning of the verse.
In teaching the truth of a particular passage, we do not want to take away any practical application that a person may get from it. But, as we said earlier, interpretation and application are two different things. Those who “rightly divide the Word of truth” will recognize this. An example of this is found right in this passage (Matthew 18). Verse 19 has been applied to a prayer meeting. It is not the meaning of that verse, but if someone can get help and comfort from it, we wouldn’t take that away from them. The verse is really speaking of the assembly invoking God to bind in heaven what they have bound on earth.
It is a mistake to think that those who teach the proper interpretation of Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) are “robbing” the verse of its “blessed simplicity.” The problem is that when we live on applications of Scripture without ever learning the true meaning of a passage, when the proper interpretation of it is given, it sounds like strange doctrine. For example, Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This verse is used in the gospel, and we have all come to know and enjoy it in that way—and there is nothing wrong with that. It is taken to mean that the Lord is calling sin-laden sinners to Himself for salvation. But this is a gospel application. The correct interpretation and teaching of the passage has to do with the Lord, not calling sinners ladened with the burden of their sins, but believers in the Mosaic economy who were burdened with trying to keep the law. Their burden resulted from trying to do right things, not from doing wrong things (sins). In fact, the more fastidious they were in trying to do those right things enjoined upon them in the law, the greater their burden became, because it was not possible to fulfill them. The Lord was calling a remnant of believers out of the nation to be part of a new thing that He was about to begin—the Church (Matt. 16:1818And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)). In coming to Christ, He would deliver them from that yoke of the law (Acts 15:1010Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (Acts 15:10)) and give them another “yoke” that was “easy” and “light” (Matt. 11:3030For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)). This probably sounds like strange doctrine to many, having never heard the true interpretation of the passage.
We would encourage our younger brethren to “fully follow up” on these subjects and passages in God’s Word—especially those that have to do with the truth of gathering. Then we will each be “a good minister of Christ Jesus,” able to accurately set forth the truth in an orderly way (1 Tim. 4:66If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. (1 Timothy 4:6) – J. N. Darby Trans.).
Summary:
Applications of Scripture to various situations in life are fine, but we must not confuse those applications with the interpretation of the passage.