Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Matthew 18. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- We generally have some negative feelings when it comes to authority. When we’re little – children – authority generally represents restrictions on our freedom. Authority stands in the way of us being able to do what we want to do. It takes a long time to begin to understand the value of “authority.”
- Actually, we continue to have the same struggle with “authority” throughout our lives. It is unpleasant to always have someone hovering above us, evaluating our work, telling us to do things different, or reprimanding us when we’ve made a mistake or done something wrong.
- The “authorities” who are over us are numerous: parents, teachers, bosses, policemen, judges, office holders of various sorts. Given America’s history, we have learned to be skeptical of authority and we strive to be as free as possible.
- However, as I said a minute ago, there is value in “authority.” We are not only “under” authority, most of us also exercise authority. Even when it is only watching over a little brother, or constructing something on our own, or maintaining a possession, we have authority.
- And when we’re the one exercising authority, when we’re the parent, the teacher, the supervisor, we not only understand the value and importance of authority, but we hope that others understand and value our exercise of authority.
- So also within the church – where God is providing us with truly good things, blessings – we should expect that “authority” is going to be present. After all, God is the ultimate authority, and as Paul noted in the Epistle Lesson, “there is no authority except from God.” In other words, “authority” and the exercise of authority comes from God, and is, therefore, good!
- In our text, we see Jesus laying out the purposes and the principles for “AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH.” And regardless of our somewhat negative views of authority, the exercise of authority within the church is incredibly important and beneficial to us all.
- But since authority can be abused it is important that we have a clear understanding of how we are to exercise authority, and also how we are to receive others exercising authority over us. First:
I. All Of Us Are Responsible [Have Authority] To Warn Those Who Sin And Are Impenitent
A. We Have Christ’s Authority To Exercise This Caring And Loving Responsibility
Text: “If you 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.”
B. We Are Accountable If We Fail To Carry Out This Responsibility Of Love To Others
OT Lesson: “If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.”
Statement: This brings us to the other side of our feelings about authority, particularly our own exercise of authority. Authority brings responsibility, and we often don’t want to be “responsible,” especially for the good and welfare of those who don’t agree with us, those who are disobedient and rebellious. And if we are willing to acknowledge the truth, we often just don’t care about the good and welfare of others enough to bother about them, especially if such warning brings the pain of conflict.
Application: But God is love, and He so loved the world that He sent His Son, Jesus, the very Son of God, to be our Savior and the Savior of the world. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” [Eph. 1:7] Just as important as it is to us to have this forgiveness, so important should we hold it that others also know about this forgiveness – so that they may brought to repentance and forgiveness and be gained for God, for His family. So it is a painful aspect of life in this fallen world of sin that God has given us responsibility for one another, and “authority” to minister to one another, especially in the matter of repentance.
Transition: Within the church we often see authority despised. The fact that there are people who reject Christ, who reject God, and who reject the church, demonstrates the disrespect that many people have for the very authority of God. And all too often this “leaches” into the church. But our text makes clear that:
II. When Warned And Admonished We Had Better Be Subject To The Authority
Epistle: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.”
A. This Is True Even When It Comes To Secular Authority, To Earthly Government
Epistle: “There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. . . . If you do wrong, be afraid, for he [the governing authority] does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”
B. Likewise, And Especially Within The Church, We Had Better Be Subject To The Word Of God, His Commandment To Love, And The Exercise Of His Authority
Text: “If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 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. 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. 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. For where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I among them.”
Statement: You see, this exercise of “authority” within the church is a ministry and service of love – to gain the brother or sister back to repentance and faith in Jesus, and submission to the Word of God. It is not intended to harm others, nor to hurt feelings [though it often does just this], but rather to reclaim others to spiritual health and salvation!
And you also see that this ministry of love, of authority and responsibility, has the highest authority – that of God Himself. Jesus makes this crystal clear!
Application: All too often, however, we “pooh pooh” and disregard this authority in the church. We can see a sword, and we can see policemen and courts and jails and prisons. We often fail to see “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” We cannot see the courtroom of heaven, where God binds what we bind, and looses what we loose. Nonetheless, the dynamics of “AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH” are just as real as the exercise of earthly government and authority, and the consequences of such “AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH” are actually far greater than earthly justice. You remember what Jesus said: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” [Matt. 10:28]
Transition: Again, this exercise of “AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH” is a great gift and blessing of God, intended for our great good and blessedness, especially when we fall into sin. The purpose is to restore us to repentance, and to God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness! But there is one vital thing for us to remember about all of this:
III. Whoever Exercises This Authority In The Church Must Be Humble And Gentle – Like A Little Child [Not wanting to exercise power or coercion over others]
Text: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Statement: We often despise authority because it is coercive and at times cruel. There is a reason why it is so – our sinful nature, and our innate rebelliousness. But the exercise of authority in the church is to be different. You remember what Jesus taught: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” [Matt. 20:25-28]
This is the difference when it comes to “AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH.” But this difference – the gentle and humble nature of the exercise of this authority – often leads people to reject and dismiss this authority. To do so, however, is dreadfully dangerous! The one who does so is actually rejecting the authority which God Himself has appointed, and hence, is rejecting God!
Application: Our Sunday School teachers will be assuming responsibility – with authority – for helping our children remain close to Jesus. They will be teaching them to repent, to rejoice in God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness. They will be teaching them to rely upon God’s love, and to live in accord with true and genuine love. Their responsibility is great! We thank them for being willing to do this for us, and for our children.
We also desire that they exercise this authority humbly, “as children” themselves. But we dare not question their authority as they administer the Word of God.
The same is true for all who exercise authority within the church – and we have all been called to certain exercises of authority within the church, under the Word of God.
Conclusion: So let us understand the nature of authority – that there is no authority except that instituted by God. There is authority – godly authority – in the exercise of earthly government. There is also authority – godly authority – within families. And of course there is authority – godly authority – within the life of the church.
May God’s love move us to take up these responsibilities in love! And may His love inform our every exercise of authority, especially within the church! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.