To see someone as a Gentile and a tax collector
(Matthew 18:17) means seeing them as not belonging to the same community, but It does not mean that such people are hopelessly lost, nor that the congregation has no duties toward them (see Matthew 8:5–13; Matthew 9:9–13; and so on). The congregation must still try to win them over, but it has no spiritual fellowship with them while they are unrepentant. Unrepentant sinners thus place themselves outside of the community. If the man who has sinned against a disciple refuses even the admonition of the whole circle of disciples, then the aggrieved disciple (and the rest) must see him as a Gentile and a tax collector,
but the thread of love that seeks the salvation of the lost is not severed, for the gospel is directed especially toward Gentiles and tax collectors. What changes is that the disciples may no longer see the obstinate sinner as a converted brother but as part of the mission field, who needs to repent, just as Gentiles and tax collectors do. Jesus’ disciples do not shun such people (as Pharisees did), but cannot welcome them as brothers unless they believe, so obstinate sinners are again objects of evangelization, who stand outside the brotherhood and in the spotlight that shines on the unbelieving world. However, while they do not repent, admit their guilt, or make things right, fellowship with them is impossible. They are no longer part of the congregation. Thus the entire circle of disciples shows the seriousness of the sinner’s obstinacy. The focus on Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
(Matthew 18:1) must become a shared concern (Matthew 18:17) for the salvation of sinners—even those within their own midst.
To consider someone as a Gentile and a tax collector
(Matthew 18:17) entails viewing them as not belonging to the same community. It does not mean, however, that such people are hopelessly lost, nor that the congregation has no duties toward them (see Matthew 8:5–13; Matthew 9:9–13; and so on). The congregation must indeed attempt to win them over, but it cannot have spiritual fellowship with them as long as they remain unrepentant. Unrepentant sinners in actual fact place themselves outside of the community.1
If the man who has sinned against a disciple of Jesus refuses even the admonition of the entire circle of disciples, then the aggrieved disciple (and the others) must treat him as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Many commentators regard this as harsh and in contrast to the gospel itself. Yet the thread of love that seeks the salvation of the lost is not hereby severed, for the gospel is directed especially toward Gentiles and tax collectors. What changes is that the disciples may no longer treat the obstinate sinner as a converted brother but as part of the mission field. He must realize that he still needs to repent—just as Gentiles and tax collectors do.
Jesus’ disciples do not look down on or avoid such people (as the Pharisees typically did). Their desire is to turn them into brothers. But they cannot welcome them into the circle of disciples unless they believe. Thus, the obstinate sinner once again becomes an object of evangelization. He now stands outside the brotherhood and in the very spotlight that shines upon the unbelieving world. However, as long as he refuses to repent, to confess his guilt, and to make things right, brotherly fellowship with him remains impossible. He no longer forms part of the congregation.
In this way, the entire circle of disciples makes the seriousness of his obstinacy unmistakably clear. The collective concern that once centered on the question regarding who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
(Matthew 18:1) must now be redirected towards a shared responsibility (Matthew 18:17) for the salvation of sinners—even those within their own midst.2
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.