Calvin saw the words against you
in Matthew 18:15 as meaning not public but private sins, but this exegetical distinction is not supported by the text (see Matthew 18:21–35). Sadly, this distinction has led many to treat Matthew 18:15 as guidance only for dealing with secret sins, but Jesus is in fact giving a rule that promotes humble love toward fellow servants of Christ who feel wronged by their brothers.
Jesus is teaching mutual spiritual oversight (see Hebrews 10:24 and 1 John 5:16), with no distinction of public and private sin. Jesus’ statement echoes Leviticus 19:17, and from that Old Testament context, as well as from what follows in Matthew 18:1–35, he is clearly referring to official relationships within the congregation: describing what believers, in their capacity as members of the church, owe to one another.
John Calvin understood the words against you
in Matthew 18:15 as referring not to public but to private sins. In doing so, however, he introduces an exegetical distinction that is not supported by the text itself (see also Matthew 18:21–35). Unfortunately, this distinction has led many interpreters to treat Matthew 18:15 as guidance specifically for dealing with secret sins, whereas Jesus is in fact giving a rule that promotes humble love toward fellow servants of Christ who feel grieved or wronged by their brothers.1
What Jesus has in mind here is mutual spiritual oversight (see also Hebrews 10:24 and 1 John 5:16). In light of this, there is no distinction to be made here in terms of public and private sin. Jesus’ statement recalls Leviticus 19:17, and from that Old Testament context, as well as from what follows in Matthew 18:1–35, it is clear that he is here referring to the official relationships within the congregation. In other words, he is describing what believers, in their capacity as members of the church, owe to one another.2
15 Si ton frère a péché, va et reprends-le entre toi et lui seul. S'il t'écoute, tu as gagné ton frère.