Matthew 18:15"If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
The setting
Capernaum, Galilee, ~29 AD. Jesus teaching disciples about community conflicts in Peter's house courtyard, modern-day Israel.
The emotion here: patient teacher addressing real church problems he foresaw
The original word
elegcho (ἔλεγχον) — to expose, convict, bring to light with intent to restore
Why it matters
This was revolutionary - most ancient honor-shame cultures demanded public confrontation to restore honor
Read with care
What most readers miss in Matthew 18:15
Jesus says 'between you and him ALONE' — no witnesses, no audience, just restoration
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about winning an argument or proving you're right. Jesus' goal is 'gaining your brother back' — restoration, not vindication.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Matthew 18:15
Bible Genome reading
Matthew 18:15 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Matthew 18:15 comes from the book of Matthew, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to Jesus. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include restoration, confrontation. Notable phrases: show him his fault; gained back. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Matthew 18:15 mean to you, today?
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