Deepen

Peter is out of step with the gospel and Paul confronted him because he is his Christian brother and Peter’s hypocrisy was affecting others. Paul does not shy away from conflict but confronts with the intent of restoration among the Jews and Gentiles and restoring the spreading of the true gospel.

• What process do you see in Matthew 18 when it comes to dealing with conflict?
• Why does the way you confront others when sinned against matter?
• Who do you need to confront in gentleness with the end goal of restoration?
• Who do you need to apologize to for not handling conflict in a biblical manner?

Galatians 2:11-14

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party^.13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Matthew 18:15-20

“If your 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. ¹⁶ But 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. 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. ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Prayer

Lord, show me my failures when it comes to dealing with conflict. Convict me of any sin and hypocrisy I am blind to and lead me to repent and seek reconciliation. Amen.