God's Glory Church

In the Gospel of Matthew, it is recorded that Jesus said the following words:

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I also be in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

We know from many other passages in the Bible that God’s ability to be with us does not depend on a packed stadium or an empty hall. He is able to be just as present, regardless of whether more or less than 2-3 people have gathered.

So, in this particular case, what did Jesus mean?

When we look at the surrounding context, Jesus is actually explaining to His disciples how to correct a believer who has sinned against them. He encourages them:

• First, go talk to the person alone
• Second, if they don’t seem to be listening the first time, bring one or two others with you
• Third, if they still won’t listen, take the matter to the church
• Fourth, if they still refuse to listen to the wisdom and counsel of the church, treat them as you would an unbeliever.

So when Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in their midst,” He is reminding them that as they handle church discipline situations with humility, grace, and love, He will be with them in the process.

Throughout God’s Word, we receive instructions on how to handle various situations—whether it’s money, relationships, sin, health problems, and more. And even when things don’t seem black or white, we can listen to the Holy Spirit and listen to the leaders He has appointed.

Jesus knew that conflicts and problems would inevitably arise, so He taught His disciples to ask for whatever they needed (see verse 19) and promised to be with them on their journey.