Right Relationship

New Living Translation:

15 “If another believer[a] sins against you,[b] go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.

16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.

17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid[c] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit[d] on earth will be permitted in heaven.

19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers,[e] I am there among them.”

The Message Translation:

15-17 “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell [the person]—work it out between the two of you.

If [the person] listens, you’ve made a friend. If [the person] won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again.

If [the person] still won’t listen, tell the church. If [the person] won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront [the person] with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.

18-20 “Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal.

I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, [God] in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”