Matthew's conspicuous concern for ecclesiastical good health and the growth of true discipleship faith is evident throughout chapter 18. While in Mark's gospel, issues of inter-disciple relations are pared down to the argument over "Who is the greatest?" (9:33-37), Matthew crafts an entire chapter around how disciples of Christ should live together in a faith community and how the church should conduct itself and treat its own members. Today's pericope, Matthew 18:15-20, deals specifically with issues of sinfulness, confrontation, repentance and judgment within the Christ-body community.

While reading the "instructions" Jesus gives for dealing with conflict within the church, however, one should note the two parables that Matthew brackets on either side of today's text. At one end (18:10-1…