Protect the flock: Unpacking Jesus’ instructions to church leaders

There are only two places in the Gospels where Jesus speaks about the “church” — Matthew 16 and Matthew 18.

In these two chapters, he gives his disciples crucial guidance as to what they are going to face as ministers. The advice remains as relevant for us today as ever. 

Beware

First, in Matthew 16, Jesus warns church leaders to beware of “the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (v6), those who serve their own interests rather than God’s. Next, he tells Peter he will give him “the keys of the kingdom of heaven”; that whatever he binds “on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever [he looses] on earth will be loosed in heaven” (v19). This is clearly about spiritual authority. 

In Matthew 18, Jesus teaches about the kind of people the disciples will encounter in the Church and how they should respond. He begins by warning them that they must get rid of their egos, not fight about who is the greatest but “become like little children” (vv3-5). He also tells them to guard the children from those who would want to hurt them. Some interpret ‘children’ as referring to all of Jesus’ followers, not just the young. He might mean that, but the point is that Jesus instructs leaders to guard the vulnerable and childlike from abusive, wicked people. Jesus uses strong words when addressing this issue: “If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung round their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (v6). 

Earlier in Matthew, Jesus speaks firmly about male lust. He tells his followers to ruthlessly cut it out of their lives, using the imagery of gouging out an eye or cutting off a hand (Matthew 5:29-30). In Matthew 18, he’s referring both to individuals and the body of Christ. If something or someone is harmful, cut it out and “cut it off” (v8). This aligns with what Paul teaches elsewhere in the New Testament where certain people who are a danger to the body are to be “handed over to Satan” (see 1 Timothy 1:20; 1 Corinthians 5:5) in order to be saved eventually. In other words, they are already enthralled to Satan’s agenda, so they need to see clearly the evil they are doing. Only then will they be able to repent and be redeemed.

Protect

Jesus then goes on to give his disciples further advice about their flock. Not all are dangerous. Some will wander off like sheep. They are not wicked but lost, and he tells pastors to leave everything to go and find them (Matthew 18:12). 

He follows this with wise advice on how to deal with those in the Church who sin. First, go to them privately. Don’t gossip to others. Don’t broadcast it. Don’t get angry with people. Don’t shame them publicly. Just go to see them and give them a chance. “If they listen to you, you have won them over” (v15). Repentance and restoration can then follow on from this meeting. 

Those who lead have great power and authority. They must use it to protect, heal and restore

If they won’t listen, return with “one or two others” and give them another chance to see the error of their ways (v16). If they persist it then becomes a matter for the whole community. People will need to be told about the situation, and the person who is hurting the community will have to face what they have done. In this case, Jesus says: “treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector” (v17). In other words, they are clearly not following Jesus, so treat them like someone who still needs to be saved. 

He reiterates the lesson on binding and loosing, adding: “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (v19).

Those who lead in the Church have great power and authority. They must use it to protect, heal and restore. Jesus teaches about the dangerous, the broken and the rebellious – and gives wise advice about each of those categories – but his concern is for the lost. 

Forgive

Jesus’ last point is about forgiveness. In verses 21-35, he tells a story about a servant who, although forgiven of a debt himself, refuses to forgive his own debtors. Not only does he demand the money he is owed, but he nearly chokes a man when doing so. The king who forgave his debt is furious and throws him into prison to be tortured until he pays back what he owes. 

Our debt to God is not financial but one of forgiveness. Whatever people have done and wherever they end up – in the Church or out of it – Jesus wants his followers to forgive others. In Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord’s Prayer says: “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors” (6:12).

These chapters contain a wealth of rich and nuanced advice for leaders and pastors. Be childlike. Deal with dangerous and abusive people. Seek the lost. Don’t avoid conflict. Above all, be quick to forgive in order not to become the unmerciful servant ourselves, and demonstrate that we can commit everyone to God, the one and only just judge.