Matthew 18:16

But if he will not heare thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, euery word may be established.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

"But if he does not listen {to you,} take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

But if he hear `thee' not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.
- American Standard Version (1901)

But if he will not give ear to you, take with you one or two more, that by the lips of two or three witnesses every word may be made certain.
- Basic English Bible

But if he do not hear [thee], take with thee one or two besides, that every matter may stand upon the word of two witnesses or of three.
- Darby Bible

But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
- Webster's Bible

But if he will not listen to you, go again, and ask one or two to go with you, that every word spoken may be attested by two or three witnesses.
- Weymouth Bible

But if he doesn't listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
- World English Bible

And if he herith thee not, take with thee oon or tweyne, that euery word stonde in the mouth of tweyne or thre witnessis.
- Wycliffe Bible

and if he may not hear, take with thee yet one or two, that by the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may stand.
- Youngs Literal Bible

Wesley's Notes for Matthew 18:16

18:14 So it is not the will of your Father - Neither doth my Father despise the least of them. Observe the gradation. The angels, the Son, the Father.

18:15 But how can we avoid giving offence to some? or being offended at others! Especially suppose they are quite in the wrong? Suppose they commit a known sin? Our Lord here teaches us how: he lays down a sure method of avoiding all offences. Whosoever closely observes this threefold rule, will seldom offend others, and never be offended himself. If any do any thing amiss, of which thou art an eye or ear witness, thus saith the Lord, If thy brother - Any who is a member of the same religious community: Sin against thee, Go and reprove him alone - If it may be in person; if that cannot so well be done, by thy messenger; or in writing. Observe, our Lord gives no liberty to omit this; or to exchange it for either of the following steps. If this do not succeed, Take with thee one or two more - Men whom he esteems or loves, who may then confirm and enforce what thou sayest; and afterward, if need require, bear witness of what was spoken. If even this does not succeed, then, and not before, Tell it to the elders of the Church - Lay the whole matter open before those who watch over yours and his soul. If all this avail not, have no farther intercourse with him, only such as thou hast with heathens. Can any thing be plainer? Christ does here as expressly command all Christians who see a brother do evil, to take this way, not another, and to take these steps, in this order, as he does to honour their father and mother. But if so, in what land do the Christians live? If we proceed from the private carriage of man to man, to proceedings of a more public nature, in what Christian nation are Church censures conformed to this rule? Is this the form in which ecclesiastical judgments appear, in the popish, or even the Protestant world? Are these the methods used even by those who boast the most loudly of the authority of Christ to confirm their sentences? Let us earnestly pray, that this dishonour to the Christian name may be wiped away, and that common humanity may not, with such solemn mockery, be destroyed in the name of the Lord! Let him be to thee as the heathen - To whom thou still owest earnest good will, and all the offices of humanity. #Luke 17:3|.

18:18 Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth - By excommunication, pronounced in the spirit and power of Christ. Whatsoever ye shall loose - By absolution from that sentence. In the primitive Church, absolution meant no more than a discharge from Church censure. Again I say - And not only your intercession for the penitent, but all your united prayers, shall be heard. How great then is the power of joint prayer! If two of you - Suppose a man and his wife. #Matt 16:19|.