What does the expression “tell it to the church” in Matthew 18:17 refer to? Does it mean the corporate assembly or merely to elders, or the men if elders are not ordained?
The word “church” is used in the New Testament of the divine organization for which Jesus died and over which he is head in three distinct senses. First, it may refer to the universal church, spanning not only the globe and including every congregation, but also such congregations in the past and the future (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 1:22). Second, it may refer to a particular congregation meeting in some locality (1 Corinthians 1:2) or a collective reference to such local congregations (Romans 16:16). Third, it may refer to the worship assembly of a local congregation (1 Corinthians 14:23). Therefore, the context, as often is the case respecting many biblical words, is essential to determine the way in which the word “church” is used in a certain verse of Scripture. Obviously, the reference to “church” in Matthew 18:17 is to a local congregation.
However, what constitutes telling it to the church when lodging a complaint against an impenitent brother who has sinned against one, and who is impervious to overtures by even several brethren to prompt him to repent of sin? Fully organized congregations are served by biblically qualified elders, part of whose responsibilities is to exercise church discipline (the subject of Matthew 18:15-18) (Titus 1:9-11) and who are otherwise to shepherd (Acts 20:28) or rule (Hebrews 13:17) the flock or church of God. Therefore, telling it to the church of Matthew 18:17 ought to first involve those elders whose responsibility it is to give an account for each soul in their care. In the absence of elders (i.e., a congregation does not have a plurality of biblically qualified men to serve as elders), the men of the congregation must accept responsibilities that normally would fall to elders. In such an instance, the men of the congregation, who as a unit serve the congregation in leadership capacity ought to be the recipient of complaints relative to Matthew 18:17.
Going directly to the assembled church without going to the elders (or men serving in the absence of elders) probably would result in “confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33) and a void of “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). Telling it directly to the assembled, local congregation without consulting the elders would undercut the elders’ ability to function in their capacity of oversight. ~ Skip Francis
