Matthew 18:17

“And if he shall neglect to hear them, etc.] The one or two, in conjunction with the offended person that shall hear the ease, and admonish and reprove; if he takes no notice of what they say to him, but remains stiff and impenitent, tell it unto the church: which some understand, of the µybr, or “multitude”, before whom it was lawful to reprove, after such private methods had been taken: others, the political magistrates, or sanhedrim; who took cognizance of cases between one person and other, either by themselves, or messengers; and gave admonitions and reproofs, as to parents, when they did not provide for their families f1009, and to wives that were perverse, and provoked their husbands…”

“Tell it to the church - See the notes at Matthew 16:18. The church may here mean the whole assembly of believers, or it may mean those who are authorized to try such cases - the representatives of the church, or these who act for the church. In the Jewish synagogue there was a bench of elders before whom trials of this kind were brought. It was to be brought to the church in order that he might be admonished, entreated, and, if possible, reformed. This was, and is always to be, the first business in disciplining an offending brother. But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be ... - The Jews gave the name “heathen” or “Gentile” to all other nations but themselves. With them they had no…”

“18:17 The church is the local Christian community. • The unrepentant person is to be considered a pagan or a corrupt tax collector, a wicked transgressor of the law. Church discipline by exclusion (excommunication; see Acts 5:1-6; Rom 16:17; 1 Cor 5:1-13; 2 Cor 6:14-18; Gal 5:7-12; 2 Thes 3:14-15) is rooted in the conviction that God’s people are to be holy and that sin corrupts fellowship, both between people and between the people and God. The goal is neither vindictive retribution nor a public display of power, but restoration of the wayward to holiness and fellowship (Matt 18:10-15; Gal 6:1; Jas 5:19-20).”

“tell: Act 6:1-3, Act 15:6, Act 15:7; Co1 5:4, Co1 5:5, Co1 6:1-4; Co2 2:6, Co2 2:7; Jo3 1:9, Jo3 1:10 let: Rom 16:17, Rom 16:18; Co1 5:3-5, Co1 5:9-13; Th2 3:6, Th2 3:14, Th2 3:15; Ti1 6:5; Jo2 1:10, Jo2 1:11 a heathen: Mat 6:7; Ezr 6:21; Eze 11:12; Co2 6:14-17; Eph 4:17-19, Eph 5:11, Eph 5:12 a publican: Mat 5:46, Mat 11:19, Mat 21:31, Mat 21:32; Luk 15:1, Luk 18:11, Luk 19:2, Luk 19:3 Matthew 18:18”