Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 18].
\emprosthen\ with \thel•ma\ is a Hebraism like \emprosthen sou\
in 11:25 with \eudokia\, "before the face" of God.
18:15 {If thy brother sin against thee} (\ean hamart•s•i adelphos
sou\). Literally, commit a sin (ingressive aorist subjunctive of
\hamartan•\). Aleph B Sahidic do not have "against thee" (\eis
se\). {Shew him his fault} (\elegxon\). Such private reproof is
hard to do, but it is the way of Christ. {Thou hast gained}
(\ekerd•sas\). Aorist active indicative of \kerdain•\ in
conclusion of a third-class condition, a sort of timeless aorist,
a blessed achievement already made.
18:16 {Take with thee} (\paralabe meta sou\). Take alone (\para\)
with (\meta\) thee.
18:17 {Refuse to hear} (\parakous•i\). Like Isa 65:12. Many
papyri examples for ignoring, disregarding, hearing without
heeding, hearing aside (\para-\), hearing amiss, overhearing (Mr
5:36). {The church} (\t•i ekkl•si•i\). The local body, not the
general as in Mt 16:18 which see for discussion. The problem
here is whether Jesus has in mind an actual body of believers
already in existence or is speaking prophetically of the local
churches that would be organized later (as in Acts). There are
some who think that the Twelve Apostles constituted a local
\ekkl•sia\, a sort of moving church of preachers. That could only
be true in essence as they were a band of ministers and not
located in any one place. Bruce holds that they were "the
nucleus" of a local church at any rate.
18:18 {Shall be bound in heaven} (\estai dedemena en ouran•i\).
Future passive periphrastic perfect indicative as in "shall be
loosed" (\estai lelumena\). In 16:19 this same unusual form
occurs. The binding and the loosing is there addressed to Peter,
but it is here repeated for the church or for the disciples as
the case may be.
18:19 {Shall agree} (\sumph•n•s•sin\). Our word "symphony" is
this very root. It is no longer looked at as a concord of voices,
a chorus in harmony, though that would be very appropriate in a
church meeting rather than the rasping discord sometimes heard
even between two brethren or sisters. {Of my Father} (\para tou
patros mou\). From the side of, "by my Father."
18:20 {There am I} (\ekei eimi\). This blessed promise implies
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