1. Consider this passage in Matthew (18,15-17) in which ‘brother’ has been translated as ‘companion’:
If your companion sins against you, go and point out his or her fault, between the two of you. If he or she relents, you have gained your companion.
If he or she does not relent, take one or two others along with you, so that what happens can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.
If he or she still refuses to relent, inform the church. And if he or she refuses to listen to the church, let that person be to you as a pagan and a tax collector.
a. What does it tell you about authority in the Matthean community?
b. Did Jesus use the word ‘Church’? What does it tell you about the passage?
2. Study these words of Jesus (Matthew 20,25-28):
Among the pagans those who have power dominate, and those who are leaders make their authority felt. It should not be like that among you.
Who wants to have power among you, must be your servant; who wants to be a leader, must be your slave.
Just as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for all.
Do these words contradict the need for authority?
3. Comment on this passage from Matthew’s Gospel (13,52):
Every scribe who is well versed in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings from his treasure things new and old.