Matthew 18:15 Meaning: When a Brother Sins Against You

Three Greek words shape this verse. Adelphos (brother) here means a fellow believer, someone who shares the same faith and belongs to the same spiritual family. The word carries a bond of kinship, not just acquaintance. Elegchō (show him his fault) is more than telling someone they are wrong. It means to bring something to light, to convince or refute in a way that leads to conviction. Vincent notes that the Revised Version uses “show” because it involves proving to the person how they have erred, not just naming the offense. This is careful, evidence-based, and aimed at helping them see. Kerdainō (gained) normally means to acquire profit. Here it means to win a person back. The Cambridge Bible says it pictures being “won over to a better mind, to Christ.” You are not trying to win an argument. You are trying to win a brother.

Christians across traditions have valued the pattern here while understanding its scope differently. Calvin (Reformed) describes it as a middle course between overlooking sin and harshness. Matthew Henry (Presbyterian) applies it both to personal injuries and to public scandals within the church. John Wesley (Methodist) stressed that the steps must be taken in order and cannot be skipped. Gill (Baptist) noted that the rule applies to fellow church members, not to those outside. The shared conviction is that love does not ignore sin, but neither does it broadcast it. The first move is always private and restorative.

Some think this verse gives permission to confront someone publicly or to tell others first, as long as you eventually speak to the person. In fact, Jesus insists on absolute privacy as the first step. The word monou (alone) makes it clear: no one else is involved yet. The goal is not to gather allies or prove your case to others. It is to go directly to your brother, one on one, and seek restoration before anything else.

Think of one relationship where you feel wronged. Maybe a friend said something cutting. A family member let you down. Before you tell anyone else about it, Jesus asks you to go to that person alone. Not with a text or email where tone can be misread, but face to face if possible. Your aim is not to unload your hurt but to lay out the facts gently and ask for understanding. The hope is that they listen, and you come out the other side closer than before. That is what it means to gain a brother.