Matthew 18:16

Amharic 2000 (የአማርኛ መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ (ሰማንያ አሃዱ))

ባይሰማህ ግን፥ በሁለት ወይም በሦስት ምስክር አፍ ነገር ሁሉ እንዲጸና፥ ዳግመኛ አንድ ወይም ሁለት ከአንተ ጋር ውሰድ፤

What Does This Mean?

This verse is from Jesus, who says if someone doesn't listen to you when you talk to them about a problem, take one or two more people with you. This way, there are witnesses and the truth can be confirmed.

Explained for Children

Imagine you're playing with friends and one of your friends won't share toys. You first try talking to them alone, but if they still don’t listen, bring a couple of other friends who can help convince them to share fairly.

Historical Background

Matthew wrote this part of the Bible in Greek around AD 80-90 for Jewish Christians living outside Israel. The cultural context emphasizes communal witness and resolving disputes within the community.

Living It Out Today

If a coworker at your office doesn't follow agreed-upon rules, first speak to them privately. If they don’t listen, take one or two other coworkers who can help mediate and ensure fairness in the discussion.

Topics

• conflict resolution
• witnesses
• truth
• community standards
• mediation
• dispute settlement

Related Verses

• Deuteronomy 19:15
• John 8:17-18
• 2 Corinthians 13:1
• Hebrews 10:28
• Numbers 35:30

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the verse mention 'one or two more'?

It suggests taking additional witnesses to ensure that there are at least two or three people who can verify what is said and seen, providing a fair process in resolving conflicts.

How many witnesses should one ideally bring?

Ideally, bringing two more makes for a total of three witnesses. This number ensures that the truth is established according to biblical principles.

Can this principle be applied outside religious contexts?

Yes, it can be applied in various non-religious settings such as workplace disputes or community conflicts where truth and fairness are important.

What if the person still doesn't listen after bringing witnesses?

The text does not specify further steps beyond gathering two to three witnesses. In practice, one might seek additional mediation or legal advice if the issue remains unresolved.