It begins with the phrase. “If your brother (also includes the sisters) sins against you.

The word brother isn’t referring simply to your blood relatives but to those who would be part of the Spiritual family known as the Ekklessia, the Body of Christ, the CHURCH. This Passage is speaking in regards to Individual issues among people, Not Congregational Issues. The correct formula is to go directly to the individual who has SINNED against you. Notice he didn’t say who offended you, who upset you, had a different opinion than you did. He said, SINNED. Did they actually commit a SIN against you, meaning they would have also SINNED against God. Remember, sin is a transgression against God’s standards, not our opinions. 

The correct formula for handling a situation where someone sins against you is to first go to that person and seek resolution. If the individual who has SINNED won’t listen and repent, then you take witnesses and attempt to bring closure. If after the second attempt, the person will not reconcile with you then you take it before the entire church body and  if that person will not listen to them, then church discipline must be exercised and that person is then no longer counted as a brother, but as a heathen and a tax collector. 

Read the following passage carefully and slowly, study it out. Apply it.

Matthew 18:15-35 NKJV
[15] “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. [16] But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ [17] And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. [18] “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. [19] “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”  [21] Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” [22] Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. [23] Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. [24] And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. [25] But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. [26] The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ [27] Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. [28] “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ [29] So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ [30] And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. [31] So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. [32] Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. [33] Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ [34] And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. [35] “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”