Please read the passage before the commentary.
The context here is reconciliation within the community. If a brother sins against you, the process moves from one on one, through two or three on one, to the church community with one. When one refuses to listen to the Church, we are told to treat such a one as a Gentile or tax collector. We are not supposed to spurn, shun, or be angry with Gentiles and tax collectors: Matthew himself was a tax collector. Included in this context is the power to bind and loosen.
What about when two or three agree about anything. In the context we are discussing reconciliation. What would happen if two adversaries should agree to set aside differences and grant each other forgiveness? According to the Lord’s word, that shall be granted them by the heavenly Father.
Reconciliation, bringing opponents into unity, is the work Christ gave the Church. This is why, when two or three adversaries meet together in the Lord’s name, Christ is in the midst of them.
The Church is supposed to be united in Christ. To the extent that there is division in the Church, to that extent we are hindering Christ’s presence among all people. Let us lay aside our differences and let Christ bring all people together in his one Church.
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