Devine Scripture

Matthew 18:19

What does Matthew 18:19 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 18:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 18:19 means

Jesus promises extraordinary power in prayer when two or more believers agree together regarding a specific request. This 'agreement' is not merely a shared opinion but a unity in faith and purpose, aligned with God's will. Such unified prayer, offered in Jesus' name and according to His purposes, will be answered by the Father in heaven. This highlights the special effectiveness of corporate prayer rooted in spiritual harmony and underscores the communal nature of the Christian walk.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Again, I say to you, that if two of you are in agreement on earth about anything for which they will make a request, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Again, I say to you, that, if two of you may agree on the earth concerning anything, whatever they may ask--it shall be done to them from my Father who is in the heavens,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree on the earth concerning any matter, whatsoever it may be that they shall ask, it shall come to them from my Father who is in [the] heavens.

Context

This verse builds on the idea of collective authority and action within the church, introduced in verse 18. It moves from disciplinary decisions to the power of unified prayer. This promise of answered prayer for agreeing believers then naturally leads into the well-known statement in verse 20, which emphasizes Jesus' personal presence within such gatherings, linking the power of prayer to His direct presence.

v.18Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

v.19This passage

v.20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 1:14

    These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

  • Acts 6:4

    But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.

  • John 14:13

    And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

  • 1 John 5:14

    And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:

  • Acts 4:24

    And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:

  • James 5:14

    Is any among you sick? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

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