Mat 18:19 Again I say to 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.

This is about the nature of our free will. It says that we, not God, decide the nature of our relationship with other people while we are here on earth. However, it also says that if we ask God to recognize our contracts and agreements, he holds us responsible for honoring them.

On the surface, this doesn't seem to be a complicated idea, but it was revolutionary at the time and perhaps taken too much for granted today. Christ is saying that neither the state nor religion defines our relationships. We do. God gives us the individual freedom to do so. Only when we ask God to sanctify our agreements do we raise them to a higher level, making ourselves responsible to God, not just to each other, for fulfilling them.

The "good" of heaven is not static. We set out standard by what we agree among ourselves here on earth. Kings and princes cannot commit us. Priests and preachers cannot commit us. We can only commit ourselves to each other.


Alternative: Again I tell you, that if two of you shall make an agreement before society about something of importance that if you ask, it shall come into being before your father who is in heaven.

"Shall agree" is from sumphôneô, which means "sound together," "be in harmony," "make an agreement," "conspire," and "expess the same opinions."

"On" is from epi , which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against."

"Earth" is from gê, which means "earth" (as the opposite of "heaven"), "land," "country," and "ground." It is used to refer to earthly matters and in a symbol for relationships.

"Touching" is from peri, which means "about."

"Thing" is from pragma, which means "deed," "act," "concrete reality," "thing of importance," and "matter at hand."

"Ask" is from aiteô, which means "to ask," "to demand," "to beg," and "to ask for one's own use."

"Shall be done" is gignomai (ginomai), which means "to become," "to come into being," "to be produced," and "to be."

"Of" is from para, which means "from," "by," "about," and "near."