I recently received a question about Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” which I discussed in my book Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, page 72.

Many read this line as meaning that Jesus promises to be present when his followers gather to pray for something “in his name.” In my chapter I pointed out the importance of gathering in community.

One reader pointed out that this verse is located within Jesus’ teaching about making a decision regarding a sinner (Matt. 18:15-20). The “two or three who are gathered” could be witnesses to an offense. Is it OK to apply this line more broadly, or should we stick to a narrow interpretation, that Jesus acts as a “witness” when we are making a decision in a trial?

In Terms of Wider Rabbinic Thought

What is fascinating is to look at Jesus’ words in the context of wider rabbinic thought. Several sayings sound quite similar, like

“When two sit together and words of Torah pass between them, the Divine Presence rests between them” Mishnah Avot 3:3

“When three eat at one table and speak the words of Torah there, it is as though they have eaten from the table of God.” Mishnah Avot 3:4

“Whenever ten are gathered for prayer, there the Shekinah rests.” Talmud Sanhedrin 39 (The “Shekinah” refers to God’s presence made manifest in a glorious way.)

“When three sit as judges, the Shekinah is with them,” Talmud Berachot 6

Note that this last line is about God’s Shekinah being present even when people are judging, reminiscent of Jesus’ words. The other quotations are about Torah study or prayer. These two ideas overlap, actually. Rendering judgment requires a type of Scripture study, because rabbis were often asked to interpret the Torah in order to decide whether it had been broken or not.

There’s also a longer discussion about how many people are required for God’s presence to be among them:

Rabbi Chalafta ben Dosa (~100 AD) used to say: ‘If ten men sit together and occupy themselves with the Torah, the Divine Presence rests among them, as it is written (Psalm 82:1) “God has taken his place in the divine council.” And from where do we learn that this applies even to five? Because it is written (Amos 9:6) “And founds his vault upon the earth.” And how do we learn that this applies even to three? Because it is written (Psalm 82:1) “In the midst of the gods he holds judgment.” And from where can it be shown that the same applies even to two? Because it is written (Malachi 3:16) “Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened.” And from where even of one? Because it is written (Exodus 20:24) “In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.” Mishnah, Avot 3:4-7 *

I don’t think this discussion was intended to be a hard-edged theological proof about where God present and where he is not. Rather, it seems to be a sermonic exhortation to study, pray and decide matters of Bible interpretation in the presence of others.

The rabbinic discussion may be related to the fact that ten adults (a “minyan”) were required for communal prayers to be prayed. The rabbi seems to be saying that this doesn’t necessarily mean that God is only present when ten people come together. It quotes Scriptures that point out many places where humans assembled and God is in their midst.

The common denominator in all of these rabbinic statements is the presence of God being especially near when his people gather to meditate on how he wants them to live. This is really the central point of each line. Sometimes people are praying, but sometimes they are studying or judging a trial.

Jesus’ statement fits right in among them, and it sounds like his words about “two or three are gathered” have a similar intention, stressing the idea of gathering and praying as a group in order to discern his will.

A Claim to Identity with God?

It’s fascinating to notice that while the rabbis were talking about God’s presence being near, Jesus was talking about his own presence. This is really quite surprising. The rabbinic quotations above were recorded in Jewish literature after the time of Christ (200 – 500 AD). Because of the hostility between Christians and Jews, it’s unlikely that later rabbis would have been expanding on a statement that Jesus was known to have made.

More likely, Jesus and other rabbis were both mediating on a line of Scripture that was seen as significant in early Judaism. I wonder if this might have been Exodus 20:24, which we read in the rabbinic discussion above:

In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.

Consider how this compares to Matthew 18:20:

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

God promised his presence where ever “his name is remembered,” and Jesus promised to be present whenever people “gather in his name.”

When you compare these two lines, it sounds like Jesus was equating his presence with the LORD’s. Christians hardly blink because we are used to reading this idea into Jesus’ words. To his original audience, however, it must have seemed quite galling, well beyond what was appropriate if Jesus was only a wise human teacher.

What’s fascinating is that Jesus’ words become all the more startling when you’re familiar with related rabbinic sayings about the Shekinah, even though they come from a slightly later time.

In the context of wider rabbinic thought, it sounds like Christ was hinting at identity with the God of Israel, and promising to personally reveal God’s will to all who earnestly seek him out.

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(Paintings by Carl Schleicher – Wikipedia)