“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20
This is perhaps one of the verses I’ve personally heard misquoted most often in church services. I’ve heard this verse mentioned in group prayer settings where people are asking God for an answer to a specific prayer need. God must be listening to their prayer since there are two or more asking for it, right?
Without looking at the context, do you find anything strange about this verse? It suggests that God is only present if two or more are gathered. Does this mean He doesn’t hear your prayers when you’re by yourself? Certainly not!
Now let’s look at the context. You have to go back the beginning of Chapter 18 in Matthew to get the setting. Jesus is talking with His disciples about various issues. In verse 15, He tells us how to deal with someone who has wronged us. If you confront him (or her) and they do not repent, get another believer or two to confront him a second time (verse 16). If he still does not repent, take the matter to the church. If he still does not repent again, he must leave the church (17).
Long story made short, this misquoted verse is actually about church discipline, not whether or not God listens to believers gathered together. While this is used to convey solidarity and unity in those praying or worshipping together, it is a sad example of a verse that has been quoted completely wrong.
Consider this verse instead:
“The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18 (a great chapter of praise too)