Audio Download

“Divine Order In Creation And Scripture” – Part 5

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”(Mat 18:20)

[Study Aired August 20, 2026]

In this study we’ll look at the verses in God’s word that use the numbers and phrase “two or three” side by each.

There are eleven verses in the KJV bible that use the phrase “two or three” and we’ll look at each one individually.

The words of Christ are parables that hide the true meaning from the masses (Mat 13:10-13, Mrk 4:34), and these red-letter words of Christ (Mat 18:16, Mat 18:20) are the first parables that we’ll take a closer look at, along with the other nine later.

Regarding parables:

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

[parables like: “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mat 18:20) and “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (Mat 18:16)]

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.[Heb 13:10]
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Mrk 4:34  But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.[Mat 13:16]

God’s words cannot “be established” (Mat 18:16) within us unless there is the true witness of Jesus Christ [2] cleansing the temple of God within (1Co 3:16) of all the deception and lies that initially inhabit the temple (Jhn 2:16). That beastly nature must be driven out by Christ’s judgements upon us [3] by which we are received and “established”  by grace through faith [5] [Heb 12:6, 1Pe 5:10]. The combination of Christ [2] executing a process of judgement [3] upon the body of Christ (1Pe 4:17) is what is going to make us perfect, stablish, strengthen and settled in the Lord (Jhn 2:15-19, Ecc 4:12, Tit 2:12-13).

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Christ reveals to us who it is that truly has Christ in their midst. It is those who are being judged in this age (1Pe 4:17) and being given to put off our flesh so that we can trust God, and this all being done to His glory, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name (Jhn 6:44), there am I in the midst of them”. It is not specifically because there were two or three people, making God obligated to be in their midst, but is because of what those numbers mean to us as the body of Christ who are given eyes to see their spiritual meaning.

As a witness to this concept, God put two or three people in the fiery furnace, who were in the midst of Christ who was the fourth man in the book of Daniel, in that fire (Dan 3:16-28). It’s not about the amount of people, it’s about what the numbers represent to us spiritually, and this story is plainly showing us that the process of judgement upon flesh [3], represented by Shadrach Meshach and Abednego – [3] men, must have Christ in the midst of them [2] in order to bring salvation which will come to the whole of humanity in time [4 men].

The response given to Nebuchadnezzar in (Dan 3:17-18) is what brought great fury to him, and is akin to these verses in (1Co 3:13-15) that remind us that “Every man’s [4] work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s [4] work of what sort it is”. Nebuchadnezzar is part of the “every man” whose work is being revealed by his anger, similar to Cain’s wrath toward Abel. And we can go so far as to say that everyone who is against God’s word is unknowingly showing hatred toward Christ and His body, including those that God gives over to a heretical spirit, and ultimately the whole of humanity coming up against the camp of the saints [1Jn 3:12-15, Rev 20:7-8). That hatred toward the body of Christ is prophesied to only grow stronger as we near the end of this evil age. Thanks be to God that we are in His arms and being delivered from the fiery furnace.

Dan 3:17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1Jn 3:12  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
1Jn 3:13  Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1Jn 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Cleansing the temple that we are:

Jhn 2:15  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all [4] out of the temple [1Co 3:16], and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
Jhn 2:16  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
Jhn 2:17  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Jhn 2:18  Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?[2]
Jhn 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple,[2 – his body our body (Col 1:24)] and in three days I will raise it up

[3 – the process of judgement that requires Christ 2 in the midst of our hearts and mind, in His body the church (Col 1:24), as we are being saved by grace through faith 3+2=5 (Mat 12:39)].

Mat 12:39  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

[It is Babylon, that God’s people are called out of, which is that evil and spiritually adulterous generation being spoken and who are given a sign which is only physical to them [knowing Christ only after the flesh as we all did in our appointed time], a sign that is a parable for the unbelieving (1Co 14:22). This sign is another witness for God’s elect that Christ [2] has to be in the midst of the earth [the church] for three days [3], in order to judge us so we can hear His words. (Jer 22:29)]

Mat 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

When Christ is in our midst it will ultimately do us no good regarding going on to perfection, unless He is within us as our hope of glory (Col 1:27), a hope that we share as the body of Christ and one that cleanses the temple to see ‘the wood hay and stubble burnt out’. If we are blessed to continue to abide in Him and endure all things through him ‘the gold, silver and precious stones’ will also be purified within us (1Jn 3:3, Jhn 17:17, 1Co 3:12-13, Mal 3:17, Eph 2:8).

Jhn 2:15  And when he had made a scourge of small cords,[“a threefold cord is not quickly broken“] he drove them all out of the temple (1Co 3:16), and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
Jhn 2:16  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. [as a rich and foolish old king who represents our unbridled flesh (Ecc 4:13)]

Ecc 4:12  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecc 4:13  Better is a poor and a wise child [man child Rev 12:5] than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished (Rom 2:4).

1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.(Col 1:27);

Jhn 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The order of what Christ drove out of the temple is significant as well “he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables”. The first thing to go is the people which represents our carnal wood hay and stubble selves, then “the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables” which represent the valuable idols of the rich young ruler (Mat 19:22) that are wrapped around our hearts [iniquity which is self righteousness (Ezk 33:13, Ezk 18:26)] and must be driven out and overthrown to be replaced with true worship in spirit and in truth (Jhn 4:23). It all has to go, and Christ is the man who is going to get the job done within the body of Christ as our hope of glory [obedience] (Col 1:27).

What we are going to be looking for in the following eleven verses with the phrase “two or three” is a witness that is either positive or negative with the number 2, and a process of judgement being described positively or negatively regarding the number 3.

The other lesson we can search out is found by knowing that we can add 2+3 to get the number 5 which is the number that is associated with grace through faith. God’s grace and faith require the gift of the Comforter [Jhn 14:16] being within us [2] enabling us to go through a process of judgement [3] in this life, as the author and finisher of our faith finishes that which has been predestined to succeed from the foundation of the world (Heb 12:2, Eph 1:12, Rom 11:1-36).

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

“Comforter” of (Jhn 14:16) –  G3875 paraklētos par-ak’-lay-tos
An intercessor, consoler: – advocate, comforter.
Total KJV occurrences: 5

If we are as Christ in this life, we are going to be judged and suffer as He did in his flesh (1Jn 4:17), filling up what is behind of the afflictions of our Lord (Isa 53:4, Lev 16:21, Col 1:24, 2Ti 2:12). These are His words related to judgement that are true of His own body as well (Jhn 5:30-36,  Jhn 20:21, jhn 3:17)

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment🙁1Pe 4:17, Heb 5:8) because as he is, so are we in this world.

Jhn 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.(Pro 3:5-6) [“for without me ye can do nothing“Jhn 15:5]
Jhn 5:31  If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
Jhn 5:32  There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Jhn 5:33  Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
Jhn 5:34  But I receive not testimony from man: [John] but these things I say, that ye might be saved. [Eph 2:8]
Jhn 5:35  He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
Jhn 5:36  But I have greater witness than that of John: (as does the body of Christ Rev 11:3, Jhn 14:12) for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me,[2] that the Father hath sent me.[Jhn 20:21]

Jhn 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. [our being sent of Christ bears witness that we are His body that Christ is working through]

[we bear witness of the Father and Christ (Rev 11:3) as Christ did of His Father (Jhn 14:9). We suffer as Christ did, and cease from sinning (1Pe 4:1), growing in our discipleship toward one another that is revealed by our love for one another, expressed in obedience to His commandments (1Jn 5:2-3)]

Jhn 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.[Oba 1:21]

Grace [5] is not grace by which we can be saved if it is based on works that don’t acknowledge Christ doing the work within us (Gal 2:20). We die daily and carry our cross so that we can bring forth good works via the grace and faith [2+3=5] by which we are being saved (Tit 3:8, Eph 2:8). We must constantly be striving to acknowledge who it is that is doing those works within us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure as we continually go about our Father’s business as Christ did (Luk 2:49, 1Jn 4:17), working out those works with fear and trembling in the days of His flesh and bones that we are (Php 2:12-13, Heb 5:7).

God is omniscient and the whole world lives and moves and has their being in Him (Act 17:28). The elect also have their being in Christ, the difference being that Christ is only within those who have His spirit in them (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9, Jhn 14:20), which makes it possible for us to be saved by grace through faith because “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”(his purpose Rom 8:28, Eph 2:8) that is accomplished by His love being shed abroad in our hearts, which works with the faith of Christ that is given to us, excluding boasting (Rom 5:5, Gal 5:4-6, Rom 3:27).

Gal 5:6  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Rom 3:28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Notice the answer that is given to Elias who felt he was alone in (Rom 11:1-8). Physically he often was alone, as do many of His body’s members have to be due to physical circumstances in this life. Of course, we don’t forsake the assembling of the brethren when the Lord has given us those opportunities (Heb 12:10), and that is not just speaking about physically coming together, but being raised together through a sacrificial life that is presented to God as a living sacrifice, which is our reasonable service that brings us together in Christ (Eph 2:6-8, Rom 12:1).

Rom 11:1  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Rom 11:2  God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Rom 11:3  Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Rom 11:4  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

[regarding the earlier point, it is the few who are being saved in this life by grace through faith (Eph 2:8, Eph 1:12), typified by the “seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal” made possible by the life of Christ within us and the process of  judgement that we are going through that enables us to trust Him 2+3=5]

Rom 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Rom 11:7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

[the Israel of God is obtaining it and will obtain it by grace through faith 5 that can only be accomplished by the works that Christ does in us 2, which entails  a lifelong process of judgement that is upon our old man 3]

Rom 11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

To recap, God’s word is being “established” within us through Christ as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour (2Pe 3:18). Matthew chapter 18, and verses 16 and 20 in particular (Mat 18:16, Mat 18:20), are all about judgement and the blessing it brings upon those who have Christ [2] in the midst of their lives today, doing that judging which is a process [3] that the entire body of Christ is part of and not to despise (Rom 2:4), as He works in us toward the goal of being established and reconciled to Christ with His mind that brings joy to every member of His body who are being saved by grace through faith (Php 2:2-3).

Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Mat 18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Next week Lord willing we will delve into the next series of verses that have the phrase “two or three” within them.