Mathew 18:19-20 says, “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 which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”.
In English, the word, “agree” or “to come to an agreement” is a legal term. But in the above text, it is actually a musical term, used primarily of musical instruments.
It is derived from the Greek word “sumphōneō”, from where we get the word “symphony”, which is anything characterized by a harmonious combination of elements or anything distinguished by a harmonious composition.
“Sumphoneo” denotes “to sound together”, “union of sound”, “to be in accord”, “harmonious”, “in concert”, “to agree” or “come to an agreement”.
For instance, sound emanating from musical instruments with different frequencies or discordant tones is considered noise and unpleasant to the ears. But same sound proceeding from same instruments with harmonious tone and frequency or in symphony is pleasant to the ears, and is called music.
So when the prayer of any two or three people, based on the word of God, come to God in perfect symphony, in absolute harmony, that prayer must produce the desired results.
Amplified rendering says, “If two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever (anything and everything) they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Note the subsequent verse: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”. Put differently, “For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them.
We usually cite this verse in reference to gathering together in Jesus name for a church service or fellowship. Sometime, churches that have not grown in terms numerical strength use this scripture to justify themselves, that God’s presence is not only in large congregations, but also in their small church. But actually, that is not what this verse is talking about.
“Gathered together” or “drawn together” is derived from the Greek word “Sunagō”, from where we get the word “synagogue”.
A literal rendering says “have been led together.” Led by whom? The answer to this query is provided in Romans 8:14. “For as many as are led by the spirit of God, these are the sons of God”.
The inference is that anytime two or three have been led together by the Holy Spirit into a meeting place, which is the name of Jesus, then they can count on his presence.
Furthermore, if these ones (gathered together in his name) shall symphonize — come together in perfect harmony — concerning anything that they shall ask, then it will be done for them.
You can be mighty in prayer alone, but you will be mightier with someone else joining you. Scriptures declare… that one will put one thousand to flight, but two will put ten thousand to flight (Lev 26:8, Deut 32:30).
This infers that we can do 10 times as much as with someone agreeing with us as we can, praying by ourselves. Hallelujah!!!
Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe (Ps)