Gr. pragma, “a deed,” “a matter,” or “an affair,” here implying that something must be done about it.

 In His intercessory prayer on the night of His betrayal, Jesus repeatedly stressed the importance of united action on the part of church members (see John 17:11, 21-23). In this instance, that on which the “two” “agree” is, specifically, what course to pursue with regard to the erring brother (see Matt. 18:16-18).

 See on v. 16.

 Verses 19, 20 state the general principle of which v. 18 is a specific application.