Πάλιν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐὰν δύο ὑμῶν συμφωνήσωσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς περὶ παντὸς πράγματος οὗ ἐὰν αἰτήσωνται, γενήσεται αὐτοῖς παρὰ τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς. (Matthew 18:19)
Again, truly I say to you: if two of you agree on earth concerning any matter whatever they may ask, it will come to pass for them from my Father who is in the heavens.
A Seminar in the Syntax of Prayer (Q&A Style)
Q: Why does the sentence begin with Πάλιν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν?
A: The cluster Πάλιν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν forms a solemn discourse marker: “Truly, I say to you again.” The adverb Πάλιν signals continuation and reinforcement; ἀμὴν solemnizes what follows; λέγω ὑμῖν establishes authoritative address. Word order front-loads urgency before the condition is even stated.
Q: What kind of condition appears in this verse?
A: A Koine third-class condition: ἐὰν + subjunctive in the protasis, with future indicative in the apodosis. Here the protasis is ἐὰν δύο ὑμῶν συμφωνήσωσιν… and the apodosis is γενήσεται αὐτοῖς… Grammatically, the construction presents a real, open condition tied to divine response.
Q: Parse the key verbs.
- συμφωνήσωσιν: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd plural of συμφωνέω. Aspectually, the aorist views the act of agreement as a decisive event—they “strike a chord” at a point in time.
- αἰτήσωνται: aorist middle subjunctive, 3rd plural of αἰτέω. The middle voice highlights involved petitioners; they ask for themselves.
- γενήσεται: future middle indicative, 3rd singular of γίνομαι—“it will come to be / be done.” The future in the apodosis signals a promised outcome.
Q: What is the force of δύο ὑμῶν?
A: δύο with the partitive genitive ὑμῶν means “two of you.” Even the smallest quorum embodies the community. The promise is not arithmetical magic but a communal orientation: prayer that is harmonized rather than solitary.
Q: Explain the prepositional phrases.
- ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς: spatial sphere—“on the earth.” The locale grounds the praying community in ordinary space, not a sanctuary apart.
- περὶ παντὸς πράγματος: scope—“concerning any matter.” The genitive after περί marks the topic; the phrase is broad yet not lawless, as the context presumes alignment with the will of the Father.
- παρὰ τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς: source—“from my Father who is in the heavens.” With the genitive, παρά emphasizes origin; the stacked genitives (τοῦ πατρός μου, τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς) intensify both intimacy and transcendence.
Q: What is happening with οὗ ἐὰν before αἰτήσωνται?
A: οὗ ἐὰν is an indefinite relative construction (“whatever they may ask”), pairing the relative οὗ with ἐὰν and the subjunctive αἰτήσωνται. It widens the scope while keeping it under the grammar of contingency.
Q: Does συμφωνέω carry more than “agree”?
A: Yes. Etymologically tied to “sounding together,” συμφωνέω evokes harmonic alignment. In context, agreement is not mere consensus but a shared resonance in request, intention, and trust. The verse teaches that prayer is most itself when believers sound as one.
Form Meets Theology: How the Grammar Serves the Promise
| Greek Element | Form / Syntax | Function | Theological Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἐὰν… συμφωνήσωσιν | Aorist subjunctive in a conditional protasis | Sets a real, open condition | Prayer operates in responsive freedom, not mechanism |
| οὗ ἐὰν αἰτήσωνται | Indefinite relative + subjunctive (aorist middle) | Expands but qualifies the request | Holy boldness that remains filial |
| γενήσεται αὐτοῖς | Future middle indicative | Promises an effected result “for them” | The Father’s answer is personal and effective |
| παρὰ τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς | παρά + genitive; stacked genitives | Marks source and character of the Giver | Answer comes from the heavenly, intimate Father |
Word Order and Discipleship
The verse moves from solemn affirmation (Πάλιν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν) to the condition (ἐὰν… συμφωνήσωσιν), to the breadth of the petition (περὶ παντὸς πράγματος; οὗ ἐὰν αἰτήσωνται), and finally to the promise and source (γενήσεται… παρὰ τοῦ πατρός μου). The syntax itself catechizes: truth → unity → petition → gift.
“Sounding Together” as a Spiritual Discipline
The aorists συμφωνήσωσιν and αἰτήσωνται underscore decisive, shared acts; the future γενήσεται anchors hope in the Father’s will. This is not a blank check; it is a call to a harmony of hearts that seeks what the Father delights to give.
Humbly Bold Before the Father
In this one sentence, grammar becomes devotion: if even two—δύο ὑμῶν—on the ordinary earth—ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς—will truly “sound together,” then what they seek—περὶ παντὸς πράγματος—“will come to be for them”—γενήσεται αὐτοῖς—from the Father—παρὰ τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς. The promise invites the church to practice unity so that prayer may sing.
