Matthew
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Matthew 18
Matthew 18
1In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
1At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Commentary · verse 1
2And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, 3and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Commentary · verses 2-4
In verse 2, "little child" was translated from the word meaning baby. Some people misquote these verses as Jesus saying, "Unless you have the faith of a little child..." The verse stated the attribute was humility. Those who are humble as a child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Humble meant being willing to consider any perspective, including that you could be wrong. Grace (the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life) only leads to Salvation in those who are humble. The opposite of humility is pride. James 4:6 stated God resisted the proud, but gave grace to the humble.
5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me: 6but whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.
7Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!
5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Commentary · verses 5-7
Notice, Jesus stated that those who put a stumbling-block in front of others were cursed.
Doctrines on this passage
8And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
9And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.
10See that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
8Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Commentary · verses 8-10
Verses 8 and 9 showed Jesus' continued emphasis on the spiritual over the physical. "Little ones" have angels in heaven.
Doctrines on this passage
11 12How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?
13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.
11For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
Commentary · verses 11-13
Jesus came to save the lost. When one of His sheep goes astray and is found, He rejoices greatly.
14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Commentary · verse 14
God's Will is that all are saved.
15And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.
17And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.
15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16But 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.
17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Commentary · verses 15-17
Verses 15-17 covered the process of how to deal with a believer who trespasses against you. The first step a believer is supposed to take after being trespassed against is different depending on if the person was a believer or an unbeliever. Christians are taught, by Jesus, to confront believers and forgive non-believers. The measure for when the confrontation of a believer is complete is when they hear (understand) you. Agreement is not the measure. If the believer will not hear you, even when the church is present, then the person has ceased to be a believer. At that point, the church ought to physically do what already spiritually exists: physically put the person out of the church as an unbeliever.
Doctrines on this passage
18Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Commentary · verse 18
This was the second time we have seen this verse. The literal translation we shared earlier also perfectly fit this context: "we ought to bind on earth what is already bound in heaven; and we ought to loose on earth what is already loosed in heaven." Jesus had just stated the church ought to physically treat on earth the person as an unbeliever because the person was already spiritually (in the kingdom of heaven) an unbeliever.
19Again 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 who is in heaven.
20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Commentary · verses 19-20
Where two or more are gathered in Christ's name, He will be there "in the midst of them." Three people make a community. Church and Marriage are the God-given communities. Jesus will make Himself present to complete the community when two believers are gathered together.
21Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?
22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.
21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Commentary · verses 21-22
Peter specifically asked how many times ought he to forgive a believer (brother). Jesus just stated to confront a believer when they sin against you and if they hear (understand) you are done with the confrontation. Peter appeared to wonder how many times a believer could sin against him and hear (understand) before that became grounds for being declared an unbeliever and dismissal from the church.
Commentary · verses 23-35
Verses 23-35: the parable of the Unmerciful Servant.
23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.
24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents.
25But forasmuch as he had not wherewith to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Commentary · verse 27
A man owed ten thousand talents. When he begged for forgiveness and worshipped his Lord, he was forgiven this great debt.
28But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.
29So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.
30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.
28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Commentary · verse 30
However, when this forgiven man was owed a far less sum from a servant, he did not have mercy on the servant, but put him in prison.
31So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: 33shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?
34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due.
31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Commentary · verse 34
The Lord found out, removed his mercy, and executed Justice.
35So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.
35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Commentary · verse 35
Jesus stated that God would do the same thing to us. God has forgiven our huge debt by grace through faith. However, this grace ought to lead to loving others and extending mercy. If we forgive men, God the Father will forgive us because we have proof God is directing our actions through grace. If we do not forgive men, God the Father will not forgive us because we are proving we are not being directed by God through grace.
Matthew 16-18 covered Jesus' transition into the third phase of His Ministry: the rejection of the Messiah.
The Disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. After Jesus had spoken to them of His death, burial, and resurrection, the Disciples' focus was on themselves and who would be the greatest. This sounded a lot like a group of teenage boys.