Matthew18

Jesus teaches His disciples about true greatness in the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing the necessity of childlike humility. He sternly warns against causing 'little ones' to stumble and illustrates God's diligent care for the lost through the parable of the lost sheep. The chapter also provides instructions for church discipline and reconciliation among believers. Finally, Jesus stresses the paramount importance of unlimited forgiveness, exemplified by the parable of the unmerciful servant.

Humility and Greatness in the Kingdom

In that hour the disciples came to Yeshua, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Yeshua called a little child to himself, and set him in their midst,

and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,

Warnings Against Causing Others to Stumble

but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.

“Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!

If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.

If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehinnom of fire.

The Value of the Little Ones (The Lost Sheep)

See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.

“What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray?

If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.

Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Addressing Sin in the Community

“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.

But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.

Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.

Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.”

The Necessity of Forgiveness

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”

Yeshua said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.

Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.

When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’

The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

“But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’

“So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’

He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due.

So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done.

Then his lord called him in, and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me.

Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’

His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him.

So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”

Study Notes for Matthew 18

Verse 1

The disciples’ question about 'greatness' demonstrates their continued struggle with worldly ambition, contrasting sharply with Jesus’ repeated emphasis on servanthood (cf. Matt 16:24).

Verse 3

To be 'converted' (Gr. *strephō*) means to be turned around. Jesus insists that entry into the kingdom requires adopting the trusting dependence and lack of worldly status characteristic of a young child.

Verse 6

The 'little ones' refers primarily to vulnerable believers, not just literal children. The millstone punishment was reserved for the most heinous offenses, illustrating the seriousness of leading others into sin (*skandalizō*).

Verse 7

Jesus acknowledges that offenses (*skandala*, stumbling blocks) are inevitable in a fallen world, but pronounces a severe 'woe' on the person who actively introduces them.

Verse 8

This hyperbolic teaching emphasizes the radical, painful action necessary to sever oneself from persistent sin and avoid eternal judgment. The focus is on the radical commitment required for discipleship.

Verse 10

This verse reinforces the immense value God places on the humblest believer. The reference to 'their angels' observing God’s face suggests that these vulnerable believers are under constant, direct divine care.

Verse 11

Although absent in some important early manuscripts, this verse summarizes Jesus’ mission statement, providing the theological basis for the following parable.

Verse 12

The Parable of the Lost Sheep illustrates the active, seeking love of God (the Shepherd) for the individual who has wandered, reinforcing the theme that God seeks out the 'little ones' who are lost.

Verse 14

The conclusion of the parable confirms that God’s will is centered on the preservation and salvation of every single person who belongs to him.

Verse 15

This passage outlines the three-step process of church discipline. The emphasis is on private reconciliation as the first step, aimed at restoration: 'thou hast gained thy brother.'

Verse 16

This step is based on the legal requirement of the Mosaic Law (Deut 19:15) regarding witnesses, ensuring accountability and fairness in the communal confrontation.

Verse 17

The final step involves telling 'the church' (*ekklēsia*), indicating the community’s ultimate authority. Treating the unrepentant as a 'heathen man and a publican' means withdrawing fellowship, not personal hatred.

Verse 18

The authority to 'bind and loose' (a rabbinic term meaning to forbid or permit actions based on divine law) is here granted to the community, validating their decisions regarding discipline and doctrine.

Verse 20

A foundational verse on Christian fellowship, assuring believers that Christ’s real presence is guaranteed when they gather together specifically in his name and authority.

Verse 21

Peter’s suggestion of 'seven times' was generous by contemporary Jewish standards, which often limited forgiveness to three times. He expected Jesus to praise his liberality.

Verse 22

'Seventy times seven' (490 times) is a symbolic number signifying unlimited, continuous forgiveness. Jesus demands that divine mercy, not human arithmetic, must govern relationships.

Verse 24

Ten thousand talents represents an astronomical, unpayable debt (millions of denarii). This extreme exaggeration emphasizes the infinite magnitude of the debt humanity owes to God.

Verse 27

The lord’s compassion is an act of sheer grace, mirroring God’s unconditional forgiveness of human sin.

Verse 28

One hundred pence (denarii) was a comparatively small debt, perhaps 100 days' wages. The stark contrast between the two debts highlights the first servant's wicked hypocrisy and cruelty.

Verse 34

The 'tormentors' were jailers who inflicted pain to force payment. This illustrates the severity of judgment reserved for those who receive divine mercy but refuse to extend it to others.

Verse 35

The parable’s conclusion shows that while forgiveness is a gift, it must be reflected in our hearts and actions. Failure to forgive others demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding or acceptance of God’s own boundless mercy.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Matthew18

Humility and Greatness in the Kingdom

Warnings Against Causing Others to Stumble

The Value of the Little Ones (The Lost Sheep)

Addressing Sin in the Community

The Necessity of Forgiveness

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options