True Humility, 18:1-9 (Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48).
[1] The followers of Jesus did not understand the kingdom. They, like many others, understood it as an earthly kingdom. For “kingdom of heaven,” see Matthew 3:2.
[2-3] Jesus did not talk about power and greatness. He talked about a child and entering into the kingdom. They would have to change to get into the kingdom. A child totally depends on his parents. In the world of “important people,” a child is last. The disciples had to be willing to be last and to depend on God. Greatness and power were not what they should seek. A child in the kingdom of God has God’s care because God is his Father.
[4-5] Jesus now answered their question in verse one about greatness. Whoever has great dependence upon God is great. Whoever is willing to be last will be great. In verse five, “child” could refer to children or His disciples. Welcoming His followers is like welcoming Jesus Himself (Matthew 10:40).
[6] It is a serious thing to cause someone else to sin. Paul gave teachings about this (Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13). Such a person’s punishment will be worse than being drowned.
[7] Satan has great power in the world. He seeks to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8). This is the kind of world we live in (Ephesians 6:10-12). It is bad to fall to Satan. But to cause someone else to sin is worse.
[8-9] See Matthew 5:29-30. For “hell fire,” see Matthew 5:22 and 13:42.
The Lost Sheep, 18:10-14 (Luke 15:4-7).
[10] Jesus taught here that each person is important no matter how unimportant he may seem or from what tribe he comes. Angels do serve mankind (Hebrews 1:14). “Always looking at my Father’s face” means that they are close to God.
[11] “For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost” is found in Luke 19:10. Some manuscripts include it in Matthew.
Matthew 17:12-20
12 “What do you think? Suppose a man has 100 sheep, but one of them wanders away. Then he will leave the other 99 on the mountain and go out and look for the sheep that wandered away. 13 I am telling you the truth: When he finds it, he will be happier about it than the 99 sheep that did not wander away. 14 In the same way, your heavenly Father doesn’t want any of these little ones to be lost.” 15 “If your brother or sister does something wrong, go to him or her. Give that person a private warning, just between you and that person. If he or she listens to you, you have won a brother or sister. 16 But if he or she will not listen to you, take one or two people along with you because: ‘The testimony of two or three people is true.’ Deuteronomy 19:15 17 If that person doesn’t want to listen to them, then tell the congregation. And, if he or she won’t listen to the congregation, have nothing to do with them. Treat him like tax collectors or unbelievers are treated.” 18 “I am telling you the truth: Whatever you bind on earth will have already been bound in heaven. Whatever you loosen on earth will have already been loosened in heaven. 19 Again, I am telling you, if two people on earth agree to ask God for anything, my heavenly Father will make it happen for them. 20 Wherever two or three people have gathered in my name, I am there.”
[12-13] This story was told by Jesus to tell of the value of one who is lost. A shepherd must find the lost sheep. He can be happy only when his sheep are safe.
[14] God is like a shepherd (Psalm 23; 100:3). Christ is also thought of as a shepherd (Matthew 9:36; 26:31; John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20). God sent Jesus, His Son, into the world to save the lost. All lost people are important and must be found.
If Your Brother Sins, 18:15-20.
[15-16] Jesus turned from talking about finding lost sheep to talking about making things right with a brother or sister. The disciples of Christ must try to make relationships right. Jesus taught that to make things right with a brother is more important than going to worship (Matthew 5:23-24). The first responsibility is to go to the person alone. The purpose is to restore (make things right), not to accuse in front of others. Take others only if he refuses to listen. The others are witnesses to establish fact (Deuteronomy 19:15).
[17] If two or three witnesses do not help, then tell the church. If things are still not made right, the person is to be treated as an unbeliever. A tax collector collected taxes for Rome and was therefore regarded as a traitor. A person who refuses to make things right cuts himself off from God’s people (see 1 Corinthians 6:lff. and Galatians 6:1).
[18-20] They will be carrying out the will of the Father in these matters. The matters will have already been settled (by Jesus’ teaching) in heaven. God will hear those who are His children. These verses show that it is a serious thing to discipline someone. It must be done in love (Galatians 6:1) and with prayer.
Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I am not saying seven, but seven times seventy! 23 The kingdom of heaven is like a man who is ruling. He wanted to make his servants give an account. 24 When the audit began, a man who owed the ruler several million dollars came to him. 25 The man could not repay. So, the master ordered that his wife, children, and everything he owned be sold to pay the debt. 26 The servant fell down and began bowing to him. He said, ‘Be patient with me! I will pay you back everything!’ 27 The master felt sorry for that servant. He cancelled his debt and allowed him to leave. 28 However, the same servant went out and found another servant who owed him three months’ wages. He grabbed that servant and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe me!’ 29 The servant fell down and began to beg him, ‘Be patient with me! I will pay you back!’ 30 But he wouldn’t do it. Instead, he went and threw the servant in jail until he could repay what he owed. 31 When the other servants saw what had taken place, they felt very sad. They went and told the whole story to their master. 32 Then the master of the first servant came to him and said, ‘You evil servant! You begged me, so I cancelled your whole debt. 33 You should have given mercy to your fellow servant as I did to you!’ 34 The master became very angry. He handed the servant over to some men to punish him, until he paid back everything he owed. 35 My heavenly Father will treat you the same way, if each of you does not forgive his brother or sister from his heart.”
Forgiving Others, 18:21-35 (Luke 17:4).
[2l-22] Peter probably thought his suggestion of seven times was generous. Jesus’ reply indicated that there is no limit. Christ’s follower must be willing to forgive as often as his brother asks to be forgiven.
[23-27] Jesus told this story to contrast a forgiving and a non-forgiving spirit. Ten thousand talents was a huge sum. It would take a workman about 1,000 weeks to earn one talent. In all the surrounding areas of Palestine, the taxes collected in one year only amounted to 800 talents. The sale of all of a man’s possessions and family was often carried out for repayment of a debt.
[28-35] The servant was not as patient and forgiving as his master. “Three months’ wages” is literally 100 silver coins. Jesus was saying that if we want to be forgiven, we must forgive. We cannot put a limit on the number of times we forgive (see Matthew 5:7; 6:14-15; 7:1-2).
Matthew 19:1-3
19 1 When Jesus finished saying these words, he left Galilee. He went to the part of Judea which is on the other side of the Jordan River. 2 Large crowds followed him. Jesus healed some of them there.
3 Some Pharisees came to Jesus. They were testing him with this question: “Is it all right for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”