Matthew 18 Footnotes

18:10 Some suggest that Jesus referred to the destiny of believers at death, but more likely he meant that there are angels who constantly represent believers to God, since he used the present tense. The concept of such “guardian” angels was common in first-century Judaism. Jesus did not indicate the ratio of angels to believers nor whether their ministry would continue after his own ascension (Ps 91:11; Ac 12:15; Heb 1:14).

18:12-14 This parable has a different setting in Lk 15:3-7, leading scholars to conclude that one Gospel writer invented the setting in his Gospel. But Jesus undoubtedly applied many of his stories and illustrations to different situations, and neither setting is historically implausible. Others suggest that Matthew placed the parable here for thematic reasons.

18:18 Jesus delegated authority to the church and its leadership to open access to the kingdom (16:19) and so to forgive or retain sins (in the context of the gospel, Jn 20:23), to discipline members (as here), and to render doctrinal decisions (binding and loosing can mean “forbidding and permitting”). This authority is seen exercised in Ac 5:1-11; 13:38,46; 15:23-29; 1Co 5:3-5. The fact that a similar promise is given to the Twelve that was previously given just to Peter casts further doubt that any unique authority was being given to Peter that is not available to all disciples.