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Matthew 18

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Who Is the Greatest?

1 At that time[a] the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them.
3 "I assure you," He said, "unless you are converted [b] and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child-this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoever welcomes [c] one child like this in My name welcomes Me.
6 "But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me-it would be better for him if a heavy millstone [d] were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!
7 Woe to the world because of offenses. [e] For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.
8 If your hand or your foot causes your downfall, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.
9 And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, rather than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire! [f]

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

10 "See that you don't look down on one of these little ones, because I tell you that in heaven their angels continually view the face of My Father in heaven. [
11 For the Son of Man has come to save the lost.] [g]
12 What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, won't he leave the 99 on the hillside and go and search for the stray?
13 And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over that sheep [h] more than over the 99 that did not go astray.
14 In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

Restoring a Brother

15 "If your brother sins against you, [i] go and rebuke him in private. [j] If he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16 But if he won't listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony [k] of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. [l]
17 If he pays no attention to them, tell the church. [m] But if he doesn't pay attention even to the church, let him be like an unbeliever [n] and a tax collector to you.
18 I assure you: Whatever you bind on earth is already bound [o] in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed [p] in heaven.
19 Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you [q] pray for, it will be done for you [r] by My Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them."

The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"
22 "I tell you, not as many as seven," Jesus said to him, "but 70 times seven. [s]
23 For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.
24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents [t] was brought before him.
25 Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.
26 "At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!'
27 Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.
28 "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. [u] He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, 'Pay what you owe!'
29 "At this, his fellow slave fell down [v] and began begging him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30 But he wasn't willing. On the contrary, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed.
31 When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened.
32 "Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?'
34 And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers [w] until he could pay everything that was owed.
35 So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother [x] from his [y] heart."
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Matthew 18 Commentary

Chapter 18

The importance of humility. (1-6) Caution against offences. (7-14) The removal of offences. (15-20) Conduct towards brethren, The parable of the unmerciful servant. (21-35)

Verses 1-6 Christ spoke many words of his sufferings, but only one of his glory; yet the disciples fasten upon that, and overlook the others. Many love to hear and speak of privileges and glory, who are willing to pass by the thoughts of work and trouble. Our Lord set a little child before them, solemnly assuring them, that unless they were converted and made like little children, they could not enter his kingdom. Children, when very young, do not desire authority, do not regard outward distinctions, are free from malice, are teachable, and willingly dependent on their parents. It is true that they soon begin to show other dispositions, and other ideas are taught them at an early age; but these are marks of childhood, and render them proper emblems of the lowly minds of true Christians. Surely we need to be daily renewed in the spirit of our minds, that we may become simple and humble, as little children, and willing to be the least of all. Let us daily study this subject, and examine our own spirits.

Verses 7-14 Considering the cunning and malice of Satan, and the weakness and depravity of men's hearts, it is not possible but that there should be offences. God permits them for wise and holy ends, that those who are sincere, and those who are not, may be made known. Being told before, that there will be seducers, tempters, persecutors, and bad examples, let us stand on our guard. We must, as far as lawfully we may, part with what we cannot keep without being entangled by it in sin. The outward occasions of sin must be avoided. If we live after the flesh, we must die. If we, through the Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live. Christ came into the world to save souls, and he will reckon severely with those who hinder the progress of others who are setting their faces heavenward. And shall any of us refuse attention to those whom the Son of God came to seek and to save? A father takes care of all his children, but is particularly tender of the little ones.

Verses 15-20 If a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often done merely upon report, but to go to the offender privately, state the matter kindly, and show him his conduct. This would generally have all the desired effect with a true Christian, and the parties would be reconciled. The principles of these rules may be practised every where, and under all circumstances, though they are too much neglected by all. But how few try the method which Christ has expressly enjoined to all his disciples! In all our proceedings we should seek direction in prayer; we cannot too highly prize the promises of God. Wherever and whenever we meet in the name of Christ, we should consider him as present in the midst of us.

Verses 21-35 Though we live wholly on mercy and forgiveness, we are backward to forgive the offences of our brethren. This parable shows how much provocation God has from his family on earth, and how untoward his servants are. There are three things in the parable: 1. The master's wonderful clemency. The debt of sin is so great, that we are not able to pay it. See here what every sin deserves; this is the wages of sin, to be sold as a slave. It is the folly of many who are under strong convictions of their sins, to fancy they can make God satisfaction for the wrong they have done him. 2. The servant's unreasonable severity toward his fellow-servant, notwithstanding his lord's clemency toward him. Not that we may make light of wronging our neighbour, for that is also a sin against God; but we should not aggravate our neighbour's wronging us, nor study revenge. Let our complaints, both of the wickedness of the wicked, and of the afflictions of the afflicted, be brought to God, and left with him. 3. The master reproved his servant's cruelty. The greatness of sin magnifies the riches of pardoning mercy; and the comfortable sense of pardoning mercy, does much to dispose our hearts to forgive our brethren. We are not to suppose that God actually forgives men, and afterwards reckons their guilt to them to condemn them; but this latter part of the parable shows the false conclusions many draw as to their sins being pardoned, though their after-conduct shows that they never entered into the spirit, or experienced the sanctifying grace of the gospel. We do not forgive our offending brother aright, if we do not forgive from the heart. Yet this is not enough; we must seek the welfare even of those who offend us. How justly will those be condemned, who, though they bear the Christian name, persist in unmerciful treatment of their brethren! The humbled sinner relies only on free, abounding mercy, through the ransom of the death of Christ. Let us seek more and more for the renewing grace of God, to teach us to forgive others as we hope for forgiveness from him.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Footnotes 25

Matthew 18 Commentaries

Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.