Matthew 18:1-6
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus,
saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him
in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except
ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this
little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my
name receiveth me.
6 But 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.
About that same time, other
disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of
heaven?”
Instead of answering
immediately, Christ called a child to come to Him. Then Christ answered, “Truly, unless you are
converted (Gr. stapheete-stafhte) and become (Gr. Genwwsthe-genhsqe) like children, you
shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever shall humble himself as this
child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And, whoever may receive (Gr. dexeetai-dexhtai), or embrace such a child in My
name receives Me. But, whoever shall offend one of these that believe in Me, it would be better for him that a heavy millstone were
hung around his neck, and he be drowned in the sea.”
That does not mean that we are
to be child-like. But, we are to grow to
spiritual maturity beginning as child-like in the Spirit.
Matthew 18:7-10
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man
by whom the offence cometh!
8 Wherefore 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.
9 And 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.
10 Take 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.
Christ continued, "Woe
to the world (Gr. kosmoo-kosmw), because of its “offenses” (Gr. skandaloon-skandalwn), or scandalous
ways.
“Offenses are inevitable. But, woe to the individual through whom those offenses come. And, if your hand foot causes you to stumble,
cut them off and throw them away. It is
far better to enter life crippled or lame, than to be cast into “everlasting”
(Gr. aioonion-aiwnion), or age-long fire as a whole person.
“And, if your eye offends
you, pluck it out, and throw it away. It is far better to enter life with one
eye, than to be cast into “Hell” (Gr. geennan-geennan) fire with both
eyes.” [In that, Jesus referred to the
Then, Jesus warned, “Take
care that you do not despise these little ones, because I tell you, that their
angels constantly look upon the face of My Father in heaven.”
Matthew 18:11-14
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 How 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?
13 And 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.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is
in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
This section begins with a
wonderful truth.
Jesus said, “The Son of Man
has come to save that which was lost (Gr. apoloolos-apolwloV).”
The Greek word translated
“lost” speaks of those marred by death.
How many were lost? All
mankind!
Then, Christ tells about the
lost sheep, and Isaiah wrote, “All we, like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah
53:6).
Jesus asked, “What do you
think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he
leave the ninety-nine and search for the one that went astray? Furthermore, if
he finds it, he rejoices over that one more than over the ninety-nine that did
not go astray. It is the will of your Father in heaven that none of these
little ones perish.”
Here, I must ask a question
that gets us to the heart of Christianity!
Did the lost sheep search of
the Shepherd, or did the Shepherd search for the lost sheep?
If you answer that honestly
you will come to the conclusion that Christianity is NOT man is search of God it is God in search of man!
Romans 3:11b
there is none that seeketh after God.
Let me tell you again, Jesus
said, “It is the will of your Father in heaven that none of these little ones
perish.” That cannot be any more
explicit!
God works all things after
the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11)!
What does that tell you?
God’s will is His plan for
the redemption of the lost.
“Little” (Gr. mikroon-mikrwn) does not speak of small children. It also speaks of the spiritually weak or
immature among us.
The weak must learn to rely
on the Strong!
1 Cor 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world
to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to
confound the things which are mighty;
2 Cor 12:9-10
9 And he said unto me, My
grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure
in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses
for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Matthew 18:15-17
15 Moreover 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.
16 But 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.
17 And 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.
As Jesus continued His
discourse, He told them, “If your brother sins, reprimand him in private. If he
listens to you, you have won your brother. But, if he does not listen to you,
take one or two more with you as witnesses, so that the facts may be confirmed.
If he still refuses to listen, tell the church (Gr. ekkleesia-ekklhsia). And, if he refuses
to listen to the church (Gr. ekkleesias-ekklhsiaV) It is the will of your Father in heaven that none of
these little ones perish.”), consider him be a Gentile or publican (Gr. teloonees-telwnhV), or tax-collector.”
Jesus; teaching is that if a
tax collector comes to a Church, he must change or be an outcast! Our examples are Matthew and Zacchaeus (Luke 19).
Both were tax collectors, and both changed when they came to Christ.
The Church is made up of the “born again.” There are non-Christians within the
Church, and they are pretenders.
Verse 17 is the last time the
word “Church” in English or Greek is found in the 4 gospels.
Matthew 18:18 Verily 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.
Jesus told His followers,
"Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Romans Catholics have used and
abused that verse, twisting it to give papal authority and authority of RC
priests to forgive sins. That is a lie!
Earlier, in Matthew 16:19,
this power is seemingly given to Peter, but now the authority is given to
Jesus’ disciples. An argument may be
made that it was given to the Apostles, However, there is no evidence that the
power is resident in the current or any Pope.
The Popes have been spiritual
frauds and usurpers of the Christian faith.
Since the RC is a works oriented group, it has more in common with Islam
than Christianity!
The rumor that the Pope is in
the line of succession of Peter is an urban legend with no basis in truth.
Supposedly, Paul and Peter
were in
According to Acts, if Peter
was in
Peter says that Paul wrote
things that were difficult to understand (2 Peter 3:16). In my opinion, Peter never understood Paul’s
teaching of grace.
Paul was the Apostle to the
Gentiles, so it was normal for him to go to
If Peter was so infallible,
why did Paul need to remind him that he represented Christ?
Matthew 18:19-20
19 Again 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.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there am I in the midst of them.
Christ said, “Again I say to
you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it
shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three
have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.”
When we speak in agreement
with the Spirit of the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit comes into agreement with
us. When we disagree with the Spirit of
the Scriptures, we use the Lord’s name in vain and act in sin.
Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft
shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I
say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Then Peter came and said to
Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?
Up to seven times?"
Peter was looking for
validation of his human hatred.
Jesus said to him, "I do
not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Some use these words of
Christ to teach that we should forgive at all times and under all
circumstances. That is NOT biblical!
God offers us mercy and
forgiveness, but he also places limits on that forgiveness.
Gen 6:3a And
the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,…
Gen 15:16
But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of
the Amorites is not yet full.
While iniquity of sinners
might not yet be full, God told Abraham that at a specific time, the iniquity
of the Amorites would be come full, and judgment
would fall on them at that time.
God’s patience with sin ends
completely at the last battle in Rev. 19, and he shows no mercy on sin.
God is patient, and we too
should be patient, but God’s patience has limits and we should recognize them,
and not act contrary to those limits.
Matt 7:6
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before
swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
That refers to those who will
not acknowledge Christ or His forgiveness. Or, who use it to Christ’s
detriment.
Casting the pearl of patience
before swine is not a Christian act. It
is an act of spiritual stupidity!
Seven times seventy may be a
gigantic leeway, but nevertheless it does express a limit.
Read this carefully: While God may forgive sinners, he never forgives
sin---He shall eliminate it completely!
Use forgiveness wisely!
Matthew 18:23-35
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a
certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought
unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But 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.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped
him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with
compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But 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.
29 And his fellowservant
fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I
will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into
prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants
saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all
that was done.
32 Then 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:
33 Shouldest not thou also
have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I
had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth,
and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto
him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto
you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his
brother their trespasses.
Jesus continued, "For
this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who wished
to settle accounts with his slaves.
"And when he had begun
to settle them, there was brought to him one who owed him ten thousand talents
(millions of dollars).
"But since he did not
have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife
and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.
"The slave therefore
falling down, prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me,
and I will repay you everything.'
"And the lord of that
slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.
"But that slave went out
and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii (a few
dollars); and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you
owe.'
"So, his fellow slave
fell down and began to entreat him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will
repay you.'
"He was unwilling however,
but went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.
"So, when his fellow
slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply concerned and came and reported
to their lord all that had happened.
"Then summoning him, his
lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you
begged me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I
had mercy on you?
"And his lord, moved
with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was
owed him.
"So shall My heavenly
Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your
heart."
Read this carefully: James 2:13---For judgment {will be}
merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. (NASB)
The forgiven respond in kind
by forgiving.