Matthew 18
Mat.18:1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Is this arrogance? Are they wanting to know which one of them is the greatest? In another Gospel the mother of John and James asked Jesus if her two children could sit at thy right hand and Jesus knew her compassion but denied her for that decision was not his.
Mat.18:2] 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.
As a child. This is why we call the Lord our Father. Those who have children can understand this a lot easier than those who don’t. When a child looks up to his dad, he believes everything without question. And loves him unconditionally, knowing his father would never lie to him. This is how we should look up to our Father in heaven, as a little child.
Mat.18:4] 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.
Receives a fellow man as a Christian, and guides him to Jesus Christ, he shall have great rewards in heaven.
Mat.18:6] 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.
Let that visual sink in. Don’t prevent them from coming to Jesus.
Mat.18:7] 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!
We’re talking about rewards, good and bad in verse 7 but about the many membered body of the church starting in 8. He gives examples. Let’s continue.
Mat.18:8] 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.
Never have a man full of contention in the midst of your church. He will cause much problems and the Word of God won’t be preached. Kick him out, then continue in the word.
Mat.18:10] 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.
Note here that they have angels in heaven watching over them, and that these angels have the face of God at any time. If you as an elect have the face of God, who can harm you.
[11] For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Perhaps lost in the first earth age. Or maybe lost to this world due to lies and deceit in the churches today.
[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.
It’s not that he loves one more than another, it’s because they, the 99, already loved him and now He has gained another.
[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.
First talk to him, let him know he has sinned against you. If he doesn’t repent bring two witnesses, and if he won’t repent after that then go to the church and have them arbitrate between the two of you, if he still won’t repent, then set him aside until he comes to repentance.
Mat.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.
We just studied this in Mat.16:19. We have power over evil spirits, in the name of Jesus Christ. I wouldn’t try it without the Lord’s help.
Mat.18:19] 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.
This is awesome, you and me constitutes right now, while we read this, have Jesus with us in our midst.
Mat.18:21] 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.
That would be 490 times. Forgive your brother of his sins and the Lord will forgive you of your sins. Remember Matthew 6:12 in the Lords Prayer.
Mat.6:12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And again in verses 14-15.
Mat.6:14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
[15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
This only applies “If they repent”. If they don’t repent you are not obligated to forgive them. Just like your Father is not obligated to forgive you. Now, let’s get back to chapter 18 and verse 23 reads.
Mat18:23] 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.
Compassion, is for all that love Him. This man repented and his sins forgiven. But how will he act with his brother? Let’s read on.
Mat.18:28] 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.
This is comparing us to forgiving our brothers that repent.
[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.
Is this not true love from our Father to his children. We all have had people in our lives that have hurt us and we too, have hurt a lot of people we love. But the Father has just show us what true love is. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and your compassion on us. Bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible