MATTHEW 18

Today’s study has a few titles I want to cover. Verses 1-5 Jesus explains greatness. Verses 6-10 Temptations to sins. Verses 11-14 The lost sheep. Verses 15-20 The Church; it’s Discipline. Verses 21-35 Jesus speaks of forgiveness. Matthew 18 and verse 1 reads.

Mat.18:1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

I can’t say if this is arrogance or ignorance, they are asking which of them would be greater in the kingdom of heaven.

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.

The LORD God is our Father, and when we look at it this way it becomes easier to understand. A child looks up to his father and trusts that his father will always protect him. Even when he is disciplined, he loves his father. This is how we need to be with our Father in heaven. Let’s read Psalms 131 and verse 1 reads.

Psa.131:1] LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
[2] Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
[3] Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

Back to Matthew 18 and verse 4 reads.

Mat.18:4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus will teach this again, but with more insight in Matthew 20 and verse 26 reads.

Mat.20:26] But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
[27] And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
[28] Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Back to Matthew 18 and verse 5 reads.

Mat.18:5] 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 (The Living Word), 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 for a minute. Don’t prevent them from coming to Jesus, don’t teach the Word of God falsely to them.

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!

That it must needs be means; it is written and what is written must come to pass exactly as it is written. But woe to the man that it comes from. His rewards are in heaven, both good and bad. Let’s go to Paul’s teaching in 1Corinthians 11 and verse 18 reads.

1Cor.11:18] For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
[19] For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

It is given to those chosen that they will be able to see the fruits of those who are not of God, but do lie. The next few verses are for those churches, Matthew 18 and verse 8 reads.

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.

We have many members that make up the body of the church. Some are the feet and they take the ministry to others. Some are the hand and do the work of the church. The eyes are those who have been given the truth from God and should know better. If an eye be a false teacher, then pluck him out. Never let a man into your church that causes contention. He will prevent the truth of God’s Word from being taught, kick him out and continue teaching the truth of God’s 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.

Here we have the protecting angels of God’s children who have the face of God always. Watched very closely are the Elect. Despise them not for they are the chosen ones.

Mat.18:11] For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Jesus came into the world as Savior, God’s plan from the beginning. Jesus was that Light in Genesis 1:3-5. Let’s go to everyone’s favorite, John 3 beginning at verse 15 and it reads.

John 3:15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And in 2Corinthians 7 and verse 9 reads.

2Cor.7:9] Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
[10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

And the Father’s love said best in 2Peter 3 and verse 9 reads.

2Pet.3:9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Back to Matthew 18 and verse 12 reads.

Mat.18:12] 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 the ninety-nine already loved him, and now the LORD has gained another. Let’s go to 1Timothy 2 and verse 3 reads.

1Tim.2:3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
[4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
[5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Back to Matthew 18 and verse 15 reads.

Mat.18:15] 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.

Let’s understand this perfectly. First talk to him, and let him know he has sinned against you. If he doesn’t repent, then bring two witnesses with you and after that he still won’t repent, then go to the church. Have the church arbitrate between the both of you. If after that he doesn’t repent, then set him aside until he comes to repentance. But, if he repents you are to forgive him, or the LORD will not forgive your sins.

Let’s go to 2Thessalonians 3 and verse 14 reads.

2Thess.3:14] And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
[15] Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Back to Matthew 18 and verse 18 reads.

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 Matthew 16:19, Jesus gave us power over all evil spirits (Luke 10:19). Those that you bind here on earth will be bound in heaven. And those who you set free from an evil spirit here on earth will be free in heaven.

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.

It is awesome that right now, with you studying with The Christ Ministries, that Jesus himself constitutes it as righteousness and is in the midst of us both.

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. Let me remind you of Matthew 6, the LORD’s Prayer, and verse 12 reads.

Mat.6:12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And skip down with me to verse 14 and it reads.

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 to you. If they don’t repent to you, you are not obligated to forgive them, just like the Father is not obligated to forgive you of your sins if you do not repent. Now, let’s go to Colossians 3 and verse 12 reads.

Col.3:12] Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
[13] Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Important to understand The Word of God in its entirety. Back to Matthew 18 and verse 23 reads.

Mat.18:23] Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

The Father in heaven given in a parable.

Mat.18:24] 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.

This man owed very much.

Mat.18:26] 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.

Through Compassion the Lord forgave him all that he owed. Compassion is a trademark of God’s Elect. How will this man, who owed a lot, treat his brother that owes little?

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.

Exactly as it was before with the one who owed a lot with the Lord, except this fellow owes little.

Mat.18:30] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

How can a man pay what he owes if he is in prison?

Mat.18:31] 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.

The Lord calls us wicked that won’t forgive our brothers of their sins against us, as we had our sins forgiven. Let’s go to James 2 and verse 13 reads.

James 2:13] For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Now let’s listen to the wisdom of John in 1John 2 and verse 8 reads.

1John 2:8] Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
[9] He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
[10] He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
[11] But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
[12] I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

Remember compassion is a trademark of God’s Elect, for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. A beautiful chapter today in God’s Word. Let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible