Humility, Childlikeness, handling offences, forgiving and showing mercy.
Overview
Mat_18:1, Christ warns his disciples to be humble and harmless, Mat_18:7, to avoid offences, Mat_18:10. and not to despise the little ones; Mat_18:15, teaches how we are to deal with our brethren when they offend us, Mat_18:21. and how oft to forgive them; Mat_18:23, which he sets forth by a parable of the king that took account of his servants, Mat_18:32. and punished him who shewed no mercy to his fellow.
Mat 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
Mat 18:2 He called a little child and had him stand among them.
Mat 18:3 Then he said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.
Mat 18:6 "These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be drowned in the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.
Mat 18:7 How horrible it will be for the world because it causes people to lose their faith. Situations that cause people to lose their faith will arise. How horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith!
Mat 18:8 "If your hand or your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life disabled or injured than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire.
Mat 18:9 If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire.
Mat 18:10 "Be careful not to despise these little ones. I can guarantee that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father, who is in heaven.
Mat 18:11 (OMITTED TEXT)
Mat 18:12 "What do you think? Suppose a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays. Won't he leave the 99 sheep in the hills to look for the one that has strayed?
Mat 18:13 I can guarantee this truth: If he finds it, he is happier about it than about the 99 that have not strayed.
Mat 18:14 In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost.
Introduction
In this section Matthew has Jesus’ discourse on the Importance of “How we Live in the Messianic Community.” Jesus wants His followers to be Lowly people of His Kingdom. Humility is the Key.
The Values of His Kingdom are not those of this world. Uprightness and a Readiness to forgive others are very important in the Messianic Community.
Matthew begins with the Disciples disputing about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ Teaching about lowliness of mind answers this dispute. He then moves on to the importance of avoiding evil and forgiving other people.
Mat 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
Notes
- the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
This is one of the Biggest problems for we humans to conquer. Pride and Competitiveness.
The disciples were also vying for position. How many churches have been split by self-seeking pastors or congregation who want to usurp position in a church?
The disciples were sure that Jesus was the Messiah but all they could see was the gold the Glory and the Power of His Kingdom. So they asked the question about Who is the Greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” They had no idea of what the Kingdom of heaven entailed.
Mat 18:2 He called a little child and had him stand among them.
Mat 18:3 Then he said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Notes
Jesus made His point with the little child standing there surrounded by grown men.
"I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus points out the gravity and solemnity of what He is about to say with - I can guarantee this truth. Meaning : Usually this is translated by Truly , or Amen, Matthew uses this 31 times at the Beginning of an important statement by Jesus. John usually doubles this up Amen Amen. Followed by ‘ I say unto you……”
Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Patte says “ people - that is would-be disciples - are not spontaneously like children. They must become like children by turning away from what they are, by humbling themselves. Self - denial, giving up what one is, is a prerequisite for participating and becoming great in the Kingdom. L. Morris p. 459
There some things that little children can teach us. Insignificance and unimportance of little children lead to trustfulness and dependence. Adults like to assert themselves and rely on their own strength and wisdom. These attitudes make it impossible to enter the Kingdom of God.
Mat 18:4 Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Notes
Whoever becomes like this little child….
Humility
Mat_23:11The person who is greatest among you will be your servant.
Mat 23:12 Whoever honors himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be honored.
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| This psalm is about the strong confidence and contentment that David had in his relationship with God. And if a sleeping baby does not show contentment, ... |
Psa 131:1 A song by David for going up to worship. O LORD, my heart is not conceited. My eyes do not look down on others. I am not involved in things too big or too difficult for me.
Psa 131:2 Instead, I have kept my soul calm and quiet. My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother's arms.
Psa 131:3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD now and forever.
Isa 57:15 The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy. This is what he says: I live in a high and holy place. But I am with those who are crushed and humble. I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed.
Luk 14:11 Those who honor themselves will be humbled, but people who humble themselves will be honored."
1Pe 5:5 Young people, in a similar way, place yourselves under the authority of spiritual leaders. Furthermore, all of you must serve each other with humility, because God opposes the arrogant but favours the humble.
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the Lord's presence. Then he will give you a high position.
And he shall lift you up - He will exalt you from the condition of a broken-hearted penitent to that of a forgiven child; will wipe away your tears, remove the sadness of your heart, fill you with joy, and clothe you with the garments of salvation. This declaration is in accordance with all the promises in the Bible, and with all the facts which occur on the earth, that God is willing to show mercy to the humble and contrite, and to receive those who are truly penitent into his favor. Compare Luk_15:22.
Mat 18:5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.
Notes
One such little child - As our Lord in the preceding verses considers a little child an emblem of a genuine disciple, so by the term in this verse he means a disciple only. “Whosoever will receive, i.e. show unto such a child-like, unambitious disciple of mine, any act of kindness for my sake, I will consider it as done to myself.”A.C.
Mat 18:6 But whoever shall occasion the fall of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung round his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. WNT
Mat 18:6 "These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be drowned in the sea with a large stone hung around his neck. GW
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones - But, on the contrary, whosoever shall cause one of the least of those who believe in me to be stumbled - to go into the spirit of the world, or give way to sin - such a one shall meet with the most exemplary punishment.
Let those who act the part of the devil, in tempting others to sin, hear this declaration of our Lord, and tremble.
A millstone - Μυλος ονικος, an ass’s millstone, because in ancient times, before the invention of wind and water mills, the stones were turned sometimes by slaves, but commonly by asses or mules. The most ancient kind of mills among the inhabitants of the northern nations, was the quern, or hand-mill. In some places in Ireland, Scotland, and the Zetland Isles, these still exist.
Drowned in the depth of the sea - It is supposed that in Syria, as well as in Greece, this mode of punishing criminals was practised; especially in cases of parricide; and when a person was devoted to destruction for the public safety, as in cases of plague, famine, etc. That this was the custom in Greece, A.C.
Mat 18:7 How horrible it will be for the world because it causes people to lose their faith. Situations that cause people to lose their faith will arise. How horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith! GW
Mat 18:7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For it is necessary that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
Notes
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| persecution of christians in nigeria |
Woe! - Or, alas! ουαι. It is the opinion of some eminent critics, that this word is ever used by our Lord to express sympathy and concern.
Because of offenses - Scandals, stumbling-blocks, persecutions, etc.
For it must needs be that offenses come - Αναγκε γαρ εϚιν ελθειν τα σκανδαλα, for the coming of offenses is unavoidable. Such is the wickedness of men, such their obstinacy, that they will not come unto Christ that they may have life, but desperately continue deceiving and being deceived. In such a state of things, offenses, stumbling-blocks, persecutions, etc., are unavoidable.A.C.
Woe to that man - He who leads others into sin is awfully guilty - no man can be more guilty. No wickedness can be more deeply seated in the heart than that which attempts to mar the peace, defile the purity, and destroy the souls of others; and yet in all ages there have been multitudes who, by persecution, threats, arts, allurements, and persuasion, have endeavored to seduce Christians from the faith and to lead them into sin.Barnes Notes
Mat 18:8 "If your hand or your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life disabled or injured than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire.
Mat 18:9 If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire.
| Hell fire |
Notes
If thy hand ... - See Mat_5:29-30. The sense in all these instances is the same. Worldly attachments, friendships, and employments of any kind, that cannot be pursued without leading us into sin, be they ever so dear to us, must be abandoned, or the soul will be lost.
Mat 18:10 "Be careful not to despise these little ones. I can guarantee that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father, who is in heaven.
Mat 18:11 (OMITTED TEXT)
Mat 18:10 "Beware of ever despising one of these little ones, for I tell you that in Heaven their angels have continual access to my Father who is in Heaven.
Notes
"Beware of ever despising one of these little ones,
to be careful : to act in a way that shows you know that there may be danger or trouble.
tr.v. de·spised, de·spis·ing, de·spis·es. 1. To regard with contempt or scorn:despised all cowards and flatterers. 2. To dislike intensely; loathe: despised the frigid ...
or I tell you that in Heaven their angels have continual access
A difficult verse; but perhaps the following may be more than an illustration: - Among men, those who nurse and rear the royal children, however humble in themselves, are allowed free entrance with their charge, and a degree of familiarity which even the highest state ministers dare not assume. Probably our Lord means that, in virtue of their charge over His disciples (Heb_1:13; Joh_1:51), the angels have errands to the throne, a welcome there, and a dear familiarity in dealing with “His Father which is in heaven,” which on their own matters they could not assume. JFB.
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| Guardian Angel |
Mat 18:12 "What do you think? Suppose a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays. Won't he leave the 99 sheep in the hills to look for the one that has strayed?
Mat 18:13 I can guarantee this truth: If he finds it, he is happier about it than about the 99 that have not strayed.
Notes
Leave the ninety and nine (aphēsei ta enenēkonta ennea epi ta orē kai poreutheis zētei to planōmenoṅ). This is the text of Westcott and Hort after BL, etc. This text means: “Will he not leave the ninety and nine upon the mountains and going does he not seek (change to present tense) the wandering one?” On the high pastures where the sheep graze at will one has wandered afield. See this parable later in Luk_15:4-7. Our word “planet” is from planaomai, wandering (moving) stars they were called as opposed to fixed stars. But now we know that no stars are fixed. They are all moving and rapidly.
Mat 18:14 In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost.
Even so it is not the will of your Father, etc. As the shepherd feels a deep and anxious interest in the straying sheep, and seeks to hunt and to save it, so the Father above seeks the salvation of all the humble ones in his kingdom.
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