Matthew 18:1-4. A Lesson in Humility. The Kingdom of Heaven and Little Children Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48. 1. _At the same time_ "in that hour." The preceding incident and our Lord's words had again excited hopes of a glorious kingdom on earth. _greatest_ Literally, GREATER (than others).... [ Continue Reading ]
_set him in the midst of them_ St Mark adds, "when He had taken him in His arms.... [ Continue Reading ]
_be converted_ Literally, BE TURNED. The Greek word is used in a literal sense, except here and Acts 7:39; Acts 7:42. _shall not enter_ much less be great therein.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whosoever therefore shall humble himself_ He who shall be most Christ-like in humility (see Philippians 2:7-9) shall be most like Christ in glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ's Little Ones. Mark 9:37 The thought of Jesus passes from the dispute among His disciples to the care of His little ones, the young in faith, who, if they have the weakness, have also the humility of little children. _whoso shall receive_ It is a sacrament of lovingkindness when Christ Hims... [ Continue Reading ]
Of Offences. Mark 9:43-48 From offences hindrances to the faith of Christ's little ones the discourse proceeds to offences in general every thing that hinders the spiritual life.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. note ch. Matthew 5:29-30.... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ's care for His Little Ones illustrated by a Parable. Luke 15:3-7 After a brief digression (Matthew 18:7), Christ's love for His young disciples again breaks out in words. Let no one despise them. They have unseen friends in the court of heaven, who are ever in the presence of the King himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is omitted in the Sinaitic and the Vatican MSS., and is consequently rejected by Lachmann, Tischendorf, and Tregelles. However, it falls in precisely with the train of thought, and is almost required to connect Matthew 18:10_; Matthew 18:12_. The expression and the imagery of the parable... [ Continue Reading ]
This parable is followed in Luke by the parable of the Lost Drachma and that of the Prodigal Son which illustrate and amplify the same thought. _doth he not leave the ninety and nine_ St Luke adds "in the wilderness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_of that sheep_ Rather, OVER that sheep.... [ Continue Reading ]
_go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone_ See Leviticus 19:17, where the words "not suffer sin upon him," mean "thou shalt not incur sin through him," i. e. by letting him go on unrebuked in his sin. _Tell him his fault_, rather, CONVICT HIM; the same Greek word is translated REBUKE, Le... [ Continue Reading ]
Forgiveness of Sins. Luke 17:3-4 God's forgiveness of sinners suggests the duty of forgiveness among men.... [ Continue Reading ]
_tell it unto the church_ The word "church" (Grk. _ekklesia_) is found only here and ch. Matthew 16:18 in the Gospels. In the former passage the reference to the Christian Church is undoubted. Here either (1) the assembly or congregation of the Jewish synagogue, or rather, (2) the ruling body of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Taking up the word "Church," Jesus passes from its present meaning the ruling body in the synagogue to its meaning in the future. The ruling body is the Christian Church. _Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven_ What was spoken to Peter alone is now spoken to all the disciples,... [ Continue Reading ]
The slight digression is continued. Christ thinks of His Church. Not only shall your decisions be ratified, but your requests shall be granted, provided ye agree.... [ Continue Reading ]
_two or three_ In the smallest gathering of His followers Christ will be present. A derivative (_synaxis_) of the Greek word in the text came to be used among the early Christians for their assemblies, especially in reference to assembling for the Lord's Supper. _Synaxarium_, derived from the same v... [ Continue Reading ]
_till seven times?_ The Rabbinical rule was that no one should ask forgiveness of his neighbour more than thrice. Peter, who asks as a scribe a scribe's question, thought he was making a great advance in liberality and shewing himself worthy of the Kingdom of heaven. But the question itself indicate... [ Continue Reading ]
_Until seventy times seven_ i. e. an infinite number of times. There is no limit to forgiveness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a certain king, which would take account of his servants_ The picture is drawn from an Oriental Court. The provincial governors, farmers of taxes, and other high officials are summoned before a despotic sovereign to give an account of their administration. _would_ "chose," "resolved:" all is subje... [ Continue Reading ]
_ten thousand talents_ Even if silver talents are meant, the sum is enormous at least two million pounds of our money. It was probably more than the whole annual revenue of Palestine at this time; see Joseph. _Ant._xii. 4, 4. The modern kingdoms of Norway or Greece or Denmark hardly produce a larger... [ Continue Reading ]
_he had not to pay_ He had wasted in extravagance the provincial revenues, or the proceeds of taxation.... [ Continue Reading ]
_worshipped him_ The imperfect tense in the original denotes persistence.... [ Continue Reading ]
_forgave him the debt_ With the almost reckless generosity of an Eastern Court that delights to exalt or debase with swift strokes. The pardon is free and unconditional.... [ Continue Reading ]
_found_ perhaps, even sought him out. _one of his fellowservants_ By this is meant the debt of man to man, offences which men are bound to forgive one another. _an hundred pence_ i. e. _denarii_. The _Denarius_was a day's wages (ch. Matthew 20:2). The sum therefore is about three months" wages for... [ Continue Reading ]
_besought_ Not the same word as "worshipped," Matthew 18:26. The word in the text would be used by an equal addressing an equal.... [ Continue Reading ]
_when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry_ This seems to point to the common conscience of mankind approving or anticipating the divine sentence.... [ Continue Reading ]
_desiredst_ The same Greek word is translated "besought," Matthew 18:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. the Lord's Prayer, where forgiveness of others is put forward as the claim for divine pardon.... [ Continue Reading ]
The acquittal is revoked a point not to be pressed in the interpretation. The truth taught is the impossibility of the unforgiving being forgiven, but the chief lesson is the example of the divine spirit of forgiveness in the act of the king. This example the pardoned slave should have followed.... [ Continue Reading ]
_from your hearts_ A different principle from the Pharisee's arithmetical rules of forgiveness. _their trespasses_ The MS. authority is against these words.... [ Continue Reading ]