The whole chapter forms one discourse, delivered upon one occasion, after the return to Capernaum, probably immediately succeeding the miracle just mentioned. Two distinct topics are spoken of: the _first,_ the nature of true greatness (Matthew 18:1-14), called forth by the question of the disciples... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:1. IN THAT HOUR. As Peter returned from paving the temple tax. According to Mark (Mark 9:33), our Lord first asked them about their dispute on this subject ‘in the way,' probably to Capernaum. Hence the declaration: ‘surely then the sons are free' (chap. Matthew 17:26), could not have occ... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:2. A LITTLE CHILD, probably a little boy. An untrustworthy tradition says it was the martyr Ignatius. SET HIM IN THE MIDST OF THEM. He took the child in His arms (Mark). The whole transaction would of itself show the child's ‘submission and trustfulness.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:3. EXCEPT YE TURN. As the context shows, return from this path of ambition to childlike _humility_; not implying that they had never been converted. Conversion should follow every fall. The wider application is to the absolute necessity of conversion (turning ourselves to God) in entering... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:4. HUMBLE HIMSELF AS THIS LITTLE CHILD. Not humble himself as this little child has done, but become humble as this little child is in this company. The absolute innocence of children is not implied, but simply this: ‘The real greatness of the child consists in its perfect contentment wit... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:5. AND WHOSO SHALL RECEIVE ONE SUCH CHILD. The consequence and evidence of humility; still more prominent in the other accounts. The primary reference is to children in years, but the context (comp. Matthew 18:6; Matthew 18:9) extends it to children in spirit. The general application is t... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:6. CAUSE TO OFFEND, or ‘stumble.' By pride, to cause others to fall into unbelief (the opposite of ‘receiving'); not a mere wounding of over sensitive feelings, or offending a morbid and incorrect sense of right. Such an application would destroy all right as well as all hope. A warning i... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:7. WOE UNTO THE WORLD, etc. False disciples, causing Christ's humble followers to stumble, laying burdens on the conscience, cause sin, bring woe on the world. FOR IT MUST NEEDS BE, in view of the existence of sin. BUT WOE TO THAT MAN. If the world receives woe from the offences, much... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:8. AND. The connection is: In view of this woe, remove all causes of offence in thyself! Comp. chap. Matthew 5:29-30. Here the reference is more general, namely, to whatever in us, however dear or necessary, which would lead us astray, sever our fellowship with Christ. Special application... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:9. THE HELL OF FIRE. The only variation between this verse and the last and a suggestive one (comp. the more detailed form in Mark 9:43-48). Certain and awful future punishment is threatened in cases where some darling sin (or cause of sin) is preferred to Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:10. SEE. Little ones are made to offend through contempt or disregard for them in their littleness. THESE LITTLE ONES. A direct address to the disciples in view of their question: Who shall be the greater? ‘Little ones,' not Christians in general, nor even truly humble Christians, but r... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:11. This verse is omitted in the most ancient manuscripts. It seemed apt at this point, both in view of what follows, and as a reason for the admonition in Matthew 18:10, presenting Christ's conduct in contrast to this ‘despising.' He came to save those altogether lost, such contempt repe... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:12. HOW THINK YE. This parable (with a similar one) was spoken on a later occasion to a different audience (Luke 15:4-7). Here it is a lesson for the disciples (the under-shepherds), showing them their duty: there it is a rebuke for the Pharisees, who objected to this seeking and saving o... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:13. THE NINETY AND NINE WHICH HAVE NOT GONE ASTRAY. Either the unfallen beings in other worlds, whom Christ in a certain sense left, to save the ‘one' in this lost world, or those who think they are not lost and who cannot be saved as long as they think so. The former meaning seems more a... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:14. THE WILL OF YOUR FATHER. In Matthew 18:10 where the dignity of the little ones is asserted, our Lord says ‘my rather;' here where the duty is enforced by God's gracious will, ‘your Father.' ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES, as above, weak, humble, believers: God will not that a single one of... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:15. AND IF THY BROTHER. A Christian brother. SIN. The omission of ‘against thee' extends the precept. The passage, however, does not extend the power of the Church over all sins (since the rebuke against a hierarchical spirit forbids this), nor warrant meddlesome interference and rebuke... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:1-14 forbade offences _against_ the humble. This section teaches how the humble should deal with offences: (1.) as regards the Christian assembly (Matthew 18:15-20); (2.) as regards his own spirit (Matthew 18:21-35). Our Lord seems to say: you have taken ‘the keys' into your hands too soo... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:16. The next step is less private, but intended to prevent publicity. ONE OR TWO MORE as witnesses. The offence must be grave enough to warrant this step. OR THREE, parenthetical, implying that the offending party may be a witness against himself. ESTABLISHED. It is assumed, not tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:17. IF HE REFUSE TO HEAR THEM. Does not acknowledge his wrong under their influence. The public step follows: TELL IT UNTO THE CHURCH, _i.e._, the particular Christian congregation. IF HE REFUSE TO HEAR THE CHURCH ALSO. The admonition and entreaty of the Church is to be used as a means... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:18. WHAT THINGS SOEVER YE SHALL BIND, etc. What was said to Peter (chap. Matthew 16:19) is here addressed to the Twelve, with the solemn introduction: ‘Verily I say unto you.' A general application, to the organized Church, as well as to the Apostles, is possible. But the government is co... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:19. IF TWO OF YOU. ‘Two' could still constitute a fellowship. SHALL AGREE ON EARTH. This agreement could only be wrought by the Holy Spirit, selfish ends being excluded from the nature of the case. An encouragement to united prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:20. FOR. The ground of the promised answer is not human agreement, but the presence of Christ. WHERE TWO OR THREE. The order gives an intimation of increase. IN MY NAME, _i.e._, as a Christian community, or church, although the application to Christian assemblies is a natural conseque... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:21. THEN CAME PETER, etc. The question was a moral fruit of the previous discourse. HOW OFT. The Rabbins said, three times; Peter increased the number to the sacred one of SEVEN.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:22. UNTIL SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN. It is doubtful whether the original means 490 or 77. But in either case it is a symbolical expression for never-ending forgiveness. Love is not to be limited by the multiplication table.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:23. THEREFORE. Because this readiness of forgiveness is the Christian principle. A MAN THAT IS A KING. Perhaps in antithesis to the heavenly king, what is true of the former is much more true of the latter. WOULD, ‘desired to,' MAKE A RECKONING WITH his SERVANTS, represented as stewar... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:24. BUT WHEN HE HAD BEGUN. With one foremost among the servants. TEN THOUSAND TALENTS = £ 2, 437, 500, $ 11, 700, 000, if we understand Attic talents of silver. The Syrian talent was much smaller, but a talent of gold would, of course, be of much greater value. It signifies a debt which... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:25. TO BE SOLD, etc. The Mosaic law permitted something of this kind (Exodus 22:3; Leviticus 25:39 _;_ 2 Kings 4:1). But Matthew 18:34 favors a reference to the severer customs of Oriental despots. AND PAYMENT TO BE MADE. As far as possible, however insufficient. In the ordinary course... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:26. I WILL PAY THEE ALL. In fear and terror he makes a promise he could not fulfil. The special application is to one convicted of sin and fearing God's wrath, promising a self-righteous obedience, which he hopes will in some way be a payment in full.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:27. FORGAVE HIM THE LOAN. It was the lord's money entrusted to him, not an ordinary debt. The mercy in its greatness, fulness, and freeness is the single point _;_ the ground of it is not stated.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:28. AN HUNDRED PENCE _(denaries)=£3_ or $ 15. A comparatively small sum. The transgressions of our fellowmen against us are trifling in comparison to our sin against God. TOOK HIM BY THE THROAT. Allowed by the Roman law. An unforgiving spirit is quick to apply the harshest legal measure... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:29. FELL DOWN AND BESOUGHT HIM. As he had done his greater creditor. I WILL PAY THEE. The best authorities omit ‘all.' This may hint that we are far more ready to promise God (Matthew 18:26) than men, all we owe, though the first promise cannot be fulfilled.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:30. AND HE WOULD NOT, etc. Entreaty did not move him, his idea of justice must be carried out. Bitter controversy, unforgiving acts of discipline, are defended with ‘justice' as the plea.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:31. SO WHEN HIS FELLOW-SERVANTS, ETC. Not a warrant for complaints to God against the unforgiving. The fellow-servants were exceeding sorry, not ‘angry;' the sorrowful cries of God's people in a world of persecution and oppression are heard.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:33. SHOULDEST NOT THOU? The duty of forgiveness is obvious, yet so imperfectly performed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:34. TO THE TORMENTORS. Not simply ‘jailers' but those who (among the ancient Romans) sought by legal tortures to find out whether the debtor had any concealed hoard. It adds the thought of actual punishment. TILL HE SHOULD PAY. This condition ‘is the strongest possible way of expressing... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:35. SO SHALL ALSO, etc. It is an overstraining of the parable to infer that God revokes His pardon. The character of the servant is not that of one actually forgiven, since with pardon from God power from God is inseparably joined. Where the moral conditions of a Christian _life_ fail, th... [ Continue Reading ]