Matthew 18:1

CHAPTER XVIII.

The disciples inquiring who should be greatest in Christ's

kingdom, 1.

He takes occasion to recommend humility, simplicity, and

disinterestedness, 2-6.

Warns them against offences, 7.

Recommends mortification and self-denial. 8, 9.

Charges them to avoid giving offence. 10, 11.

Parable of him who had lost one sheep out of his flock

consisting of one hundred, 12-14.

How to deal with an offending brother, 15-18.

A gracious promise to social prayer, 19, 20.

How often an offending brother who expresses sorrow, and

promises amendment, is to be forgiven, 21, 22.

The parable of the king, who calls his servants to account, and

finds one who owed him ten thousand talents, who, being unable

to pay, and imploring mercy, is forgiven, 23-27.

Of the same person, who treated his fellow-servant unmercifully,

who owed him but a small sum, 28-30.

Of the punishment inflicted on this unmerciful servant, 31-35.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVIII.

Verse Matthew 18:1. At the same time] Or hour; but ωρα is frequently used to signify some particular time: however, instead of ωρα, three MSS., all the Itala but four, and Origen, read ημερα, day. Origen says both readings were extant in MSS. in his time.

Who is the greatest] Could these disciples have viewed the kingdom of Christ in any other light than that of a temporal one? Hence they wished to know whom he would make his prime minister - whom his general - whom his chief chancellor - whom supreme judge, c., c. Is it he who first became thy disciple, or he who is thy nearest relative, or he who has most frequently entertained thee, or he who is the oldest, merely as to years? Could this inquiry have proceeded from any but the nine disciples who had not witnessed our Lord's transfiguration? Peter, James, and John, were surely more spiritual in their views! And yet how soon did even these forget that his kingdom was not of this world! See Mark 10:35, c. John 18:10, c. The disciples having lately seen the keys delivered to Peter, and found that he, with James and John, had been privileged with being present at the transfiguration, it is no wonder if a measure of jealousy and suspicion began to work in their minds. From this inquiry we may also learn, that the disciples had no notion of Peter's supremacy nor did they understand, as the Roman Catholics will have it, that Christ had constituted him their head, either by the conversation mentioned Matthew 16:18, or by the act mentioned in the conclusion of the preceding chapter. Had they thought that any such superiority had been designed, their present question must have been extremely impertinent. Let this be observed.