Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Matthew 18

Who Is the Greatest?

Matthew 18:¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Matthew 18:² Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,

Matthew 18:³ and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:⁵ Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

• To be like a child:
  • Rely completely on their parents.
  • Live to learn, play, and do their chores.
  • Learn to say “please” and “thank you”.
  • Innocent in their early childhood.

Jesus Warns of Offenses

Matthew 18:⁶ “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matthew 18:⁷ Woe to the world because of offenses (enticements to sin)! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

Matthew 18:⁸ “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.

Matthew 18:⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire (Gr. Gehenna).

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Matthew 18:¹⁰ “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 18:¹¹ For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

Matthew 18:¹² “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?

Matthew 18:¹³ And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

Matthew 18:¹⁴ Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Dealing with a Sinning Brother

Matthew 18:¹⁵ “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Matthew 18:¹⁶ But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

Matthew 18:¹⁷ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

Matthew 18:¹⁸ “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 18:¹⁹ “Again (Again, assuredly, I say) I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 18:²¹ Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

• “Sin” is a plural noun.

Matthew 18:²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (490 times).

• Does it take seventy times seven to change a bad habit?
• In the book of Daniel it will take the Jews seventy times seven (490 years) before they repent of their disobedience.
  • 490 is the completion of sin. In Daniel it prophetically takes seventy sevens “to make an end of sin.” The last seven is the Seven-year tribulation. Then Jesus returns to earth.
  • Hosea 5:15 I will return again to My place Till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

• Reference verse:
  • Gen 4:²³ Then Lamech said to his wives:
    “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
    Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech!
    For I have killed a man for wounding me,
    Even a young man for hurting me.
    ²⁴ If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,
    Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.
    (Seventy times seven=490 times)”  
    (To make an end of sin)

Matthew 18:²³ Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Matthew 18:²⁴ And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

Matthew 18:²⁵ But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.

Matthew 18:²⁶ The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’

Matthew 18:²⁷ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

Matthew 18:²⁸ “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’

Matthew 18:²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’

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

Matthew 18:³¹ So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.

Matthew 18:³² Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.

Matthew 18:³³ Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?

Matthew 18:³⁴ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

Matthew 18:³⁵ “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”