It amplifies it a little further.Now Jesus said. For God no man is unimportant and no one is lost in the crowd; for the Christian every man is important and is a child of God, who, if lost, must be found. Further, in the Greek it is said, not so much that the man would be better to be drowned in the depths of the sea, but that it would be better if he were drowned far out in the open sea. Matthew 18:17 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org The Shepherd And The Lost Sheep ( Matthew 18:12-14), 18:12-14 "What do you think? Paul: Dear John, first, let me tell you how wonderful I think your site is. In the sight of God the children are so important that their guardian angels always have the right of direct access to the inner presence of God. Now if he does not hear you, then take with you one or two witnesses, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established ( Matthew 18:16 ). That the parable did not originally belong to this context is suggested by the fact that it really does not deal with repeated forgiveness, which is the point of Peter's question and Jesus' reply. In its biblical context, sin was treated more harshly than it is today. Thus the fresh revelations of grace in no way detract from that which God had of old established in nature; but, contrariwise, only impart a new and greater force in asserting the real value and wisdom of God's way even in these least things. The universal Church is in view in Matthew 16:18. It is the fine thing for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than to be cast into the Gehenna of fire with two eyes.". There are two senses in which this passage may be taken. Count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." this agrees with Proverbs 25:8; Proverbs 25:9, "Go not forth hastily to strive, but debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself, argue it calmly and amicably; and if he shall hear thee, well and good, thou hast gained thy brother, there is an end of the controversy, and it is a happy end; let no more be said of it, but let the falling out of friends be the renewing of friendship. Matthew has already used this saying of Jesus in a different context in Matthew 5:30. My experience of them is that they, too, have a heart to be touched; and there are many of them, like Matthew and Zacchaeus, who have become my best friends. The reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me,Psalms 69:9. 1:11) concerning the behavior of people in the congregation in Corinth. Why are all Christians hypocrites? In the reception of the little children this is plain; it is not so generally seen in what follows. There are many reasons to make us think that this, as it stands, cannot be a correct report of the words of Jesus, but an adaptation made by the Church in later days, when Church discipline was rather a thing of rules and regulations than of love and forgiveness. To my mind, the depth of such grace only enhances the beauty of Jesus, and is the very last possible ground that justifies man in thinking lightly of the Saviour. I feel sure that no Christian harbours a doubt about it. Jesus anticipates the congregations that His own apostles will establish after Pentecost. The context is interpersonal conflict involving behaviors between individuals, not enforcement of denominational or group doctrinal distinctives. It would have saved me years of heartache. A Gentile (indeed, any mind not under any kind of legal prejudice or difficulty) would be far more moved by a detailed account of what was more, conspicuous. He could do it, you know He can do it. So it was here; and our Lord turns to eternal account, in His own goodness, the shortcoming of John the Baptist, the greatest of women-born. Thus it is shown that, though we have rich grace to the Gentile, there is the remembrance of natural relationship still. Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews 14. 1 Timothy 5:19-20 states: Treat Them Like a Tax Collector: Reflections on Matthew 18, Church One great baron smiled and Duke Robert asked him why. He never thinks that he can face life by himself. I want vengeance, God, but I know that that is not of you. And behold, if it is true and the thing certain that this Suppose they were paid in sixpences. Jesus says to take the wayward brother to the Church for reproval. Your book on praise and worship woke me up to the new covenant reality. 19 "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. she cried; but what had she to do with the Son of David? First of these comes the treasure hidden in the field, for which the man sells all he had, securing the field for the sake of the treasure. The steps of church discipline are outlined in Matthew 18:15-17. Yes, there is. Far from lowering the position of His servant, He declares there was none greater among mortal men. I do not pretend to say this was the only purpose served; far be it from me to think of restraining the Spirit of God within the narrow bounds of our vision. 2. How can this new ban on drag possibly be considered constitutional? Christ, designing to erect a church for himself in the world, here took care for the preservation, 1. No sooner had Peter pronounced to Jesus the truth of His person, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," than Jesus holds the secret no longer. Pass no sentence, which you cannot in faith ask God to confirm. God bless them. At this point, Jesus is on a road trip to Jerusalem for Passover. The ignorance is wholly on our side: all they say or omit was owing to the far-reaching and gracious wisdom of Him who inspired them. 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Note, The converting of a soul is the winning of that soul (Proverbs 11:30); and we should covet it, and labour after it, as gain to us; and, if the loss of a soul be a great loss, the gain of a soul is sure no small gain. At last they got him to tell why. We have, first, the sower sowing the word. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Conflict resolution is never easy. If we do not want to be publicly humiliated for our sin, especially if we have not been given the opportunity to repent, we should take a private approach to go to someone in love and let them know of their error. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them ( Matthew 18:20 ). But he would not: he had him cast into the debtors' prison, until he should pay the debt. If there is a mortal sin in many Matthew 18 disciplinary environments, it is alleged gossip and not following all the steps of Matthew 18 to address a problem in a local church. You say, "Well, isn't that works then, forgiveness on works?" . Power and love were come for any one to draw on. There were, therefore, usually two or three shepherds with them. Apply this. And there were also with Him other little ships. Whatever the time may have been, whatever the incidents added by others, the account is given here for the purpose of showing, that as Israel's case was desperate, even unto death, so He, the Messiah, was the giver of life, when all, humanly speaking, was over. Matthew opens his Gospel by summarising the Old Testament story in terms of Jesus' ancestry (vv.1-17). Thank you. The Lord was in Capernaum, where Peter lived; and on a certain Sabbath-day, after the call of Peter, wrought in the synagogue mighty deeds, which are here recorded, and by Luke also. It is not a mandatory judicial protocol for every circumstance of conflict in community life. If there were, so to speak, a justification of circumcision by faith, undoubtedly there was also the justification of uncircumcision through their faith. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Thus, the fourth chapter of Mark coincides, marked with such data as can leave no doubt. No doubt it is a tie of nature for this life only. Who are you to hold this bitterness and unforgiving spirit? I'm curious about the phrase "tell it to the church." How did He treat tax collectors and Gentiles? It was a scorned Messiah who, when rejected of His own people, Israel, turned to the Gentiles by the will of God: it was One who could look upon publicans and sinners anywhere. Copyright 2019, Dr. Stephen R. Crosby, www.stevecrosby.org. This rule was then in a special manner requisite, when the civil government was in the hands of such as were not only aliens, but enemies. (2.) The Rabbis had a wise saying, "Judge not alone, for none may judge alone save One (that is God).". To lose a hand, to lose an eye by my own doing is just a horribly repugnant thought. We are dependent, therefore, for determining this case, on the fact that Mark does habitually adhere to the chain of events. The phrase in my name can mean one of two things. This finds its fitting place, not in Luke, but in Matthew, particularly as the details here (not in Mark, who only gives the general fact) cast great light upon God's dispensational ways. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take a count of his servants. Lessons in forgiveness (Matthew 18:15-35). This gives an opportunity to teach what truly defiles not things that go into the man, but those things which, proceeding out of the mouth, come forth from the heart. He was really God in man; and all these wonderful features are here presented and compressed in this most simple, but at the same time significant, action of the Saviour the fitting frontispiece to Matthew's manifestation of the Messiah to Israel. The pattern is the Son of man saving the lost. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. This is the second reference to ekklesia in Matthew and the only other occurrence of this word in the four Gospels. If your . Matthew does assume the church will endure (Matt. It is a difficult saying. This is not a form of excommunication to be used among Christians, nor was there ever any such form among the Jews; nor could Heathens or publicans, especially such publicans as were Gentiles, be excommunicated, when they never were of the Jewish church. I have to thank you for your blog and books. Let this be compared with, and explained by, Leviticus 19:17, Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart; that is, "If thou hast conceived a displeasure at thy brother for any injury he hath done thee, do not suffer thy resentments to ripen into a secret malice (like a wound, which is most dangerous when it bleed inwardly), but give vent to them in a mild and grave admonition, let them so spend themselves, and they will expire the sooner; do not go and rail against him behind his back, but thou shalt in any ways reprove him. The first is the defence of the disciples, grounded on analogies taken from that which had the sanction of God of old, as well as on His own glory now. The Greek word is constantly so used as an expression of contempt, "This [fellow] doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." The fact is, in judging others we judge ourselves. There is a Rabbinic tale of Rabbi Jochanan ben Zaccai who wept bitterly at the prospect of death. But we know that God is far more wonderful than that, for in Jesus Christ, he came to seek for those who wander away. But not even so is his salvation to be neglected. In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus is giving instructions in how to correct a local church member who has fallen into a sin. Matthew 18:17 In-Context 15 "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. Concerning the maintenance of the unity of the community, just ask, it will be done for you. A number of intriguing observations come up as we read through Matthew 18 more carefully. Now, it was an established principle, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word should be established. I don't think the move from exegesis to application is that straightforward in this case. He tells them that they should not have gone over (or finished) the cities of Israel till the Son of man be come. The leper approaches the Lord with homage, but with a most inadequate belief in His love and readiness to meet his need. This question is accordingly put to the proof in the ninth chapter. I say to them point blank, "cut it off, not tomorrow, right now, cut it off, "Oh, but I"- don't, cut it off.I said, "If I were a surgeon and you came to me, and you said, "Oh, I am having these lumps under my arm, and they are sore, and they really bother me." Jesus had uttered similar words in Matthew 16:19 when discussing the divine authority He had given to Peter and the other 11 apostles of the Jerusalem Church. Give to me forgiveness in my heart. "Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom? In many ways this is one of the most difficult passages to interpret in the whole of Matthew's gospel. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. The details, found elsewhere, of her being at the point of death then, before reaching the house, the news that she was dead, are not here. Your Father is watching over them. 18 "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. He does not wish for prominence; he would rather be left in obscurity. Always the refuse was burning there, and a pall of smoke and a glint of smouldering fire surrounded it. He ate with them. What does Matthew 18:19-20 really mean? Matthew 18:15-20 The Purpose and Nature of Correction in the Church Matthew 18:15-17 meaning | TheBibleSays.com I have endeavoured, though, of course, cursorily, and I feel most imperfectly, to give thus far Matthew's sketch of the Saviour as the Holy Ghost enabled him to execute it. shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of Peter asked how many times Jesus followers should forgive before taking the severe action that Jesus had just outlined. But the next verse will make it more plain; Matthew 18:18, Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, &c. By the church then must be meant those who had power to bind and loose. . God is like that; God cannot be happy until the last wanderer is gathered in. Often our prayers for our success would necessarily involve someone else's failure. If He offers to go to his house, it was to bring out the faith that He had created in the heart of the centurion. But the mission is given here in strict accordance with what the gospel demands. 81. z T. Hieros. On the other hand, it is not too much to say, that the same Scriptures which convince one unbiassed mind that pays heed to these notes of time, will produce no less effect on others. Again and again he rushed into speech in such a way that his impetuosity drew from Jesus teaching which is immortal. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Accordingly, notice that, in the manner in which the Holy Ghost introduces it, there is no statement of time whatever. That is an incredible debt. 1-4); How we receive and treat "these little ones who believe in Me," (vss. They are hereby directed to gather together in Christ's name. He said. How little they had learnt the divine lesson of grace, not ordinances! In Matt 18:17-18, Jesus is clearly telling us that the Church is the final authority on questions of faith or discipline. The Jews themselves had a saying, "Where two sit and are occupied with the study of the Law, the glory of God is among them." This made it to be plainly and only a difficulty for God to solve. I am sure Peter was thinking, "Well, I might be able to forgive a guy a couple of times, but it sounds good to the other disciples if I say 'seven'". Let us apply it to the quarrels that happen, upon any account, among Christians. Matthew 18: Misunderstanding and Misuse in Conflict Resolution Bible Reading Plans - Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous) - ESV From verse one in Matthew 18 Jesus deals with matters which are related: How we think of others, with self-exalting pride or humility (vss. It is here called everlasting and this word everlasting occurs frequently in Jewish ideas of punishment. Receiving a little child in Jesus' name refers to complete acceptance of a child-like believer because of his innocent and unrestrained trust in the Lord. This was the very blessing that aroused, above all, the hatred of the scribes. They were the great congregation and church, in the midst of which Christ sung praise to his Father: and since the whole of this advice, and these excellent rules are given to them, and they are spoken of in the next verse, as having the power of binding and loosing, they may well be thought to be meant here; and that the design of Christ is, to There was no other Church around at the time these words were penned. Of what phrase is this reminiscent? It would often happen that, if our prayers were answered, the prayers of someone else would be disappointed. But the Lord could not send her away without a blessing, and without a blessing reaching to His own glory. Demai, fol. When do you suppose these conversations actually occurred, if we go to the question of their date? And if your eye proves a stumbling-block to you, pluck it out and throw it away from you. Your teaching on praise and worship has given articulation to what I have been thinking for ten years! the sight of the Lord your God, by transgressing His covenant, and Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. How I wish I wouldve come across a read like this/been exhorted as much when I was a few years more youthful..my soul may have been spared a great deal of malarkey. Now, God would not command us to do the impossible. We can imagine how the other shepherds would return with their flocks to the village fold at evening time, and how they would tell that one shepherd was still out on the mountain-side seeking a wanderer. It is only after careful prayer and consideration for the other person should we go to and point out their sin in the hopes they will be restored. but it was far too much for the young man. Dealing With Sinning Christians: An Overview of Church - Bible But I have not found the tax-gatherers and the Gentiles hopeless. It literally means belonging to the ages; there is only one person to whom the word aionios ( G166) can properly be applied, and that is God. The Old Testament tells the story that Jesus completes. At Matthew 5:22 Jesus refers to being called before the council. That was the Jewish Sanhedrinthe elders who adjudicated issues of the Mosaic Law. The Lord works in delivering power; but withal the power of Satan fills and carries away the unclean to their own destruction. "Yes," said Duke Robert, "he's little--but he'll grow." And the servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, O Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. Matthew 18 and the Universal Church - g3min.org A kingdom divided against itself will not stand. We pray to be saved from some trial, some sorrow, some disappointment, some hurting and difficult situation. In an affair of such importance, two are better than one, and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. And He came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them." After this, dismissing the multitudes, He retires alone, to pray, on a mountain, as the disciples toil over the storm-tossed lake, the wind being contrary. Heats and animosities, among those whose work it is to remove offences, will be the greatest offence of all. How the Misuse of Matthew 18 Bullies Abuse Survivors Into Silence Some think Matthew 18 is a mandatory protocol that must be followed to adjudicate all local church conflicts. Certainly, God-fearing Gentiles, such as Cornelius (Acts 10), do exist in the New Testament days, but they are not the norm. If, however, those bonds have not been developed, the task could be much more difficult. Jesus predicted the existence of the church, the body of Christ, in Matthew 16:18.

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