Matthew 18

Must you be as inspired as Matthew to understand the Gospel of the kingdom?
Comments
V1 greatest^[1] may be a rank of a person with ability, virtue, authority, or power. The kingdom of heaven was at hand.^[2]
Child like.




Questions

Who Is the Greatest?

[1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest^[1] in the kingdom of heaven?

[2] And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

[3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble^[3] himself as this little child^[4], the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

[5] And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

[6] But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Temptations to Sin

[7] Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

[8] Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

[9] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

[10] Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

[11] For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

[12] How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

[13] And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

[14] Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

If Your Brother Sins Against You

[15] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass^[5] against thee, go and tell him his fault^[6] between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother [16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

[17] 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.

[18] Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind^[7] on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose^[8] on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

[19] Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

[20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name,^[9] there am I in the midst of them.

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

[21] Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

[22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

[23] Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

[24] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

[25] But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

[26] The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

[27] Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

[28] But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

[29] And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

[30] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

[31] So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

[32] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

[33] Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

[34] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

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Footnotes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 3173 μέγας megas [meg’-as] [including the prolonged forms, feminine megale, plural megaloi, etc., cf also 3176, 3187]; adj; TDNT-4:529,573; [{See TDNT 474 }] AV-great 150, loud 33, misc 12; 195
1) great
1a) of the external form or sensible appearance of things (or of persons)
1a1) in particular, of space and its dimensions, as respects
1a1a) mass and weight: great

1a1b) compass and extent: large, spacious

1a1c) measure and height: long

1a1d) stature and age: great, old

1b) of number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant

1c) of age: the elder

1d) used of intensity and its degrees: with great effort, of the affections and emotions of the mind, of natural events powerfully affecting the senses: violent, mighty, strong

2) predicated of rank, as belonging to
2a) persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power

2b) things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance

2c) a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent

3) splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately

4) great things
4a) of God’s preeminent blessings

4b) of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God
↑ Kingdom at hand
Luke 21:31 “‭So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”

Matthew 3:2 “‭And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:17 “‭From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 10:7 “‭And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 1:15 “‭And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

Luke 22:16 “‭16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” and then he ate

Luke 24:41-43 “‭36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you... ‭41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. ‭43 And he took it, and did eat before them.”
↑ 5013 ~ταπεινόω~ tapeinoo \@tap-i-no’-o\@ from 5011; v AV-humble 6, abase 5, humble (one’s) self 2, bring low 1; 14
1) to make low, bring low
1a) to level, reduce to a plain

1b) metaph. to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances
1b1) to assign a lower rank or place to

1b2) to abase

1b3) to be ranked below others who are honoured or rewarded

1b4) to humble or abase myself by humble living

1c) to lower, depress
1c1) of one’s soul bring down one’s pride

1c2) to have a modest opinion of one’s self

1c3) to behave in an unassuming manner

1c4) devoid of all haughtiness
↑
3813 παιδίον paidion [pahee-dee’-on] from dimin. of 3816; n n; TDNT-5:636,759; [{See TDNT 581 }] AV-child 25, little child 12, young child 10, damsel 4; 51
1) a young child, a little boy, a little girl
1a) infants

1b) children, little ones

1c) an infant
1c1) of a (male) child just recently born

1d) of a more advanced child; of a mature child;

1e) metaph. children (like children) in intellect
- For Synonyms see entry 5868 & 5943
↑ 264 ~ἁμαρτάνω~ hamartano \@ham-ar-tan’-o\@ perhaps from 1 (as a negative particle) and the base of 3313 maraino a flame fade away; v AV-sin 38, trespass 3, offend 1, for your faults 1; 43
1) to be without a share in

2) to miss the mark

3) to err, be mistaken

4) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and
honour, to do or go wrong
5) to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin
↑ 1651 ~ἐλέγχω~ elegcho \@el-eg’-kho\@ of uncertain affinity; v AV-reprove 6, rebuke 5, convince 4, tell (one’s) fault 1, convict 1; 17
1) to convict, refute, confute
1a) generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted

1b) by conviction to bring to the light, to expose

2) to find fault with, correct
2a) by word
2a1) to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove

2a2) to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation

2b) by deed
2b1) to chasten, to punish
For Synonyms see entry 5884
↑ 1210 ~δέω~ deo \@deh’-o\@ a root; v AV-bind 37, tie 4, knit 1, be in bonds 1, wind 1; 44
1) to bind tie, fasten
1a) to bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains

1b) metaph.
1b1) Satan is said to bind a woman bent together by means of a demon, as his messenger, taking possession of the woman and preventing her from standing upright

1b2) to bind, put under obligation, of the law, duty etc.

1b2a) to be bound to one, a wife, a husband

1b3) to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit
↑ 3089 λύω luo [loo’-o] a root word; v; TDNT-2:60 & 4:328,543; [{See TDNT 456 }] AV-loose 27, break 5, unloose 3, destroy 2, dissolve 2, put off 1, melt 1, break up 1, break down 1; 43
1) to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened
1a) bandages of the feet, the shoes,

1b) of a husband and wife joined together by the bond of matrimony

1c) of a single man, whether he has already had a wife or has not yet married

2) to loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free
2a) of one bound up (swathed in bandages)

2b) bound with chains (a prisoner), discharge from prison, let go

3) to loosen, undo, dissolve, anything bound, tied, or compacted together
3a) an assembly, i.e. to dismiss, break up

3b) laws, as having a binding force, are likened to bonds

3c) to annul, subvert

3d) to do away with, to deprive of authority, whether by precept or act

3e) to declare unlawful

3f) to loose what is compacted or built together, to break up, demolish, destroy

3g) to dissolve something coherent into parts, to destroy

3h) metaph., to overthrow, to do away with
↑ That does not mean use his name or say you believe but actually has to do with the character you gather with and in. Lots of people say they believe in Jesus or Yeshua but they do not come to serve like he did nor do they have his willingness to forgive and give of himself. The phrase "in my name" which appears many times in the bible and new testament but here the author uses different Greek words than you see almost every where else. We see the same words in 1 Corinthians 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. By using eis emos onoma the author is giving us the idea that a gathering [sunago eis emos onoma] has a specific purpose or direction dependent on Jesus Christ.

[megas-1] 1.0 ^1.1 3173 μέγας megas [meg’-as] [including the prolonged forms, feminine megale, plural megaloi, etc., cf also 3176, 3187]; adj; TDNT-4:529,573; [{See TDNT 474 }] AV-great 150, loud 33, misc 12; 195
1) great
1a) of the external form or sensible appearance of things (or of persons)
1a1) in particular, of space and its dimensions, as respects
1a1a) mass and weight: great

1a1b) compass and extent: large, spacious

1a1c) measure and height: long

1a1d) stature and age: great, old

1b) of number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant

1c) of age: the elder

1d) used of intensity and its degrees: with great effort, of the affections and emotions of the mind, of natural events powerfully affecting the senses: violent, mighty, strong

2) predicated of rank, as belonging to
2a) persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power

2b) things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance

2c) a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent

3) splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately

4) great things
4a) of God’s preeminent blessings

4b) of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God

[kingdomnow-2] Kingdom at hand
Luke 21:31 “‭So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”

Matthew 3:2 “‭And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:17 “‭From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 10:7 “‭And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 1:15 “‭And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

Luke 22:16 “‭16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” and then he ate

Luke 24:41-43 “‭36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you... ‭41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. ‭43 And he took it, and did eat before them.”

[tapeinoo-3] 5013 ~ταπεινόω~ tapeinoo \@tap-i-no’-o\@ from 5011; v AV-humble 6, abase 5, humble (one’s) self 2, bring low 1; 14
1) to make low, bring low
1a) to level, reduce to a plain

1b) metaph. to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances
1b1) to assign a lower rank or place to

1b2) to abase

1b3) to be ranked below others who are honoured or rewarded

1b4) to humble or abase myself by humble living

1c) to lower, depress
1c1) of one’s soul bring down one’s pride

1c2) to have a modest opinion of one’s self

1c3) to behave in an unassuming manner

1c4) devoid of all haughtiness

[paidion-4] 3813 παιδίον paidion [pahee-dee’-on] from dimin. of 3816; n n; TDNT-5:636,759; [{See TDNT 581 }] AV-child 25, little child 12, young child 10, damsel 4; 51
1) a young child, a little boy, a little girl
1a) infants

1b) children, little ones

1c) an infant
1c1) of a (male) child just recently born

1d) of a more advanced child; of a mature child;

1e) metaph. children (like children) in intellect

For Synonyms see entry 5868 & 5943

[5] For Synonyms see entry 5868 & 5943

[5] 264 ~ἁμαρτάνω~ hamartano \@ham-ar-tan’-o\@ perhaps from 1 (as a negative particle) and the base of 3313 maraino a flame fade away; v AV-sin 38, trespass 3, offend 1, for your faults 1; 43
1) to be without a share in

2) to miss the mark

3) to err, be mistaken

4) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and
honour, to do or go wrong
5) to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin

[6] 1651 ~ἐλέγχω~ elegcho \@el-eg’-kho\@ of uncertain affinity; v AV-reprove 6, rebuke 5, convince 4, tell (one’s) fault 1, convict 1; 17
1) to convict, refute, confute
1a) generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted

1b) by conviction to bring to the light, to expose

2) to find fault with, correct
2a) by word
2a1) to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove

2a2) to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation

2b) by deed
2b1) to chasten, to punish
For Synonyms see entry 5884

[deo-7] 1210 ~δέω~ deo \@deh’-o\@ a root; v AV-bind 37, tie 4, knit 1, be in bonds 1, wind 1; 44
1) to bind tie, fasten
1a) to bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains

1b) metaph.
1b1) Satan is said to bind a woman bent together by means of a demon, as his messenger, taking possession of the woman and preventing her from standing upright

1b2) to bind, put under obligation, of the law, duty etc.

1b2a) to be bound to one, a wife, a husband

1b3) to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit

[luo-8] 3089 λύω luo [loo’-o] a root word; v; TDNT-2:60 & 4:328,543; [{See TDNT 456 }] AV-loose 27, break 5, unloose 3, destroy 2, dissolve 2, put off 1, melt 1, break up 1, break down 1; 43
1) to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened
1a) bandages of the feet, the shoes,

1b) of a husband and wife joined together by the bond of matrimony

1c) of a single man, whether he has already had a wife or has not yet married

2) to loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free
2a) of one bound up (swathed in bandages)

2b) bound with chains (a prisoner), discharge from prison, let go

3) to loosen, undo, dissolve, anything bound, tied, or compacted together
3a) an assembly, i.e. to dismiss, break up

3b) laws, as having a binding force, are likened to bonds

3c) to annul, subvert

3d) to do away with, to deprive of authority, whether by precept or act

3e) to declare unlawful

3f) to loose what is compacted or built together, to break up, demolish, destroy

3g) to dissolve something coherent into parts, to destroy

3h) metaph., to overthrow, to do away with

[9] That does not mean use his name or say you believe but actually has to do with the character you gather with and in. Lots of people say they believe in Jesus or Yeshua but they do not come to serve like he did nor do they have his willingness to forgive and give of himself. The phrase "in my name" which appears many times in the bible and new testament but here the author uses different Greek words than you see almost every where else. We see the same words in 1 Corinthians 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. By using eis emos onoma the author is giving us the idea that a gathering [sunago eis emos onoma] has a specific purpose or direction dependent on Jesus Christ.

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Matthew 18

Contents

Who Is the Greatest?

Temptations to Sin

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

If Your Brother Sins Against You

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Footnotes

Navigation menu

Matthew 18

Who Is the Greatest?

Temptations to Sin

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

If Your Brother Sins Against You

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Footnotes

Navigation menu

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