Matthew 18
35 verses
The Community Discourse addresses the internal life of the kingdom community with a child placed in the disciples' midst as the teaching's center. The child illustrates the requirement for becoming great in the kingdom (becoming like a child, humble), the definition of the greatest (servant of the little ones), the seriousness of causing a little one to stumble (better a millstone), and the Father's will that none of these little ones be lost. The parable of the lost sheep (the ninety-nine left for the one) grounds the pastoral principle in the Father's own character. The discipline procedure (direct confrontation, then two or three witnesses, then the community, then exclusion) establishes the congregation as the court of final appeal for community disputes, with the binding and loosing authority confirming the community's decisions on earth as bound in heaven. Peter's question about forgiveness — how many times, seven? — receives the seventy-seven times answer and the parable of the unmerciful servant who was forgiven a debt of ten thousand talents but would not forgive a debt of a hundred denarii, making the chapter's theological conclusion: the forgiven must forgive, or the forgiveness they received will be revoked.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
0 0Open verse page →
2
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 1Open verse page →
4
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
0 0Open verse page →
5
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
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!
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
11
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
0 0Open verse page →
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?
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
14
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
0 0Open verse page →
15
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
18
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
0 0Open verse page →
21
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
0 0Open verse page →
22
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
0 0Open verse page →
23
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
0 0Open verse page →
24
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
26
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
0 0Open verse page →
27
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
29
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
0 0Open verse page →
30
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
0 0Open verse page →
31
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
0 0Open verse page →
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:
0 0Open verse page →
33
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
0 0Open verse page →
34
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
0 0Open verse page →
35
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
0 0Open verse page →
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
No notes on this chapter yet. Be the first to write one!