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MATTHEW 18

¹ At the same time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ²And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the middle of them, ³And said, Truly I say to you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵And whoever shall receive one such little child in my name receives me. ⁶But whoever 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.

⁷Woe to the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! ⁸Why if your hand or your foot offend you, cut them off, and cast them from you: it is better for you to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. ⁹And if your eye offend you, 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. ¹⁰Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. ¹¹For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. ¹²How think you? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine, and goes into the mountains, and seeks that which is gone astray? ¹³And if so be that he find it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. ¹⁴Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

¹⁵Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. ¹⁷And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be to you as an heathen man and a publican. ¹⁸Truly I say to you, Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹ Again I say to 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. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middle of them.

²¹Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? ²²Jesus says to him, I say not to you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

²³Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king, which would take account of his servants. ²⁴And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him, which owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵But for as much 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. ²⁶The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. ²⁷Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that you owe. ²⁹And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and sought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. ³⁰And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. ³¹So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. ³²Then his lord, after that he had called him, said to him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me: ³³Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you? ³⁴And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him. ³⁵So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

MH

Matthew Henry

300 years ago

The gospels are, in short, a record of what Jesus began both to do and to teach. In the foregoing chapter, we had an account of his doings, in this, of his teachings; probably, not all at the same time, in a continued discourse, but at several times, upon divers occasions, here put together, as near akin. We have here,

Instructions concerning humility, Matt 18:1~Matt 18:6.
Concerning offences in general (Matt 18:7), particularly offences given,
1. By us to ourselves, Matt 18:8, Matt 18:9.
2. By us to others, Matt 18:10~Matt 18:14.
3. By others to us; which are of two sorts,
  1. Scandalous sins, which are to be reproved, Matt 18:15~Matt 18:20.
  2. Personal wrongs, which are to be forgiven, Matt 18:21~Matt 18:35. See how practical Christ’s preaching was; he could have revealed mysteries, but he pressed plain duties, especially those that are most displeasing to flesh and blood.