193 Building Christian Community Matthew 18

We begin this chapter with a discussion as to who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus brings in a child and tells them they must become as little children. Then the importance of a person that has wondered away is illustrated by the story of the lost sheep who Jesus searches for while the flock is left in the open fields. He is making the point that He will risk the safety of the flock to search for the lost. Then the process for building community and dealing with disputes that could disrupt that community are presented. The chapter concludes with a parable that emphasizes the importance of forgiveness.

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SHOW NOTES

Building Christian Community—Matthew 18

The Greatest in the Kingdom

18 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the

Kingdom of Heaven?”

This question is motivated by the ongoing debate among the disciples on this very subject. James and John’s mother will request they flank Jesus on his throne later (20:20-28). They are not aware of what they are asking since honour comes by suffering in the Kingdom of Heaven (Romans 8:17). The other disciples are incensed that James and John beat them to asking (20:24-28). James and John will desert Jesus in his passion (Matthew 26:56) but later they will understand the Kingdom and as a result James is martyred (Acts 12:1-3) and John is exiled to Patmos (Revelation 1).

“Religion, if it is worth anything, is worth everything; but it is worth little, if it is not

worth suffering for.”—Matthew Henry.

2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus us attempting to correct their power-hungry hearts (their sins) by pointing them to the way children experience life. Children are naïve and innocent. Yes, they are selfish from birth but children are easily corrected and easily pointed in the right direction. They are taught to walk and speak and build vocabulary and dextral skills by trusted adults and learn from them as they copythem. Jesus is hoping his disciples will emulate him by following the example of children.

5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 6 But

if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for

you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the

sea.

Jesus values children, who also represent marginalized groups, and wants the best environment for them. He abhors any form of abuse from this statement.

7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are

inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.

Jesus states twice that the consequence of tempting others is sorrow. Clearly then God, the Spirit or Jesus would never tempt anyone. James is right when he says, “When tempted no one should say God is tempting him, for God cannot be tempted or tempt anyone (1:13).” Temptation arises from within us and we cannot blame others for our sin.

8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter

eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of

your hands and feet. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.

It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into

the fire of hell.

Jesus is unashamedly using hyperbole to make his point—Deal with the problems that have a negative influence in your life.

10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in

heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.

It is from this verse that we conclude that children have guardian angels who watch over them. Think of the awful sadness of angel hearts when children are abused. The overall message Jesus is giving is that of the Father’s care for his creation. God made us so he could love (1 John 4:9- 12) and serve us (20:28).

Parable of the Lost Sheep

12 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t

he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is

lost? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the

ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! 14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s

will that even one of these little ones should perish.

This is unmistakable evidence that God loves children and does not want them to perish. We may conclude that he will save children who never had the opportunity to decide against him. By extension this means marginalized groups are also treated as lost sheep.

Correcting Another Believer

15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other

person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are

unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you

say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen,

take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat

that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

This is the most effective reconciliation process. It does not always work for the hardness of our hearts, but if reconciliation is possible then this is the route to follow. Treating a person as a tax collector is modelled by Jesus in his treatment of two tax collectors, Matthew (9:9-13) and Lazarus (Luke 19:1-10) and the way he treated a pagan centurion (Matthew 8:5-13).

18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and

whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

This is a repeat of the same statement made in 16:19. When we share the gospel it means we forbid heaven for those who will not forgive others (6:14-15) and we permit entrance to heaven for those who trust in the generosity and merch of God’s grace.

In addition, if your motive is self-giving love for your brother, in this case you will desire

reconciliation and your evaluation will be in heaven’s order. Heaven operates on self-giving love for each other. This love clears our vision and improves our hearing wonderfully.

19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my

Father in heaven will do it for you.

Of course we can agree on praying for healing for others but this to trivialize Jesus’ statement. The topic under discussion is reconciliation. Are alienated brothers and sisters praying for reconciliation, the pureness of love for each other?

20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

This is not a consolation for low prayer meeting attendance. Contextually Jesus means when two or three are reconciled and come together in self-giving love, it is evidence that the Spirit is present and has been treasured. The next passage continues the necessity of forgiveness if we are to have reconciliation.

Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor

21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone[i] who

sins against me? Seven times?”

Jewish culture suggested that one forgive three times and then punitive action was acceptable. Peter is expecting Jesus to commend him on his gracious attitude displayed by seven times.

22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

This is a number from the book of Daniel. It does not mean 490 but such a large number that the implication is that we never have reason to stop forgiving. Those who believe God closes probation have missed the meaning of Jesus’ response to Peter. God never stops forgiving. Forgiveness is a corollary of self-giving love. Where there is love there is forgiveness. Where there is unconditional love there is never ending forgiveness. This does not satisfy our desire for revenge, euphemistically called justice, but it is the currency of heaven. Jesus will illustrate this concept with a story.

23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring

his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the

process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.

25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few

thousand dollars. grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.

29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient

with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man

arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you

pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy

on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers

and sisters from your heart.”

Verse 35 echoes the comment Jesus made after the LORD’s Prayer (6:14-15). Apparently our failure to forgive others is a crucial issue for salvation. It means we have never grasped the magnificence of God’s forgiveness for us. Thus failing to forgive another means we have not grasped the forgiveness of God and who will help us then? It is not that God refuses to forgive but that we cannot believe he has because we refuse to forgive, The problem is in our heart not in God’s heart.

Ian Hartley, November 2024