MATTHEW 18 Position and status were really important in the first century AD. This “Community Discourse,” the fourth one of the five our Lord gave that we read of in the book of Matthew; deals with a number of things that the disciples had yet to really learn in spite of having been with the Lord Jesus Christ for three years. “Greatness” in society was to many of them, a sign of their own worth as a person. Status, honor, and prestige set people apart from one another in social settings, including who was invited to another person’s house. When they got there, where and how they were seated at a meal or a banquet was a real big consideration to those who attended. Rank in the kingdom of heaven under God’s rule, is determined by who is willing to honestly humble themselves before God and people. Those who are humble are considered the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
It is expected of those in the kingdom of heaven to be childlike in their attitude, not childish. Sincerity and humility are to be from the heart, not merely a religious affectation. We are to be careful not to sin or cause others to sin. If we lose sight of living life with the perspective of the new nature and God’s view of things, that will not only hinder people from trusting us, but it has the potential of turning others away from “the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”
When a fellow believer sins, we must do all we can to bring that erring person back to where they can have fellowship with God and His people once again. It is our responsibility to follow the guidelines given by the Holy Spirit to correct the wrong. When sin has been dealt with, then reconciliation can take place. Conscious, full, and free forgiveness, we have received from the Lord Jesus Himself, and that is what we are to give when called upon to forgive those who sin against us.
Rank in the kingdom of heaven, v.1-6
Because the disciples were wanting to know about the whole matter of “greatness” and where they would fit in the scheme of things in the kingdom; the Lord Jesus used a child as an object lesson. A little child is personally inadequate to govern him or herself. They are completely dependent on others for survival. The whole community of believers is addressed in this fourth discourse, showing a very different view of social living than that which was prevalent in those days and is really quite similar to life today. The concept of greatness the Lord gave, is reversed from what is normal human practice.
Instead of proud self-seeking attitudes with a “me first” mindset; a humble, sincere, child-like attitude is expected of those who lead others with what should be dignity and grace. Lack of pretense, and common-sense trust; characterize spiritual leadership. Severe punishment is in order for those who turn away believers of all ages and maturity from the faith. It is not that children have an attitude of selflessness, but in the kingdom of heaven being preoccupied with status is a danger to those believers who are marginalized in some way. The Lord Jesus moved from an example to a welcome which is very impacting and insightful. When we receive those who are considered “not great,” we receive our Lord.
The warning associated with causing another believer, no matter who that person may be in social status, to stumble, sin, and fall; is of very great consequence. The millstone is no small hand grinder but is rather the “donkey stone” that was pulled around and around on top of the grindstone. Misleading, offending, deceiving, or in any way turning another believer aside, whether that person is a child or new believer of any age, puts a person up against the Lord Himself.
Stumbling blocks are actions, v.7-11 Human offenders are responsible for the guilt of one who stumbles. The actions that a person takes that causes someone else to sin are a stumbling block. Any relationship, activity, or practice that leads to sin on my part or sin in any other person, is to be stopped at all costs. Drastic measures need to be taken to avoid causing stumbling in others.
Self-mutilation or avoiding it is not the point of this message, but rather anything; be it a person, practice, program, or preaching that is a threat against the Lord’s people, has to be done away with. It has to be removed from among the people of God. Sin affects what we do, so the hand and foot that are affected by that sin must be dealt with. What I do and where I go cannot be allowed to continue if the effects are detrimental to me or anyone else. That practice must be stopped. What I allow to enter my heart and mind through “eye-gate or ear-gate;” affects my emotions, convictions, commitments, and ambitions either positively or negatively. There is no neutrality. What we allow to come inside our being comes through our senses. If we allow ourselves to watch, read, or indulge our passions to consider things that are evil or prone to sinfulness and sinful thinking; that must be dealt with and cut out of our lives immediately.
Angels are charged with caring for children, child-like believers, and those whose limitations are such that their spiritual capacity may be less in some ways than others. Those whose lives are basic and humble are those whom the Lord takes special care of. Perhaps that is why the verse from Luke 19:10 is inserted here, referring to limited believers rather than those who are lost in sin and are facing sin’s consequences.
One wandering sheep, plus ninety-nine more, v.12-14 Let us never forget that who we would consider the lowliest believer, is important to the Lord. In this parable, the sheep is not a lost sinner in need of salvation as in the parable in Luke 15. The context here is that of a straying believer. We are to spare no effort to seek to restore that erring believer back to the fold of safety among God’s people. The lowest and most vulnerable of God’s children are important to Him. They should be important to us. It is wrong to casually write them off because they are “not of us,” as some are prone to say.
God’s love for those lost in sin was so great that the Lord Jesus Christ came to die in their place upon the cross. The love He demonstrated for them in that way, does not stop. It is the Father’s will that the weak, compromised brothers and sisters in Christ, be gone after and recovered when they have gone from among us. Some people are easily led astray by every “wind of doctrine.” Others “don’t see what’s wrong with that,” because others do the same thing and “get away with it.” A wasted Christian life is a sad thing to watch.
Discipline and reconciliation go together, v.15-20 Discipline, prayer, and reconciliation go together when sin divides the Lord’s people. The guidelines for restoring fellowship that has been broken between Christians, are not complicated. One-on-one conversations between two believers to resolve a conflict or an issue between them are usually the solution to a problem. To go privately to one who you have offended, or who has offended you, keeps a matter small and unknown to others. Any matter must be kept as small as possible because if it becomes public, then the problem expands to include other people and other issues that are not necessarily related to the problem between the two.
Forgiveness and reconciliation are the objectives of the original parties. Even if two or three witnesses have to be involved, the point of the outcome is still the same. When a matter between believers is of such grave importance that it has to be taken to the church; the objective is still restoration and reconciliation. This first mention of the church indicates this is something new. This was not referred to the synagogue. Authority in a local church is of greater importance than a court of law because the Lord Jesus is there in the midst of His people who have gathered under the authority of His name which is above every name. The authority of the decision a church comes to, is reached through prayer, the word of God, and the presidency of the Holy Spirit of God.
When believers pray to the Father, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and under the authority of the name of the Son of God; we can expect the right decision and the appropriate conclusion of the matter being dealt with. To refuse to listen and respond correctly to the church results in that person no longer being a part of that Christian fellowship. They are regarded in the same way as an unsaved person or a deceptive government lackey. Agreements in assembly discipline are divinely honored and enforced. When considered in the light of the scriptures, Christ promises His presence with His people. He is in the midst of those He has gathered together in His name and continues to gather under His authority.
Forgiveness: forgiven people forgive, v. 21-35
In response to the teaching of the Lord regarding differences between believers, Peter seemed to get a little understanding, that in the kingdom of heaven, we go farther than the three or four times of forgiveness the Jewish leaders taught. The teaching of the Jews was that one should forgive a repentant person four times. Peter’s consideration of the Lord’s teaching on reconciliation, prompted a statement he would have considered quite generous. He must have thought, should I go way beyond the teaching of the Jewish leaders and forgive seven times? There was no mention of repentance on the part of either Peter or the Lord Jesus as a condition for forgiveness. The Lord Jesus stated that we should forgive without setting any restrictions or limits.
God freely forgives, and in doing so, takes the loss for the debts we owe Him. He expects forgiven sinners to demonstrate gratitude by forgiving those who sin against them. “I, even I, am He that blots out thy transgressions for My own sake; and will not remember thy sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case; that you may be acquitted” [Isa.43:25]. “To the Lord, our God belongs mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him” [Dan.9:9]. Every time forgiveness is needed and/or requested, we are to give it. Experiencing God’s forgiveness in the kingdom of heaven is where we all began our new life in Christ. Seventy times seven indicates God expects us to forgive without setting any limits.
By using the parable of the two debtors to illustrate the principles of the kingdom of heaven, the Lord Jesus made it plain that in the kingdom of heaven, we must go far beyond what is considered normal or even fair. We who are in the kingdom of heaven know that if what was normal and fair were done to us, we would be in hell already because of our sins. By God’s grace, we have been forgiven and that same spirit of grace should be shown to others by us. One of the debtors in the parable had a debt so great that if he lived ten lifetimes, he would not be able to pay the debt off. By the debtor pretending humility and regret, his debt was forgiven. He was forgiven by the benevolent king who demonstrated unmerited grace.
In contrast, the one who owed the great debt had a fellow servant who owed him about three months’ wages; but would not give him an opportunity to pay the debt off. Instead, he had him put into prison, and ultimately, he would be able to claim all he had because he couldn’t pay off the debt while in prison. Mercy should be shown, especially by those who have been forgiven what they could never pay. Compassion for sinners and debtors is a fundamental principle in the kingdom of heaven. If those are ignored or despised, forgiveness will not happen. “If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother; he is a liar.”
Biblical forgiveness is expected to be from the heart. Whole-hearted gratitude for God’s forgiveness of us produces unreserved forgiveness from us toward others. God forgives fully and freely, but He judges those who refuse to forgive others.