10 Take heed G3708 that ye despise G2706 not G3361 one G1520 of these G5130 little ones; G3398 for G1063 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 in G1722 heaven G3772 their G846 angels G32 do always G1223 G3956 behold G991 the face G4383 of my G3450 Father G3962 which G3588 is in G1722 heaven. G3772
And Jacob H3290 went H1980 on his way, H1870 and the angels H4397 of God H430 met H6293 him. And when Jacob H3290 saw them, H7200 he said, H559 This is God's H430 host: H4264 and he called H7121 the name H8034 of that place H4725 Mahanaim. H4266
And he answered, H559 Fear H3372 not: for they that be with us are more H7227 than they that be with them. And Elisha H477 prayed, H6419 and said, H559 LORD, H3068 I pray thee, open H6491 his eyes, H5869 that he may see. H7200 And the LORD H3068 opened H6491 the eyes H5869 of the young man; H5288 and he saw: H7200 and, behold, the mountain H2022 was full H4390 of horses H5483 and chariots H7393 of fire H784 round about H5439 Elisha. H477
And, G2532 behold, G2400 the angel G32 of the Lord G2962 came upon G2186 him, and G2532 a light G5457 shined G2989 in G1722 the prison: G3612 and G1161 he smote G3960 Peter G4074 on the side, G4125 and raised G1453 him G846 up, G1453 saying, G3004 Arise up G450 quickly. G1722 G5034 And G2532 his G846 chains G254 fell off G1601 from G1537 his hands. G5495 And G5037 the angel G32 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Gird thyself, G4024 and G2532 bind on G5265 thy G4675 sandals. G4547 And G1161 so G3779 he did. G4160 And G2532 he saith G3004 unto him, G846 Cast G4016 thy garment G2440 about G4016 thee, G4675 and G2532 follow G190 me. G3427 And G2532 he went out, G1831 and followed G190 him; G846 and G2532 wist G1492 not G3756 that G3754 it was G2076 true G227 which G3588 was done G1096 by G1223 the angel; G32 but G1161 thought G1380 he saw G991 a vision. G3705 When G1161 they were past G1330 the first G4413 and G2532 the second G1208 ward, G5438 they came G2064 unto G1909 the iron G4603 gate G4439 that leadeth G5342 unto G1519 the city; G4172 which G3748 opened G455 to them G846 of his own accord: G844 and G2532 they went out, G1831 and passed on through G4281 one G3391 street; G4505 and G2532 forthwith G2112 the angel G32 departed G868 from G575 him. G846 And G2532 when Peter G4074 was come G1096 to G1722 himself, G1438 he said, G2036 Now G3568 I know G1492 of a surety, G230 that G3754 the Lord G2962 hath sent G1821 his G846 angel, G32 and G2532 hath delivered G1807 me G3165 out of G1537 the hand G5495 of Herod, G2264 and G2532 from all G3956 the expectation G4329 of the people G2992 of the Jews. G2453
Him that is weak G770 in the faith G4102 receive ye, G4355 but G1161 not G3361 to G1519 doubtful G1261 disputations. G1253 For G3303 one G3739 believeth G4100 that he may eat G5315 all things: G3956 another, G1161 who is weak, G770 eateth G2068 herbs. G3001 Let G1848 not G3361 him that eateth G2068 despise G1848 him that eateth G2068 not; G3361 and G2532 let G2068 not G3361 him which eateth G2068 not G3361 judge G2919 him that eateth: G2068 for G1063 God G2316 hath received G4355 him. G846
Let us G2919 not therefore G3767 judge G2919 one another G240 any more: G3371 but G235 judge G2919 this G5124 rather, G3123 that no man G3361 put G5087 a stumblingblock G4348 or G2228 an occasion to fall G4625 in his brother's way. G80 I know, G1492 and G2532 am persuaded G3982 by G1722 the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 that G3754 there is nothing G3762 unclean G2839 of G1223 itself: G1438 but G1508 to him that esteemeth G3049 any thing G5100 to be G1511 unclean, G2839 to him G1565 it is unclean. G2839 But G1161 if G1487 thy G4675 brother G80 be grieved G3076 with G1223 thy meat, G1033 now G3765 walkest thou G4043 not G3765 charitably. G26 G2596 Destroy G622 not G3361 him G1565 with thy G4675 meat, G1033 for G5228 whom G3739 Christ G5547 died. G599
But G1161 meat G1033 commendeth G3936 us G2248 not G3756 to God: G2316 for G1063 neither, G3777 if G1437 we eat, G5315 are we the better; G4052 neither, G3777 if G3362 we eat G5315 not, G3362 are we the worse. G5302 But G1161 take heed G991 lest G3381 by any means G4458 this G3778 liberty G1849 of yours G5216 become G1096 a stumblingblock G4348 to them that are weak. G770 For G1063 if G1437 any man G5100 see G1492 thee G4571 which G3588 hast G2192 knowledge G1108 sit at meat G2621 in G1722 the idol's temple, G1493 shall G3618 not G3780 the conscience G4893 of him G846 which is G5607 weak G772 be emboldened G3618 G1519 to eat G2068 those things which are offered to idols; G1494 And G2532 through G1909 thy G4674 knowledge G1108 shall G622 the weak G770 brother G80 perish, G622 for G1223 whom G3739 Christ G5547 died? G599 But G1161 when ye sin G264 so G3779 against G1519 the brethren, G80 and G2532 wound G5180 their G846 weak G770 conscience, G4893 ye sin G264 against G1519 Christ. G5547 Wherefore, G1355 if G1487 meat G1033 make G4624 my G3450 brother G80 to offend, G4624 I will eat G5315 no G3364 flesh G2907 while the world standeth, G1519 G165 lest G3363 I make G4624 my G3450 brother G80 to offend. G4624
G1161 Ye know G1492 how G3754 through G1223 infirmity G769 of the flesh G4561 I preached the gospel G2097 unto you G5213 at the first. G4386 And G2532 my G3450 temptation G3986 which was in G1722 my G3450 flesh G4561 ye despised G1848 not, G3756 nor G3761 rejected; G1609 but G235 received G1209 me G3165 as G5613 an angel G32 of God, G2316 even as G5613 Christ G5547 Jesus. G2424
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Matthew 18
Commentary on Matthew 18 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 18
Mt 18:1-9. Strife among the Twelve Who Should Be Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, with Relative Teaching. ( = Mr 9:33-50; Lu 9:46-50).
For the exposition, see on Mr 9:33-50.
Mt 18:10-35. Further Teaching on the Same Subject, Including the Parable of the Unmerciful Debtor.
Same Subject (Mt 18:10-20).
10. Take heed that ye despise—stumble.
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—A difficult verse; but perhaps the following may be more than an illustration:—Among men, those who nurse and rear the royal children, however humble in themselves, are allowed free entrance with their charge, and a degree of familiarity which even the highest state ministers dare not assume. Probably our Lord means that, in virtue of their charge over His disciples (Heb 1:13; Joh 1:51), the angels have errands to the throne, a welcome there, and a dear familiarity in dealing with "His Father which is in heaven," which on their own matters they could not assume.
11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost—or "is lost." A golden saying, once and again repeated in different forms. Here the connection seems to be, "Since the whole object and errand of the Son of man into the world is to save the lost, take heed lest, by causing offenses, ye lose the saved." That this is the idea intended we may gather from Mt 18:14.
12, 13. How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, &c.—This is another of those pregnant sayings which our Lord uttered more than once. See on the delightful parable of the lost sheep in Lu 15:4-7. Only the object there is to show what the good Shepherd will do, when even one of His sheep is lost, to find it; here the object is to show, when found, how reluctant He is to lose it. Accordingly, it is added,
14. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish—How, then, can He but visit for those "offenses" which endanger the souls of these little ones?
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, &c.—Probably our Lord had reference still to the late dispute, Who should be the greatest? After the rebuke—so gentle and captivating, yet so dignified and divine—under which they would doubtless be smarting, perhaps each would be saying, It was not I that began it, it was not I that threw out unworthy and irritating insinuations against my brethren. Be it so, says our Lord; but as such things will often arise, I will direct you how to proceed. First, Neither harbor a grudge against your offending brother, nor break forth upon him in presence of the unbelieving; but take him aside, show him his fault, and if he own and make reparation for it, you have done more service to him than even justice to yourself. Next, If this fail, take two or three to witness how just your complaint is, and how brotherly your spirit in dealing with him. Again, If this fail, bring him before the Church or congregation to which both belong. Lastly, If even this fail, regard him as no longer a brother Christian, but as one "without"—as the Jews did Gentiles and publicans.
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—Here, what had been granted but a short time before to Peter only (see on Mt 16:19) is plainly extended to all the Twelve; so that whatever it means, it means nothing peculiar to Peter, far less to his pretended successors at Rome. It has to do with admission to and rejection from the membership of the Church. But see on Joh 20:23.
19. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything 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—or "unto my name."
there am I in the midst of them—On this passage—so full of sublime encouragement to Christian union in action and prayer—observe, first, the connection in which it stands. Our Lord had been speaking of church meetings before which the obstinate perversity of a brother was in the last resort to be brought, and whose decision was to be final—such honor does the Lord of the Church put upon its lawful assemblies. But not these assemblies only does He deign to countenance and honor. For even two uniting to bring any matter before Him shall find that they are not alone, for My Father is with them, says Jesus. Next, observe the premium here put upon union in prayer. As this cannot exist with fewer than two, so by letting it down so low as that number, He gives the utmost conceivable encouragement to union in this exercise. But what kind of union? Not an agreement merely to pray in concert, but to pray for some definite thing. "As touching anything which they shall ask," says our Lord—anything they shall agree to ask in concert. At the same time, it is plain He had certain things at that moment in His eye, as most fitting and needful subjects for such concerted prayer. The Twelve had been "falling out by the way" about the miserable question of precedence in their Master's kingdom, and this, as it stirred their corruptions, had given rise—or at least was in danger of giving rise—to "offenses" perilous to their souls. The Lord Himself had been directing them how to deal with one another about such matters. "But now shows He unto them a more excellent way." Let them bring all such matters—yea, and everything whatsoever by which either their own loving relationship to each other, or the good of His kingdom at large, might be affected—to their Father in heaven; and if they be but agreed in petitioning Him about that thing, it shall be done for them of His Father which is in heaven. But further, it is not merely union in prayer for the same thing—for that might be with very jarring ideas of the thing to be desired—but it is to symphonious prayer, the prayer by kindred spirits, members of one family, servants of one Lord, constrained by the same love, fighting under one banner, cheered by assurances of the same victory; a living and loving union, whose voice in the divine ear is as the sound of many waters. Accordingly, what they ask "on earth" is done for them, says Jesus, "of My Father which is in heaven." Not for nothing does He say, "of My Father"—not "YOUR Father"; as is evident from what follows: "For where two or three are gathered together unto My name"—the "My" is emphatic, "there am I in the midst of them." As His name would prove a spell to draw together many clusters of His dear disciples, so if there should be but two or three, that will attract Himself down into the midst of them; and related as He is to both the parties, the petitioners and the Petitioned—to the one on earth by the tie of His assumed flesh, and to the other in heaven by the tie of His eternal Spirit—their symphonious prayers on earth would thrill upward through Him to heaven, be carried by Him into the holiest of all, and so reach the Throne. Thus will He be the living Conductor of the prayer upward, and the answer downward.
Parable of the Unmerciful Debtor (Mt 18:21-35).
21. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?—In the recent dispute, Peter had probably been an object of special envy, and his forwardness in continually answering for all the rest would likely be cast up to him—and if so, probably by Judas—notwithstanding his Master's commendations. And as such insinuations were perhaps made once and again, he wished to know how often and how long he was to stand it.
till seven times?—This being the sacred and complete number, perhaps his meaning was, Is there to be a limit at which the needful forbearance will be full?
22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven—that is, so long as it shall be needed and sought: you are never to come to the point of refusing forgiveness sincerely asked. (See on Lu 17:3, 4).
23. Therefore—"with reference to this matter."
is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants—or, would scrutinize the accounts of his revenue collectors.
24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents—If Attic talents are here meant, 10,000 of them would amount to above a million and a half sterling; if Jewish talents, to a much larger sum.
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—(See 2Ki 4:1; Ne 5:8; Le 25:39).
26. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him—or did humble obeisance to him.
saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all—This was just an acknowledgment of the justice of the claim made against him, and a piteous imploration of mercy.
27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt—Payment being hopeless, the master is first moved with compassion; next, liberates his debtor from prison; and then cancels the debt freely.
28. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants—Mark the difference here. The first case is that of master and servant; in this case, both are on a footing of equality. (See Mt 18:33, below.)
which owed him an hundred pence—If Jewish money is intended, this debt was to the other less than one to a million.
and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat—he seized and throttled him.
saying, Pay me that thou owest—Mark the mercilessness even of the tone.
29. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all—The same attitude, and the same words which drew compassion from his master, are here employed towards himself by his fellow servant.
30. And he would not; but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt, &c.—Jesus here vividly conveys the intolerable injustice and impudence which even the servants saw in this act on the part of one so recently laid under the heaviest obligation to their common master.
32, 33. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, &c.—Before bringing down his vengeance upon him, he calmly points out to him how shamefully unreasonable and heartless his conduct was; which would give the punishment inflicted on him a double sting.
34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors—more than jailers; denoting the severity of the treatment which he thought such a case demanded.
till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35. So likewise—in this spirit, or on this principle.
shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.