Day Eighteen – Friday, January 24, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Matthew 18

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Instruction About Humility

Mark 9:33–37; Luke 9:46–48 (Parallel)

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”² Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³ and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 18:1–5.

Points to Ponder:

• The disciples, like many people in the Christian faith mistakenly do, asked about who was greatest in the new Kingdom Christ was preaching.
• Jesus used a great analogy to explain true greatness. He brought a child near Him and said that every one of His disciples must become like a little child if they are to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
• He said they cannot even be part of the team unless they learn to humble themselves like a child. Humility leads to acceptance. Acceptance leads to opportunity, Opportunity makes declaring the greatness of God possible.
• Jesus then said that those who blesses a child blesses Him. Be nice and caring and nurturing to children. It is God’s way.

Punishment of Offenders

Mark 9:42–48 (Parallel)

⁶ “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!⁸ “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, 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.¹⁰ “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. ¹¹ For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 18:6–11.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus goes further in His teaching on the protection of and ministry to children.
• Jesus announced severe punishment to those who cause a little child to sin. He says it would be better if they were killed than if they faced God after leading a child astray.
• Jesus said that sins and offenses will come into the world, but the perpetrators would be caught up in great sorrow and woe. He warns those who would cause such offense that they would be better off lame than to be sent into hell.
• Jesus again says not to despise or harm a child, because He keeps watch over them. You cannot hurt a child and escape the knowledge of God.
• He sums up by saying that He came to save that which was lost.

Parable of the Lost Sheep

Luke 15:4–7 (Parallel)

¹² “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? ¹³ And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. ¹⁴ Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 18:12–14.

Points to Ponder:

• Case in point: Jesus recounts a shepherd that kept 100 sheep, and one went astray.
• What did the good shepherd do? He left the 99 safe in the fold, and went to find the lost sheep. When he did find that sheep, he rejoiced greatly, perhaps even more so than for the 99 still in the fold.
• Jesus said that the Father does not will that any child should perish.

The Offended Brother

¹⁵ “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ ¹⁷ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.¹⁸ “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.¹⁹ “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 18:15–20.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus then taught about reconciliation.
• If your brother sins against you, then go and tell him of the offense and attempt reconciliation. If he hears and makes things right, you have regained your brother or sister. If that does not settle the matter, take two or three with you to mediate. If that does not work, then take him before the church for adjudication.
• If he still will not hear your concern and make things right, then he should be considered a heathen. This is the process of reconciliation and adjudication of offenses in the church.
• Jesus then speaks to the power of agreement.
• When Christians operate in unity and agreement according to God’s will, they can bind something on earth and it will be bound in heaven. Two or three agreeing together can petition God and He will do what they ask. He is in the midst of them, and they have power in the spiritual realm.

Instruction About Forgiveness

²¹ Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. ²³ Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. ²⁶ The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ ²⁷ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.²⁸ “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ ³⁰ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. ³¹ So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. ³² Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ³³ Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ ³⁴ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.³⁵ “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 18:21–35.

Points to Ponder:

• Peter approached Jesus at this time for clarification on the whole forgiveness matter. He asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone for the same sin in a day (according to some scholars). He asked if seven times was enough. To Peter, this seemed like a lot of grace. Was it?
• Jesus probably shocked the disciples when He told them no. Not just seven times, but 490 times. This was not even meant to be an exact number, but a grossly exaggerated number to prove a point (Oriental Hyperbole). Surely, no one would lie the same lie to you 490 times in a day? Yet, Jesus made it clear that grace is the rule.
• Jesus then shared a parable about a servant who owed his king ten thousand talents. When it came time to settle the accounts, the servant could not pay this exorbitant amount back. The order was given that the servant be put in debtors prison where he could work off the debt, or at least be sold as a slave and his family to help with the debt.
• The servant cried to the king for mercy, and promised to pay it all back. The king, his master, had compassion and forgave the debt.
• Sources say that ten thousand talents of silver in the days of Jesus would be conservatively worth over two hundred million dollars, and possibly up to three billion dollars.
• The forgiven servant then called upon one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, which is one hundred days wages. At $20 an hour, that would come to about sixteen thousand dollars. He told him he must pay what he owed, and he asked for mercy as he did not have it.
• The forgiven servant did not extend mercy, and had the fellow servant thrown into debtors prison where he could earn money to pay off the debt.
• When the king heard about this, he called the servant into his chamber again and condemned his wickedness. He had been extended mercy, but did not extend mercy to his fellow servant. The servant was then delivered to the taskmasters to work until he paid his enormous debt.
• Jesus said the heavenly father would do the same to us if we do not forgive our brothers and sisters. When you feel mad at your fellow servants of God, make sure you remember all for which God has forgiven you.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page.