17 And G1161 if G1437 he shall neglect to hear G3878 them, G846 tell G2036 it unto the church: G1577 but G1161 G2532 if G1437 he neglect to hear G3878 the church, G1577 let him be G2077 unto thee G4671 as G5618 an heathen man G1482 and G2532 a publican. G5057
Now G1161 we command G3853 you, G5213 brethren, G80 in G1722 the name G3686 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 that ye withdraw G4724 yourselves G5209 from G575 every G3956 brother G80 that walketh G4043 disorderly, G814 and G2532 not G3361 after G2596 the tradition G3862 which G3739 he received G3880 of G3844 us. G2257
For G1063 I G1473 verily, G3303 as G5613 absent G548 in body, G4983 but G1161 present G3918 in spirit, G4151 have judged G2919 already, G2235 as G5613 though I were present, G3918 concerning him that hath G2716 so G3779 done G2716 this deed, G5124 In G1722 the name G3686 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 when ye G5216 are gathered together, G4863 and G2532 my G1699 spirit, G4151 with G4862 the power G1411 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 To deliver G3860 such an one G5108 unto Satan G4567 for G1519 the destruction G3639 of the flesh, G4561 that G2443 the spirit G4151 may be saved G4982 in G1722 the day G2250 of the Lord G2962 Jesus. G2424
I wrote G1125 unto the church: G1577 but G235 Diotrephes, G1361 who G3588 loveth to have the preeminence G5383 among them, G846 receiveth G1926 us G2248 not. G3756 Wherefore, G1223 G5124 if G1437 I come, G2064 I will remember G5279 his G846 deeds G2041 which G3739 he doeth, G4160 prating against G5396 us G2248 with G3056 malicious words: G4190 and G2532 not G3361 content G714 therewith, G1909 G5125 neither G3777 doth G1926 he himself G846 receive G1926 the brethren, G80 and G2532 forbiddeth G2967 them that would, G1014 and G2532 casteth G1544 them out of G1537 the church. G1577
And G1161 if any man G1536 obey G5219 not G3756 our G2257 word G3056 by G1223 this epistle, G1992 note G4593 that G5126 man, and G2532 have G4874 no G3361 company with G4874 him, G846 that G2443 he may be ashamed. G1788 Yet G2532 count G2233 him not G3361 as G5613 an enemy, G2190 but G235 admonish G3560 him as G5613 a brother. G80
And G2532 have G4790 no G3361 fellowship G4790 with the unfruitful G175 works G2041 of darkness, G4655 but G1161 rather G3123 G2532 reprove G1651 them. For G1063 it is G2076 a shame G149 even G2532 to speak G3004 of those things G2931 which are done G1096 of G5259 them G846 in secret. G2931
This G5124 I say G3004 therefore, G3767 and G2532 testify G3143 in G1722 the Lord, G2962 that ye G5209 henceforth G3371 walk G4043 not G3371 as G2531 G2532 other G3062 Gentiles G1484 walk, G4043 in G1722 the vanity G3153 of their G846 mind, G3563 Having the understanding G1271 darkened, G4654 being G5607 alienated G526 from the life G2222 of God G2316 through G1223 the ignorance G52 that is G5607 in G1722 them, G846 because G1223 of the blindness G4457 of their G846 heart: G2588 Who G3748 being past feeling G524 have given G3860 themselves G1438 over G3860 unto lasciviousness, G766 to G1519 work G2039 all G3956 uncleanness G167 with G1722 greediness. G4124
Be ye G1096 not G3361 unequally yoked together G2086 with unbelievers: G571 for G1063 what G5101 fellowship G3352 hath righteousness G1343 with G2532 unrighteousness? G458 and G1161 what G5101 communion G2842 hath light G5457 with G4314 darkness? G4655 And G1161 what G5101 concord G4857 hath Christ G5547 with G4314 Belial? G955 or G2228 what G5101 part G3310 hath he that believeth G4103 with G3326 an infidel? G571 And G1161 what G5101 agreement G4783 hath the temple G3485 of God G2316 with G3326 idols? G1497 for G1063 ye G5210 are G2075 the temple G3485 of the living G2198 God; G2316 as G2531 God G2316 hath said, G2036 G3754 I will dwell G1774 in G1722 them, G846 and G2532 walk in G1704 them; and G2532 I will be G2071 their G846 God, G2316 and G2532 they G846 shall be G2071 my G3427 people. G2992 Wherefore G1352 come out G1831 from G1537 among G3319 them, G846 and G2532 be ye separate, G873 saith G3004 the Lord, G2962 and G2532 touch G680 not G3361 the unclean G169 thing; and G2504 I will receive G1523 you, G5209
And ye shall know H3045 that I am the LORD: H3068 for ye have not walked H1980 in my statutes, H2706 neither executed H6213 my judgments, H4941 but have done H6213 after the manners H4941 of the heathen H1471 that are round about H5439 you.
Perverse disputings G3859 of men G444 of corrupt G1311 minds, G3563 and G2532 destitute G650 of the truth, G225 supposing G3543 that gain G4200 is G1511 godliness: G2150 from G575 such G5108 withdraw thyself. G868
If G1536 there come G2064 any G1536 G5100 unto G4314 you, G5209 and G2532 bring G5342 not G3756 this G5026 doctrine, G1322 receive G2983 him G846 not G3361 into G1519 your house, G3614 neither G2532 G3361 bid G3004 him G846 God speed: G5463 For G1063 he that biddeth G3004 him G846 God speed G5463 is partaker G2841 of his G846 evil G4190 deeds. G2041
Now G1161 I beseech G3870 you, G5209 brethren, G80 mark G4648 them which cause G4160 divisions G1370 and G2532 offences G4625 contrary G3844 to the doctrine G1322 which G3739 ye G5210 have learned; G3129 and G2532 avoid G1578 them. G575 G846 For G1063 they that are such G5108 serve G1398 not G3756 our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 but G235 their own G1438 belly; G2836 and G2532 by G1223 good words G5542 and G2532 fair speeches G2129 deceive G1818 the hearts G2588 of the simple. G172
And G1161 the apostles G652 and G2532 elders G4245 came together G4863 for to consider G1492 of G4012 this G5127 matter. G3056 And G1161 when there had been G1096 much G4183 disputing, G4803 Peter G4074 rose up, G450 and said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Men G435 and brethren, G80 ye G5210 know G1987 how that G3754 a good G744 while G2250 ago G575 God G2316 made choice G1586 among G1722 us, G2254 that the Gentiles G1484 by G1223 my G3450 mouth G4750 should hear G191 the word G3056 of the gospel, G2098 and G2532 believe. G4100
For G1063 if G1437 ye love G25 them which G3588 love G25 you, G5209 what G5101 reward G3408 have ye? G2192 do G4160 not G3780 even G2532 the publicans G5057 the same? G846
Sufficient G2425 to such a man G5108 is this G3778 punishment, G2009 which G3588 was inflicted of G5259 many. G4119 So G5620 that contrariwise G5121 ye G5209 ought rather G3123 to forgive G5483 him, and G2532 comfort G3870 him, lest G3381 perhaps G4458 such a one G5108 should be swallowed up G2666 with overmuch G4055 sorrow. G3077
And G1161 in G1722 those G5025 days, G2250 when the number G4129 of the disciples G3101 was multiplied, G4129 there arose G1096 a murmuring G1112 of the Grecians G1675 against G4314 the Hebrews, G1445 because G3754 their G846 widows G5503 were neglected G3865 in G1722 the daily G2522 ministration. G1248 Then G1161 the twelve G1427 called G4341 the multitude G4128 of the disciples G3101 unto them, and said, G2036 It is G2076 not G3756 reason G701 that we G2248 should leave G2641 the word G3056 of God, G2316 and serve G1247 tables. G5132 Wherefore, G3767 brethren, G80 look ye out G1980 among G1537 you G5216 seven G2033 men G435 of honest report, G3140 full G4134 of the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 and G2532 wisdom, G4678 whom G3739 we may appoint G2525 over G1909 this G5026 business. G5532
And, G2532 behold, G2400 there was a man G435 named G3686 G2564 Zacchaeus, G2195 which G2532 G846 was G2258 the chief among the publicans, G754 and G2532 he G3778 was G2258 rich. G4145 And G2532 he sought G2212 to see G1492 Jesus G2424 who G5101 he was; G2076 and G2532 could G1410 not G3756 for G575 the press, G3793 because G3754 he was G2258 little G3398 of stature. G2244
The Pharisee G5330 stood G2476 and prayed G4336 thus G5023 with G4314 himself, G1438 God, G2316 I thank G2168 thee, G4671 that G3754 I am G1510 not G3756 as G5618 other G3062 men G444 are, extortioners, G727 unjust, G94 adulterers, G3432 or G2228 even G2532 as G5613 this G3778 publican. G5057
Then G1161 drew near G2258 G1448 unto him G846 all G3956 the publicans G5057 and G2532 sinners G268 for to hear G191 him. G846
Whether G5101 of G1537 them twain G1417 did G4160 the will G2307 of his father? G3962 They say G3004 unto him, G846 The first. G4413 Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto them, G846 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 the publicans G5057 and G2532 the harlots G4204 go G4254 into G1519 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 before G4254 you. G5209 For G1063 John G2491 came G2064 unto G4314 you G5209 in G1722 the way G3598 of righteousness, G1343 and G2532 ye believed G4100 him G846 not: G3756 but G1161 the publicans G5057 and G2532 the harlots G4204 believed G4100 him: G846 and G1161 ye, G5210 when ye had seen G1492 it, repented G3338 not G3756 afterward, G5305 that ye might believe G4100 him. G846
The Son G5207 of man G444 came G2064 eating G2068 and G2532 drinking, G4095 and G2532 they say, G3004 Behold G2400 a man G444 gluttonous, G5314 and G2532 a winebibber, G3630 a friend G5384 of publicans G5057 and G2532 sinners. G268 But G2532 wisdom G4678 is justified G1344 of G575 her G846 children. G5043
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.