The Gospel According to
Matthew 18
34 verses≈ 6 min4 peopleBSB
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In this chapter
The Greatest in the Kingdom
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
0:29
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
unless you change and become like little children
Matthew 18:3
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Temptations and Trespasses
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Woe to the world for the causes of sin.
These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.
What do you think?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Reflect
The one that is lost
The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine “on the hills” to go after one. Your Father “is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” Who is the one that has wandered from you, or from your church? What would it look like to go out and search?
A Brother Who Sins
Ask in My Name
Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”
The Unforgiving Servant
Peter
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
How many times?
Whiteboard
Peter thought seven was generous. Jesus turns the number into something no one can keep track of. Then He tells a story to show why: people who have been forgiven a fortune do not keep score.
Question
Quick question
The first servant owed his king “ten thousand talents.” His fellow servant owed him “a hundred denarii.”
About how many days’ wages was ten thousand talents?
When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.
The king
Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.
Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?
Matthew 18:33
That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
Pray
From the heart
The king “had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.” Before you ask for the strength to forgive, thank God for how much He has forgiven you. Then name the person you find hardest to release, and ask Him to help you forgive “from your heart.”
You’ve experienced
Matthew 18
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A verse to carry with you
For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.
Matthew 18:20
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