Matthew 18: The Kingdom of Heaven: Humility, Forgiveness, and Restoration
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
Take heed that ye despise 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.
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
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.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
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.
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
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.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Matthew 18 offers profound insights into the nature of the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing humility, the avoidance of sin, the immense value of each individual, and the crucial importance of forgiveness and church discipline. This chapter, nestled between accounts of Jesus' miracles and prophecies of His suffering, provides practical guidance for believers navigating life in a fallen world.
Who is the Greatest? (Matthew 18:1-6)
The disciples, perhaps driven by ambition, ask Jesus a question that reveals their worldly mindset: "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Matthew 18:1). Jesus's response is both surprising and deeply instructive. He calls a child, placing him in their midst, and declares that unless they "turn and become like children," they cannot even enter the kingdom (Matthew 18:3).
Jesus isn't advocating for naiveté, but for a childlike faith – a humble dependence on God, a trusting acceptance of our limitations. In the Roman world, children held little social standing and were completely dependent on their parents. Similarly, believers should humbly depend on their heavenly Father. True greatness, according to Jesus, lies not in worldly power or status, but in humility. "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4). Those who welcome and serve these humble "children" of faith are, in essence, welcoming and serving Jesus Himself (Matthew 18:5).
However, Jesus also issues a stark warning: woe to those who cause these little ones to stumble (Matthew 18:6). To lead a believer astray, to damage their faith, carries a severe consequence. Jesus uses hyperbolic language, suggesting it would be better to be drowned in the sea with a heavy millstone around one's neck than to face the judgment awaiting those who harm the faith of others.
Stumbling Blocks and God's Value (Matthew 18:7-14)
Jesus acknowledges that temptations are unavoidable in a fallen world (Matthew 18:7). But this does not excuse sin. He uses vivid imagery – cutting off a hand or gouging out an eye – to illustrate the radical effort we must make to avoid sin and its devastating consequences (Matthew 18:8-9). He isn't advocating for literal self-mutilation, but emphasizing the importance of addressing sin at its root, in the heart and mind (see Matthew 5:21-30). The spiritual realm is far more important than the physical, and avoiding eternal judgment must be our priority.
Despite the seriousness of sin, Jesus reminds us of God's immense love and value for each individual. He uses the parable of the lost sheep to illustrate this point. If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one wanders off, he will leave the ninety-nine to search for the lost one (Matthew 18:12-13). God's will is that none of His "little ones" should perish (Matthew 18:14). Just as the shepherd rejoices over the found sheep, God rejoices when a lost soul is restored. We should never despise the humble, because God assigns angels to watch over them (Matthew 18:10).
Dealing with Sin in the Church (Matthew 18:15-20)
Jesus then addresses the difficult but necessary topic of church discipline. He outlines a process for confronting a fellow believer who has sinned. First, the wronged party should approach the offender privately (Matthew 18:15). The goal is not punishment or embarrassment, but restoration. "If he listens to you, you have won your brother." This involves "a brother"—a fellow believer, not a non-Christian. The concern is your brother’s “sin,” a violation of God’s standards.
If the individual refuses to listen, the next step is to return with one or two witnesses (Matthew 18:16), adhering to the Old Testament principle of establishing facts through multiple testimonies (Deuteronomy 19:15). This ensures the issue is not a personal squabble but a genuine case of unrepentant sin. The witnesses must be able to testify to the truthfulness of the charge. If the sinner remains unrepentant, the matter should be brought before the church (Matthew 18:17). The church is the final court of appeal, but it’s also a family.
If the individual still refuses to listen, they are to be treated "like a Gentile and a tax collector" (Matthew 18:17). This is the painful step of excommunication, where the person is no longer considered a member of the community. This is not done out of malice, but to protect the church and to encourage the individual to recognize the seriousness of their sin and repent. The church should pray for the straying sinner, holding out hope that the Lord might lead him to repentance. If he rejects his sinful lifestyle, the church should welcome him with forgiveness and an affirmation of love (see 2 Corinthians 2:5-8).
Jesus reiterates the authority given to His disciples, stating that "whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:18). When a congregation acts in accordance with Scripture to promote God’s glory and the good of an erring member, heaven backs up the church. He also emphasizes the power of prayer, stating that "if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19). He concludes this section with the powerful promise that "where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20).
Unlimited Forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35)
Peter, perhaps thinking he is being generous, asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, suggesting seven times (Matthew 18:21). Jesus's response is emphatic: "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22). Forgiveness has no limits.
To illustrate this, Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant. A servant owes the king an astronomical sum of money – 10,000 talents, an amount impossible to repay (Matthew 18:23-24). The king, moved by the servant's plea, forgives the entire debt (Matthew 18:25-27). However, this same servant then finds a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller amount – 100 denarii (Matthew 18:28). Despite being shown immense mercy, he refuses to forgive his fellow servant and has him thrown into prison (Matthew 18:28-30).
When the king hears of this, he is furious. He rebukes the unmerciful servant, asking, "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" (Matthew 18:32-33). The king then throws the unmerciful servant into prison to be tortured until he pays back the entire debt – an impossibility, highlighting the permanence of the sentence (Matthew 18:34).
Jesus concludes the parable with a sobering warning: "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart" (Matthew 18:35). If God cancels our sin debts, we must do the same for those who sin against us. Our debt to God is infinitely greater than our brother’s debt to us. This parable underscores the vital connection between receiving God's forgiveness and extending forgiveness to others. A lack of forgiveness reveals a lack of genuine understanding of God's grace in our own lives. It also implies that those who do not demonstrate a forgiving heart likely don't have a forgiven relationship with Christ. We cannot expect or demand mercy that we’re unwilling to give. According to Jesus, we should offer forgiveness in the same way and to the same degree that we desire it from God.
Matthew 18 is a powerful call to humility, a warning against causing others to stumble, and a profound reminder of the boundless forgiveness offered to us by God, a forgiveness we are called to extend to others. It provides practical guidance on how to address sin within the church community, emphasizing restoration and reconciliation. By embracing these principles, we can better reflect the character of Christ and live out the values of the kingdom of heaven.
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
Take heed that ye despise 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.
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
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.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
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.
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
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.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Matthew 18 offers profound insights into the nature of the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing humility, the avoidance of sin, the immense value of each individual, and the crucial importance of forgiveness and church discipline. This chapter, nestled between accounts of Jesus' miracles and prophecies of His suffering, provides practical guidance for believers navigating life in a fallen world.
Who is the Greatest? (Matthew 18:1-6)
The disciples, perhaps driven by ambition, ask Jesus a question that reveals their worldly mindset: "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Matthew 18:1). Jesus's response is both surprising and deeply instructive. He calls a child, placing him in their midst, and declares that unless they "turn and become like children," they cannot even enter the kingdom (Matthew 18:3).
Jesus isn't advocating for naiveté, but for a childlike faith – a humble dependence on God, a trusting acceptance of our limitations. In the Roman world, children held little social standing and were completely dependent on their parents. Similarly, believers should humbly depend on their heavenly Father. True greatness, according to Jesus, lies not in worldly power or status, but in humility. "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4). Those who welcome and serve these humble "children" of faith are, in essence, welcoming and serving Jesus Himself (Matthew 18:5).
However, Jesus also issues a stark warning: woe to those who cause these little ones to stumble (Matthew 18:6). To lead a believer astray, to damage their faith, carries a severe consequence. Jesus uses hyperbolic language, suggesting it would be better to be drowned in the sea with a heavy millstone around one's neck than to face the judgment awaiting those who harm the faith of others.
Stumbling Blocks and God's Value (Matthew 18:7-14)
Jesus acknowledges that temptations are unavoidable in a fallen world (Matthew 18:7). But this does not excuse sin. He uses vivid imagery – cutting off a hand or gouging out an eye – to illustrate the radical effort we must make to avoid sin and its devastating consequences (Matthew 18:8-9). He isn't advocating for literal self-mutilation, but emphasizing the importance of addressing sin at its root, in the heart and mind (see Matthew 5:21-30). The spiritual realm is far more important than the physical, and avoiding eternal judgment must be our priority.
Despite the seriousness of sin, Jesus reminds us of God's immense love and value for each individual. He uses the parable of the lost sheep to illustrate this point. If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one wanders off, he will leave the ninety-nine to search for the lost one (Matthew 18:12-13). God's will is that none of His "little ones" should perish (Matthew 18:14). Just as the shepherd rejoices over the found sheep, God rejoices when a lost soul is restored. We should never despise the humble, because God assigns angels to watch over them (Matthew 18:10).
Dealing with Sin in the Church (Matthew 18:15-20)
Jesus then addresses the difficult but necessary topic of church discipline. He outlines a process for confronting a fellow believer who has sinned. First, the wronged party should approach the offender privately (Matthew 18:15). The goal is not punishment or embarrassment, but restoration. "If he listens to you, you have won your brother." This involves "a brother"—a fellow believer, not a non-Christian. The concern is your brother’s “sin,” a violation of God’s standards.
If the individual refuses to listen, the next step is to return with one or two witnesses (Matthew 18:16), adhering to the Old Testament principle of establishing facts through multiple testimonies (Deuteronomy 19:15). This ensures the issue is not a personal squabble but a genuine case of unrepentant sin. The witnesses must be able to testify to the truthfulness of the charge. If the sinner remains unrepentant, the matter should be brought before the church (Matthew 18:17). The church is the final court of appeal, but it’s also a family.
If the individual still refuses to listen, they are to be treated "like a Gentile and a tax collector" (Matthew 18:17). This is the painful step of excommunication, where the person is no longer considered a member of the community. This is not done out of malice, but to protect the church and to encourage the individual to recognize the seriousness of their sin and repent. The church should pray for the straying sinner, holding out hope that the Lord might lead him to repentance. If he rejects his sinful lifestyle, the church should welcome him with forgiveness and an affirmation of love (see 2 Corinthians 2:5-8).
Jesus reiterates the authority given to His disciples, stating that "whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:18). When a congregation acts in accordance with Scripture to promote God’s glory and the good of an erring member, heaven backs up the church. He also emphasizes the power of prayer, stating that "if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19). He concludes this section with the powerful promise that "where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20).
Unlimited Forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35)
Peter, perhaps thinking he is being generous, asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, suggesting seven times (Matthew 18:21). Jesus's response is emphatic: "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22). Forgiveness has no limits.
To illustrate this, Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant. A servant owes the king an astronomical sum of money – 10,000 talents, an amount impossible to repay (Matthew 18:23-24). The king, moved by the servant's plea, forgives the entire debt (Matthew 18:25-27). However, this same servant then finds a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller amount – 100 denarii (Matthew 18:28). Despite being shown immense mercy, he refuses to forgive his fellow servant and has him thrown into prison (Matthew 18:28-30).
When the king hears of this, he is furious. He rebukes the unmerciful servant, asking, "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" (Matthew 18:32-33). The king then throws the unmerciful servant into prison to be tortured until he pays back the entire debt – an impossibility, highlighting the permanence of the sentence (Matthew 18:34).
Jesus concludes the parable with a sobering warning: "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart" (Matthew 18:35). If God cancels our sin debts, we must do the same for those who sin against us. Our debt to God is infinitely greater than our brother’s debt to us. This parable underscores the vital connection between receiving God's forgiveness and extending forgiveness to others. A lack of forgiveness reveals a lack of genuine understanding of God's grace in our own lives. It also implies that those who do not demonstrate a forgiving heart likely don't have a forgiven relationship with Christ. We cannot expect or demand mercy that we’re unwilling to give. According to Jesus, we should offer forgiveness in the same way and to the same degree that we desire it from God.
Matthew 18 is a powerful call to humility, a warning against causing others to stumble, and a profound reminder of the boundless forgiveness offered to us by God, a forgiveness we are called to extend to others. It provides practical guidance on how to address sin within the church community, emphasizing restoration and reconciliation. By embracing these principles, we can better reflect the character of Christ and live out the values of the kingdom of heaven.