18 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Whatsoever G3745 G1437 ye shall bind G1210 on G1909 earth G1093 shall be G2071 bound G1210 in G1722 heaven: G3772 and G2532 whatsoever G3745 G1437 ye shall loose G3089 on G1909 earth G1093 shall be G2071 loosed G3089 in G1722 heaven. G3772
And G2532 I will give G1325 unto thee G4671 the keys G2807 of the kingdom G932 of heaven: G3772 and G2532 whatsoever G3739 G1437 thou shalt bind G1210 on G1909 earth G1093 shall be G2071 bound G1210 in G1722 heaven: G3772 and G2532 whatsoever G3739 G1437 thou shalt loose G3089 on G1909 earth G1093 shall be G2071 loosed G3089 in G1722 heaven. G3772
Whose G5100 soever G302 sins G266 ye remit, G863 they are remitted G863 unto them; G846 and whose G5100 soever G302 sins ye retain, G2902 they are retained. G2902
And G2532 to the angel G32 of the church G1577 in G1722 Philadelphia G5359 write; G1125 These things G3592 saith G3004 he that is holy, G40 he that is true, G228 he that hath G2192 the key G2807 of David, G1138 he that openeth, G455 and G2532 no man G3762 shutteth; G2808 and G2532 shutteth, G2808 and G2532 no man G3762 openeth; G455 I know G1492 thy G4675 works: G2041 behold, G2400 I have set G1325 before G1799 thee G4675 an open G455 door, G2374 and G2532 no man G3762 can G1410 shut G2808 it: G846 for G3754 thou hast G2192 a little G3398 strength, G1411 and G2532 hast kept G5083 my G3450 word, G3056 and G2532 hast G720 not G3756 denied G720 my G3450 name. G3686
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 18
Commentary on Matthew 18 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 18
The gospels are, in short, a record of what Jesus began both to do and to teach. In the foregoing chapter, we had an account of his doings, in this, of his teachings; probably, not all at the same time, in a continued discourse, but at several times, upon divers occasions, here put together, as near akin. We have here,
See how practical Christ's preaching was; he could have revealed mysteries, but he pressed plain duties, especially those that are most displeasing to flesh and blood.
Mat 18:1-6
As there never was a greater pattern of humility, so there never was a greater preacher of it, than Christ; he took all occasions to command it, to commend it, to his disciples and followers.
Christ here teacheth them to be humble,
Those that thus humble themselves will be afraid,
Observe,
Mat 18:7-14
Our Savior here speaks of offences, or scandals,
Here is,
Observe, Christ called God, v. 19, my Father which is in heaven; he calls him, v. 14, your Father which is in heaven; intimating that he is not ashamed to call his poor disciples brethren; for have not he and they one Father? I ascend to my Father and your Father (Jn. 20:17); therefore ours because his. This intimates likewise the ground of the safety of his little ones; that God is their Father, and is therefore inclined to succour them. A father takes care of all his children, but is particularly tender of the little ones, Gen. 33:13. He is their Father in heaven, a place of prospect, and therefore he sees all the indignities offered them; and a place of power, therefore he is able to avenge them. This comforts offended little ones, that their Witness is in heaven (Job 16:19), their Judge is there, Ps. 68:5.
Mat 18:15-20
Christ, having cautioned his disciples not to give offence, comes next to direct them what they must do in case of offences given them; which may be understood either of personal injuries, and then these directions are intended for the preserving of the peace of the church; or of public scandals, and then they are intended for the preserving of the purity and beauty of the church. Let us consider it both ways.
"Tell him his fault, elenxon auton-argue the case with him' (so the word signifies); "and do it with reason and argument, not with passion.' Where the fault is plain and great, the person proper for us to deal with, and we have an opportunity for it, and there is no apparent danger of doing more hurt than good, we must with meekness and faithfulness tell people of what is amiss in them. Christian reproof is an ordinance of Christ for the bringing of sinners to repentance, and must be managed as an ordinance. "Let the reproof be private, between thee and him alone; that it may appear you seek not his reproach, but his repentance.' Note, It is a good rule, which should ordinarily be observed among Christians, not to speak of our brethren's faults to others, till we have first spoken of them to themselves, this would make less reproaching and more reproving; that is, less sin committed, and more duty done. It will be likely to work upon an offender, when he sees his reprover concerned not only for his salvation, in telling him his fault, but for his reputation in telling him of it privately.
"If he shall hear thee'-that is, "heed thee-if he be wrought upon by the reproof, it is well, thou hast gained thy brother; thou hast helped to save him from sin and ruin, and it will be thy credit and comfort,' James 5:19, 20. Note, The converting of a soul is the winning of that soul (Prov. 11:30); and we should covet it, and labour after it, as gain to us; and, if the loss of a soul be a great loss, the gain of a soul is sure no small gain.
"Take with thee one or two more;
Now it is a great honour which Christ here puts upon the church, that he will condescend not only to take cognizance of their sentences, but to confirm them; and in the following verses we have two things laid down as ground of this.
Though but two or three are met together, Christ is among them; this is an encouragement to the meeting of a few, when it is either,
Mat 18:21-35
This part of the discourse concerning offences is certainly to be understood of personal wrongs, which is in our power to forgive. Now observe,
There are three things in the parable.
But,
See here,