Matthew 18
Matthew 18 | |
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← Carl Heinrich Bloch | |
Book | Gospel of Matthew |
Category | Gospel |
Christian Bible part | New Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 1 |
Gospel of Matthew |
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Chapters |
Chapter 18 of the
Structure
The chapter can be divided into the following subsections:
- The Little Children(18:1–5)
- Jesus warns of offences (18:6-7)
- If thy hand offend thee (18:8–9)
- Parable of the Lost Sheep (18:10–14)
- Binding and loosing (18:15–18)
- Prayer in common (18:19-20) [5]
- Parable of the unforgiving servant(18:21–35)
Text
The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 35 verses.
Textual witnesses
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
- Papyrus 25 (4th century; extant verses 32–34)
- Codex Vaticanus (325-350)
- Codex Sinaiticus (330-360)
- Codex Bezae (~400)
- Codex Washingtonianus (~400)
- Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (~450)
- Codex Purpureus Rossanensis(6th century)
- Codex Petropolitanus Purpureus (6th century; extant verses 6-25)
- Codex Sinopensis(6th century; extant verses 4-30)
- Papyrus 44 (6th/7th century; extant verses 15–17, 19)
Receiving believers (18:1–11)
Verse 3
- "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."[6]
"Be converted" is more literally translated as "be turned ... so as to go in an opposite direction".
Verse 6
- “But 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."[9]
This verse is Jesus' warning about causing other people, particularly children ("one of these little ones"), to sin.[10] The imagery of a millstone around one's neck serves to highlight the severity of the sin of promoting sin or encouraging others to sin.[11] The fact that Jesus states that "it would be better"[12] to have such a heavy thing around one's neck and fall into the waters of the sea than to commit a deed shows how serious the act of leading someone astray is.[13]
Verse 7
- "Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes![14]
Woe to the world (Greek: οὐαὶ τῶ κόσμῳ, Ouai tō kosmō).
In Matthew 18:7, Jesus utters "an exclamation of pity at thought of the miseries that come upon mankind through ambitious passions".[7]
Verse 11
- ηλθεν γαρ ο υιος του ανθρωπου σωσαι το απολωλος
- For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.[15]
Verse 11 is present in some ancient texts but not in others. It appears in the
The local church (18:12–35)
Commentator John Philips looks at this chapter in relation to the local church or community of believers.
Restoring backsliders (18:12–14)
The threefold function of a local church is not only to receive new believers into its midst (cf. 18:1–11), but also to restore of backsliders and to reconcile brethren (18:15–35).[17] The restoration of backsliders is illustrated by Jesus in a story of the lost sheep and the loving shepherd, which is more fully told and elaborated into a three-part story in Luke 15 concerning a lost sheep, a lost piece of silver, and a lost son.[18]
Reconciling brethren (18:15–35)
The third of the threefold functions of a local church (after receiving new believers in 18:1–11 and restoring backsliders in 18:12–14) is to reconcile brethren.[19] Allison observes that "as soon as [Jesus] finishes the subject of disciplinary measures, he talks about reconciliation and forgiveness. The pastoral effect is to strike a balance".[2]
Jesus teaches that the attempt to reconcile a brother involves three steps: the Christian Love Rules (18:15), the Common Law Rules (18:16) and the Christian Leaders Rule (18:17–20), which is followed by an exposition of forgiveness (18:21–22) accompanied by a parable about a man whose debt is forgiven but refused to forgive others and therefore is punished (18:23–35).[20]
Verses 15-17 are of particular significance to Baptists in their support of the principle of autonomy of the local church.[b]
Verse 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.[21]
If a sinner remains recalcitrant, even after the matter is brought to the whole community, then the person must be regarded as "outside the community" ("excommunication").[2]
Verse 18
- Truly 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.[22]
Cross reference: Matthew 16:19, John 20:23
Verse 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.[23]
This verse opens with "Again, truly ..." in the New International Version, drawing on the inclusion of Greek: ἀμὴν, amēn, in some manuscripts.[24]
Henry Alford links this verse with Mark 10:35, where James and John "nearly repeat these words", but without properly understanding them: "Teacher", they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask".[25][26]
See also
References
Notes
- ^ See also Binding and loosing
- ^ See Baptist beliefs
Citations
- ^ Jensen 1998, pp. 25, 158.
- ^ a b c d Allison 2007, p. 867.
- ^ a b Chouinard 1997, p. 321.
- ^ a b Toussaint 2005, pp. 215–216.
- ^ Jerusalem Bible (1966)
- ^ Matthew 18:3 NKJV
- ^ a b Nicoll, W. R. "Expositor's Greek Testament on Matthew 18". Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ^ Gundry 1982, p. 131.
- ^ "Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 18:6 - New King James Version". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "The Seriousness of Sin | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org". Ligonier Ministries. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "What is the millstone award?". GotQuestions.blog. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "What is the millstone award?". GotQuestions.blog. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "53. Taking Sin Seriously (Luke 17:1-4) | Bible.org". bible.org. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ Matthew 18:7 NKJV
- ^ Matthew 18:11 NKJV
- ^ Note on Matthew 18:11 in NKJV
- ^ Phillips 2005, pp. 363, 366.
- ^ Phillips 2005, p. 364.
- ^ Phillips 2005, pp. 363, 368.
- ^ Phillips 2005, pp. 368–370.
- ^ Matthew 18:17 NKJV
- ^ Matthew 18:18 MEV
- ^ Matthew 18:19: NKJV
- ^ Matthew 18:19: SBL Greek New Testament
- ^ Mark 10:35: NKJV
- ^ Alford, H. (1841-1861), Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary - Alford on Matthew 18, accessed 10 September 2023
Sources
- Allison, Dale C. Jr. (2007). "57. Matthew". In ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- Chouinard, Larry (1997). Matthew. ISBN 0-89900-628-0.
- Gundry, Robert H. (1982). Matthew a Commentary on his Literary and Theological Art. Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans.
- Jensen, Richard A. (1998). Preaching Matthew's Gospel. ISBN 978-0-7880-1221-1.
- Phillips, John (2005). Exploring the Gospel of Matthew: An Expository Commentary. The John Phillips Commentary Series. Vol. 1 (reprint ed.). Kregel Academic. ISBN 9780825433924.
- Toussaint, Stanley D. (2005). Behold the King: A Study of Matthew. ISBN 0-8254-3845-4.
External links
- English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate
- Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
- Multiple bible versions at Bible Gateway (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)
Preceded by Matthew 17 |
Chapters of the New Testament Gospel of Matthew |
Succeeded by Matthew 19 |