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Matthew Chapter
Eighteen
I.
Content of the Chapter
The State that the Citizens of the
II. Receive each
other------do not offend others (v.5-11).
III. Seek each
other------do not cause anyone to get lost (v.12-14).
IV. Retrieve each
other------one or two agree concerning anything that they ask and are gathered
in the name of the Lord (v.15-20).
V. Forgive each
other------forgive his brother from his heart (v.21-35).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Matt. 18:1 “At that time the
disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then is greatest in the
kingdom of heaven?’”
YLT: “At that hour came
the disciples near to Jesus, saying, `Who, now, is greater in the reign of the
heavens?’”
Literal Meaning: “at that time” is
the same time when the Lord taught Peter to take a fish for a piece of money to
pay for the tax (See Matt. 17:27).
“Who then is greatest in the kingdom of
heaven?” The disciples asked this question. It proved that they liked to be
great, they even had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest (See
Mark. 9:33-34).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Not merely the world likes to dispute that who
is the greatest, but also this difficulty exists in the assembly.
2) The inclination to dispute that who is the
greatest is of the natural life of the old man. Only those who live in the
spiritual life of the new man are able to solve this problem.
Matt. 18:2 “Then Jesus called a
little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,”
YLT: “And Jesus having
called near a child, did set him in the midst of them,”
Matt. 18:3 “and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and
become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
YLT: “and said, `Verily I
say to you, if ye may not be turned and become as the children, ye may not
enter into the reign of the heavens;”
Meaning of Words: “converted”:
transform, change; “becomes”: cause to be, be fulfilled;
Literal Meaning: “unless you are
converted” The passive voice “are converted” shows that this can not be done by
men’s natural power. One’s life and disposition need be changed by the power of
God. Certainly, this kind of conversion is definitely not an affectation in
appearance. The Lord indicated that one not only has to repent and be born from
above, but also he should let the life of God change his disposition.
“Become as little children” “Little
children” have many disadvantages and advantages, compared with grown-ups; the
Lord did not want them to be as ignorant as little children (See 1Cor. 3:1-3)
or unable to discern both good and evil (See Eph. 4:14), or unable to eat meat
(See Heb. 5:12-14), etc. The Lord asked them to be as “humble” as children (See
v.4). This feature shows that: children are simple and pure, they feel lowly
and fully rely on their parents and they are willing to hear and obey their
parents, etc.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Here it is not “act” as little children, but
“become” as little children. Therefore one is able to rest in his present
standing and does not feel strenuous or at a disadvantage.
2) The Lord’s words show that our old men and old
dispositions have no place in the kingdom of heaven because God sets Himself
against the proud (James. 4:6, 1Pet5. 5).
Matt. 18:4 “Therefore whoever humbles
himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
YLT: “whoever then may
humble himself as this child, he is the greater in the reign of the heavens.”
Meaning of Words: “humble”: depress,
bring low, abase.
Literal Meaning: “humbles himself”:
bring low himself and do not let the self be free.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) A child holds that he has nothing to boast and
therefore his humbleness is sincere. Anyone who holds that he is nothing, owns
nothing and only leads a life relying on God’s mercy and grace is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven.
2) The Lord humbled Himself and therefore He was
highly exalted by God (Pill. 2:8-9). The principle in spiritual realm is that
for every one who humbles himself shall be exalted (See Luke. 18:14).
3) The humbler one is, the more he is able to be
reigned by God and the greater he is in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 18:5 “Whoever receives one
little child like this in My name receives Me.”
YLT: “`And he who may
receive one such child in my name, doth receive me,”
Literal Meaning: “receives…in My
name” “In My name” has three meanings: 1) in order to glorify the name of the
Lord; 2) for the Lord Himself; 3) according to the fact that the counterpart is
of the Lord. “Receive”: welcome, be concerned about, accept willingly.
“Whoever receives one little child like
this receives Me.” “Little child” indicates believers who are spiritually naïve
and weak. Grown-ups always dislike the childishness, ignorance and bother of
children. Only those who become little children are able to receive those who
are children in minds willingly (See 1Cor. 13:11, 14:20). This kind of
reception shall be remembered by the Lord (See Matt. 10:42, 25:40).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should love both Christ and all the Saints.
2) In the sight of
the Lord, our attitudes towards men are equivalent to our attitudes towards
Himself (See Matt. 10:40).
Matt. 18:6 “‘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.”
YLT: “and whoever may
cause to stumble one of those little ones who are believing in me, it is better
for him that a weighty millstone may be hanged upon his neck, and he may be
sunk in the depth of the sea.”
Literal Meaning: “whoever causes one
of these little ones who believe in Me to sin,” “Little ones who believe in Me”
indicate any common believer. “To sin” indicates one’s faith in the Lord is
shaken so that he even departs from the righteous way or commits sins.
“It would be better for him if a
millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the
sea.” “A millstone” is literally translated as “the millstone for the donkey to
turn” which is much bigger than the common mill for house application (See
Matt. 24:41). Therefore it must be very heavy. If it were hung around one’s
neck, not only he would be drowned in the depth of the sea, but also it is
impossible for him to emerge from the surface
of the sea.
Spiritual Meaning: “it would be better
for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the
depth of the sea” indicates that this man would cause others to sin because of
his pride and hardened neck. The Lord here meant that this kind of people who
cause others to sin are useless in the assembly. It would be better to treat
them as Gentiles (“drowned in the depth of the sea”) and have no company with
them (See 2Thess. 3:14), lest they may continually harm others.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Believers, in the assembly, should be those who
supply the spiritual bread (“a millstone”). However, if one always offends
others, even though he is spiritually talented, he is useless.
2) A millstone could help men grind grain for men’s
living. It could also be used to drown men into the sea and deprive the meaning
of men’s existence. Whether something is positive or negative depends on men’s
own spiritual state.
Matt. 18:7 “Woe to the world because
of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense
comes!”
YLT: “`Wo to the world
from the stumbling-blocks! for there is a necessity for the stumbling-blocks to
come, but wo to that man through whom the stumbling-block doth come!”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord treated it very serious to offend
others. Though believers who offend others shall not lose the eternal life,
they must suffer great losses in the kingdom.
2) Though in the assembly, offenses must come
whether it is on purpose or not. However if it is possible, we have to be
careful and do our utmost to avoid offending others.
3) The main reason to offend others or be offended
by others is pride. A proud man either offends others or is offended by others.
Matt. 18:8 “‘If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off
and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed,
rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting
fire.”
YLT: “`And if thy hand or
thy foot doth cause thee to stumble, cut them off and cast from thee; it is
good for thee to enter into the life lame or maimed, rather than having two
hands or two feet, to be cast to the fire the age-during.”
Literal Meaning: “the everlasting
fire” indicates that the fire in the hell is not quenched (See Mark. 9:44).
Spiritual Meaning: “hand” symbolizes
behaviors and methods; “foot” symbolizes position and way.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The one who is easy to offend others usually
offend himself first. If someone is unwilling to offend others, he has to learn
not to offend himself first.
2) One should pay price to remove every cause of
offenses and should not harden his neck or hold on his existing methods and position
(See Rom. 14:13, 21).
3) One has to strictly deal with any person or
thing that may cause to offend men. We would rather let the Lord deprive us of
the material and external perfectness in this life than inherit the spiritual
and everlasting losses and loses of life.
Matt. 18:9 “And if your eye causes
you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter
into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”
YLT: “`And if thine eye
doth cause thee to stumble, pluck it out and cast from thee; it is good for
thee one-eyed to enter into the life, rather than having two eyes to be cast to
the gehenna of the fire.”
Literal Meaning: “cast into hell
fire” “hell” is the place for sinners to be tortured forever. “Cast into hell
fire” indicates the second death (See Rev. 20:14).
Spiritual Meaning: “eye” symbolizes
sight, view, the lust of the eyes, desire.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If one holds on his own idea, he shall offend
himself and others. If he does not deal with it, he will suffer spiritual
losses (See 1Cor. 3:15).
2) If our eyes despise others (See v.10), we have
to pluck them out (i.e. deal with them). The reason why men despise others is
that they have thought soberly and think of themselves more highly than they
ought to think (
Matt. 18:10 “‘Take heed that you do not despise one of these
little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face
of My Father who is in heaven.”
YLT: “`Beware! ye may not
despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their messengers in
the heavens do always behold the face of my Father who is in the heavens,”
Literal Meaning: “their angels” Every
believer has angels that serve him no matter
how insignificant he is (See Heb. 1:14, Acts. 12:15).
“Always see the face of My Father who is
in heaven” The angels who take care of little children always stand before the
Father, indicating God’s mercy and help at any time.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It is the spirit of the world to despise one of
these little ones. The spirit of the heavenly kingdom is to receive little ones
and not to offend anyone of little ones (See v.5-6).
2) The main reason to offend others is to be proud
and despise others.
3) There is no acceptance of persons with God (Rom.
2:11). Therefore anyone who despises men may hurt the Father in the Heaven. God
values and takes care of those who are despised by men.
4) To every believer, there probably is more than
one angel that serves us by ascending and descending on the heavenly ladder
(See John.1:51, Gen. 28:12) to deliver our prayer and God’s grace.
Matt. 18:11 “For the Son of Man has
come to save that which was lost.”
YLT: “for the Son of Man
did come to save the lost.”
Literal Meaning: “that which was
lost” means “the lost” in origin and this word indicates both the lost sinners
(See Luke. 15:3-7) and the lost believers. Here it should be the latter
according to the context. Therefore “that which was lost” does not indicate
those who are on the way that leads to destruction but believers who fall in
the world and sins.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christ comes not to offend men or cause them to
sin but to save men.
2) Christ is preserver of all man, especially of
those that believe (1Tim. 4:10).
Matt. 18:12 “What do you think? If a
man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the
ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?”
YLT: “`What think ye? if
a man may have an hundred sheep, and there may go astray one of them, doth he
not having left the ninety-nine, having gone on the mountains seek that which
is gone astray?”
The
Background: “the one that is
straying” Sheep are naturally stupid and clumsy and they are easy to go astray.
Therefore they need to be shepherded and guided by shepherds.
Spiritual Meaning: “if a man has a
hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray” “A man” is the Lord Himself. He is
a good shepherd and we are His sheep (John. 10:14).
“Goes astray.” Christians go astray and
get lost because they have turn to their own ways (Is. 53:6).
“Go to the mountains to seek” indicates
that the Lord makes nothing of hardships and earnestly seeks the lost sheep.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord not only saves us but also keeps us. He
is unwilling to lose anyone that believers (See John. 10:28-29).
2) He keeps everyone that he has saved. The problem
is that, would you trust Him and entrust yourselves unto Him (See 2Tim. 1:12)?
Matt. 18:13 “And if he should find it,
assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the
ninety-nine that did not go astray.”
YLT: “and if it may come
to pass that he doth find it, verily I say to you, that he doth rejoice over it
more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray;”
Literal Meaning: the Lord here did
not mean that He values that sheep more than the ninety-nine normal sheep. The
Lord here depicted that He was especially satisfied (See Is. 53:11) with the
sheep that was dead and is alive again, it was lost and is found (See Luke.
15:24, 32) when He saw of the travail of His soul.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The plain sailing on the spiritual way may not
be good. Many real spiritual lessons are learnt in “going astray” and then
“being found”.
2) We should not only take care of the little sheep
that seem to be normal but also consider the mind of the Lord and earnestly
find the little sheep that go astray.
Matt. 18:14 “Even so it is not the
will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should
perish.”
YLT: “so it is not will
in presence of your Father who is in the heavens, that one of these little ones
may perish.”
Enlightenment in the Word: the eyes of God are upon His every child (seeking
the one that is straying); the heart of God is deeply concerned about His every
child (it is not the will of your Father that one of these little ones should
perish). Therefore we should mind the heart of God (Pill. 1:8) and do not make
any Saint get lose or offend any of them.
Matt. 18:15 “Moreover if your brother
sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he
hears you, you have gained your brother.”
YLT: “`And if thy brother
may sin against thee, go and show him his fault between thee and him alone, if
he may hear thee, thou didst gain thy brother;”
Literal Meaning: “your brother”
indicates that he is also a believer.
“Sin against you” is “commit a sin” in
some old scriptures.
“You have gained your brother” indicates
that you have retrieved your brother from sins.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It is of little thing that your brother has
sinned against you. It is of great thing that the brother who has sinned
against you does not know that he is wrong.
2) In order to make him beware of his wrongness,
not giving himself up to the error (Jude. 11) and gain your brother, one has to
point out his wrongness.
3) Pointing out one’s wrongness is not blame or
accusation but hoping one to be converted.
4) We have to point to one’s wrongness in his
presence and should not tell others one’s wrongness behind his back. We should
not tell the words that we dare not to speak in the presence of your brother
behind his back.
5) We should put ourselves in others’ position and
be concerned about the other person. We should not let others know that he has
sinned against us unless absolutely necessary.
6) Believers should do the “right” thing by the
“right” attitude and way. If the attitude and method are wrong, even someone
does the “right” thing, it would not receive the “right” effect.
Matt. 18:16 “But if he will not hear,
take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or
three witnesses every word may be established.’”
YLT: “and if he may not
hear, take with thee yet one or two, that by the mouth of two witnesses or
three every word may stand.”
Meaning of Words: “be established”:
stand, set up, count.
Literal Meaning: “by the mouth of two
or three witnesses” “Two or three” is the principle to bear witness (See Deut.
19:15).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) One’s own strength is not enough to retrieve a
brother. Then one should make him know that he is wrong by the mouth of two or
three witnesses.
2) “Every word may be established” shows that the
words of the witnesses must be profound. It shows that when we find someone to
help others to be converted, we should choose the saints who are spiritually
progressive.
Matt. 18:17 “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.”
YLT: “`And if he may not
hear them, say [it] to the assembly, and if also the assembly he may not hear,
let him be to thee as the heathen man and the tax-gatherer.”
Literal Meaning: “tell it to the
church” shows that the church is able to hear. Therefore it is not the
abstractive universal church, or the building of the church. It is the assembly
of believers in some local place, i.e. local church.
“But if he refuses even to hear the
church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” “Heathen”:
gentile; “a tax collector” was usually despised by the Jews and was treated
equally as a sinner (See Matt. 11:19). “Let him be to you like a heathen and a
tax collector” means to have no company with him. However he may not be cast
out of the church. Whether he will be excommunicated by the church is
determined by whether the sin he has committed corresponds to the principle of
excommunication (See 1Cor. 5:11-13). If his will is only too strong to summit
to the church, the church should treat him indifferently and should not
excommunicate him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The church is the last chance for retrieval when
something (esp. sin) has happened among believers. If the strength of the whole
could not help the brother who had committed sin, he must have fallen and are
completely of flesh. Under this condition, we should not have company with him,
that on one hand, he may be ashamed of himself (2Thess. 3:14), on the other,
the testimony of the church may not suffer loss.
2) It is a great matter to make someone lose the
fellowship in the assembly. Therefore those who have the lordship should handle
with care and try their best to make peace. They shouldn’t exercise this
authority unless they have to.
3) Those who lack “the spirit of retrieving
brothers” are unworthy to talk about excommunicating brothers.
Matt. 18:18 “‘Assuredly, 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.”
YLT: “`Verily I say to
you, Whatever things ye may bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in
the heavens, and whatever things ye may loose on the earth shall be having been
loosed in the heavens.”
Meaning of Words: “Bind”: impose
sanction against, declare to forbid (legal terms); “loose”: release the
punishment, declare to permit (legal terms).
Literal Meaning: In this verse “bind”
means “condemn” and “loose” means “forgive”. “They” here means “the church” in
v.17.
Enlightenment in the Word: When the state of the church is normal, her any
move on earth is in perfect harmony with the movement in heaven. The Lord also
does the things that the church does on earth. Whose sins the church remits or
condemns, the Lord has remitted and condemned in heaven (John. 20:23).
Matt. 18:19 “‘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.”
YLT: “`Again, I say to
you, that, if two of you may agree on the earth concerning anything, whatever
they may ask it shall be done to them from my Father who is in the heavens,”
Meaning of Words: “agree”: harmonious,
accord, correspondence.
Literal Meaning: “two of you” Here
“two” does not mean the church, but two “of you” (of the church).
“Agree” in original means that the
prayer and supplication of two are like harmonious music.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If two agree concerning anything that they ask,
God will do. It shows that God values the prayer of the body more than
individual prayer.
2) If we want to have the harmonious prayer of two
like concertos, those who pray must, like a member of a band, first tune up the
instruments and concentrate on the conductor in order that the speed and tone
of the music that they are playing or performing would be harmonious------if we
want to pray harmoniously, we have to lay down our own opinions, and seek the
will of Father in heaven together and ask by the will of Father.
3) If two or three believers pray on earth, we have
to open our hearts towards God and let God reveal His words in our hearts so
that His will may become our will. In this way, you shall ask what you will,
and it shall be done unto you (See John. 15:7).
4) Only when we agree, the earth and the heaven
will be harmonious and God will reign on earth just as He does in heaven (See
Matt. 6:10).
Matt. 18:20 “For where two or three
are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.’”
YLT: “for where there are
two or three gathered together to my name, there am I in the midst of them.’”
Literal Meaning: “two or three are
gathered together in My name.” Here “two or three” is not the whole church but
a part of believers in the church; “are gathered together in My name” means
that their gathering is not originated by themselves. They are moved by the
Holy Spirit and lay down their individual opinions and standpoints, denying
natural “selves” and they purely belong to and unite in the name of the Lord.
“I am there in the midst of them.” Here
it stresses on the Lord’s presence. Two or three are enough if it is with His
presence. A thousand or ten thousand are not enough if it is without His
presence.
From v.15 to v.20 we could see that the
principle of two or three is the principle of the church. As long as two or
three agree and are gathered in the name of the Lord, they are able to
represent the church to execute the heavenly power, their testimony is the testimony
of the church, and their conclusion is the conclusion of the church and God
Himself confirms and facilitates what they have said. However “agree” and “are
gathered in the name of the Lord” must not be the outward form and it is
effective only when they have spiritual reality.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Two or three are gathered together in His name,
the Lord is there. It shows that believers receive grace more obviously in the
gathering than by oneself.
2) In the normal gathering, the Lord has to
manifest Himself and guides, enlightens and reveals us by His presence.
3) The Lord’s presence is the most precious. The
Lord’s presence is the foundation of the spiritual power of the church.
Matt. 18:21 “Then Peter came to Him
and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’”
YLT: “Then Peter having
come near to him, said, `Sir, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I
forgive him till seven times?’”
The
Background: according to
traditional saying of Jewish rabbis, the highest time that one can forgive
brother is up to four times.
Literal Meaning: “how often shall I
forgive him?” “Forgive” in original means “leave” and “let alone” and it means
that one has forgot that he has been sinned against. If someone forgives others
and still remembers the “times” that he has been sinned against, it shows that
he has not forgotten the times that he has been sinned against. Therefore it
cannot be counted as forgiveness.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God has forgiven our sins and our sins and our
lawlessnesses God will never remember any more (See Heb. 8:12, 10:17). When we
forgive others, we should never remember their sins.
2) When we have been sinned against by others, on
one hand, we should give consideration to them and hope them to be corrected,
on the other, we should not have resentment, grievance and hurt in our hearts.
Matt. 18:22 “Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy
times seven.”
YLT: “Jesus saith to him,
`I do not say to thee till seven times, but till seventy times seven.”
Spiritual Meaning: “seven” is a number
of perfectness, however, it still can be counted, i.e. with limitation.
“Seventy times seven” means that we should forgive others countless times and
completely, i.e. without limitation.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The one who truly forgives others does not
remember the times that he has been sinned against by his brother at all
because he has forgotten the matter that he has been sinned against.
2) Men’s forgiveness is limited and its most is
seven times. The Lord’s forgiveness is unlimited and it reaches seventy times
seven. Therefore we forgive each other by the forgiveness in the Lord instead
of by men’s forgiveness.
Matt. 18:23 “Therefore the kingdom of
heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.”
YLT: “`Because of this
was the reign of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who did will to take
reckoning with his servants,”
Spiritual Meaning: “the king” is the
Lord; “his servants” are believers; “settle accounts” indicates that the Holy
Spirit works in men’s hearts and let them know how much they owe the Lord.
Matt. 18:24 “And when he had begun to
settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.”
YLT: “and he having begun
to take account, there was brought near to him one debtor of a myriad of
talents,”
The
Background: “ten thousand
talents” “talent” is the highest weigh unit at that time. A talent amounts to
six thousand Roman denarius and therefore the total value he owes is sixty
million denarius. At that time, the general salary is one denarius per day,
i.e. a denarius (See Matt. 20.2).
Literal Meaning: “ten thousand
talents” shows that the amount he owes is too large for him to pay back.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Who owed him ten thousand talents” actually are
believers. What we sin against and owe the Lord is uncountable.
2) Those who do not know that how greatly he owes
the Lord must lack thankfulness.
Matt. 18:25 “But as he was not able to
pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all
that he had, and that payment be made.”
YLT: “and he having
nothing to pay, his lord did command him to be sold, and his wife, and the
children, and all, whatever he had, and payment to be made.”
Literal Meaning: the Lord did not
truly want us to sell our wives and children to pay back. The Lord here showed
us that even if we have sold out all we have, we are still unable to repay what
we owe the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word: the Lord will do the work of deprivation on those
who have received grace till our natural oldness is dealt with completely.
Matt. 18:26 “The servant therefore
fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with
me, and I will pay you all.'”
YLT: “The servant then,
having fallen down, was bowing to him, saying, Sir, have patience with me, and
I will pay thee all;”
Spiritual Meaning: please note that it
points out four kinds of attitudes that true believers should have: 1) “fell
down”------repent; 2) “fell down before him”------abase himself; 3) “master,
have patience with me”------ask for the Lord’s grace; 4) “I will pay you
all”------make a vow to dedicate.
Enlightenment in the Word: though we are unable to “pay the Lord all”, as long
as we are willing to repent humbly (“fell down before him”), ask for His
forgiveness (“master, have patience with me”) with a willing heart (“I will pay
you all”), we will be acceptable to God (See 2Cor. 8:12).
Matt. 18:27 “Then the master of that
servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.”
YLT: “and the lord of
that servant having been moved with compassion did release him, and the debt he
forgave him.”
Meaning of Words: “was moved with
compassion”: have compassion; “debt”: loan, liability.
Enlightenment in the Word: the Lord is always merciful towards us and He likes
us to ask for His grace. Every one that asks receives (Matt. 7:8) and He is
able to do far exceedingly above all which we ask or think (Eph. 3:20).
Matt. 18:28 “‘But
that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a
hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!'”
YLT:
“`And, that servant
having come forth, found one of his fellow-servants who was owing him an
hundred denaries, and having laid hold, he took him by the throat, saying, Pay
me that which thou owest.”
Literal Meaning: when “a hundred
denarii” is compared with “sixty million denarii” (See the note in v.24) that
he owes the Lord, the difference is six hundred thousand times instead of a
million times in Chinese and the Chinese union Bible.
“He laid hands on him and took him by
the throat.” “Laid hands on him” indicates that he did not let him go; “by the
throat” indicates that he treated his servant with brutal attitude and did not
give him a chance to state the reason.
Spiritual Meaning: “fellow servants”
are believers, partakers of the heavenly calling; “a hundred denarii” is what
believers owe each other. If compared with what we owe the Lord (ten thousand
talents), it is really too slight.
Matt. 18:29 “So his fellow servant
fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have
patience with me, and I will pay you all.'”
YLT: “His fellow-servant
then, having fallen down at his feet, was calling on him, saying, Have patience
with me, and I will pay thee all;”
Literal Meaning: please note that his
fellow servant’s request is the same with his own request to the Lord in v.26.
Matt. 18:30 “And he would not, but
went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.”
YLT: “and he would not,
but having gone away, he cast him into prison, till he might pay that which was
owing.”
Spiritual Meaning: “threw him into
prison” means that he dealt with others’ debt on “the principle of
righteousness” and did not want to forgive others on “the principle of grace”.
Enlightenment in the Word: his answer to his fellow servant is totally
different from the Lord’s attitude towards him. It shows that the works and
deeds of natural men are totally different from that of the Lord. We like to
treat ourselves with grace and treat others with righteousness. The Lord asks
us to treat ourselves with righteousness and treat others with grace.
Matt. 18:31 “So when his fellow
servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told
their master all that had been done.”
YLT: “`And his
fellow-servants having seen the things that were done, were grieved
exceedingly, and having come, shewed fully to their lord all the things that
were done;”
Spiritual Meaning: this is the
supplication of the saints and their supplication comes up before God.
Enlightenment in the Word: if we owe brother, saints who are members of the
body will fell grieved because whether one member suffer, all the members
suffer with it (1Cor. 12:26).
Matt. 18:32 “Then his master, after he
had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I
forgave you all that debt because you begged me.”
YLT: “then having called
him, his lord saith to him, Evil servant! all that debt I did forgive thee,
seeing thou didst call upon me,”
Matt. 18:33 “Should you not also have
had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'”
YLT: “did it not behove
also thee to have dealt kindly with thy fellow-servant, as I also dealt kindly
with thee?”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Since the large debt of the wicked servant that
he is unable to repay has been forgiven by the Lord, he should forgive his
fellow servant who owes him a little. In the same way, believers who have been
forgiven by heavenly Father for their monstrous sins should forgive brother who
has sinned against them large-mindedly.
2) Since the Lord has treated us with grace, we
should also treat others with grace. If we forget the grace that we have
received from the Lord, we will easily become unsympathetic ones.
Matt. 18:34 “And his master was angry,
and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.”
YLT: “`And having been wroth,
his lord delivered him to the inquisitors, till he might pay all that was owing
to him;”
Literal Meaning: this verse means
that it is handled according to the Law.
Enlightenment in the Word: If we treat others on the principle of
righteousness, the Lord will treat us on the principle of righteousness until
we have fulfilled the request of righteousness (“until he should pay all that
was due to him”). Actually, we are unable to pay all that is due to us forever.
If we do not repent fervently while we are alive today, we will never be
remitted by God from His punishments (“delivered him to the torturers”).
Matt. 18:35 “‘So
My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not
forgive his brother his trespasses.’”
YLT: “so also my heavenly
Father will do to you, if ye may not forgive each one his brother from your
hearts their trespasses.’”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The best way for us to receive God’s forgiveness
is to forgive others.
2) Those who are unwilling to forgive others do not
know their own iniquity. Anyone who truly knows that his iniquity in light will
forgive his brother from his heart.
3) “From his heart” shows that our forgiveness is
not oral or apparent but earnest and sincere. Once one has forgiven his brother
from his heart, he will never remember the previous iniquity of his brother.
Anyone who still remembers the iniquity of his brother in his heart has not
forgiven his brother from his heart, i.e. he has not “paid all that is due to
him” in v.34. Therefore unavoidably he will be punished by the heavenly Father.
4) Anyone who is able to forgive others from his
heart is “great” in the kingdom of heaven.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Interpersonal
Relationship among the Citizens of the
I. The principle for citizens of the kingdom
of heaven to treat others:
A. Receive one little child like this (v.1-5).
B. Do not cause one of these little ones who that believe the Lord to
sin (v.6-9).
C. Do not despise one of these little ones (v.10).
D. Do not cause one of these little ones to get lost (v.11-14).
II. The reaction citizens of the kingdom of
heaven should have when being sinned against by others:
A. One should try his best to retrieve his brother:
1. Go and tell
him his fault privately (v.15).
2. If he would
not hear, take with you one or two witnesses (v.16).
3. If he refuses
to hear them, tell it to the church (v.17a).
4. The
conclusion of the church is the conclusion in heaven (v.17b-18).
5. Two or three
agree to pray or are gathered in the name of the Lord, the Lord confirms them
and is in the midst of them (v.19-20).
B. One should forgive his brother from his heart:
1. Forgive
others up to seventy times seven (v.21-22) ------without limitation.
2. Know that how
much we owe the Lord and He has forgiven us (v.23-27).
3. However we
treat others without any compassion and are unwilling to forgive others
(v.28-30).
4. Those who do
not treat others with compassion will be treated in the same way by God
(v.31-35).
The Qualifications
of the Citizens of the
II. Do not offend others and try his best to
remove the reasons that may offend others (v.5-9).
III. Do not despise one of these little ones
(v.9-14).
IV. Gain his brother and live a normal life
of church (v.15-20).
V. Forgive his brother from his heart
(v.21-35).
The Reason to Offend
Men
II. The incautious works (hand), actions
(foot), and opinions (eyes) (v.7-14).
III. One hasn’t tried his best to retrieve
his brother after he has been sinned against (v.15-20).
IV. One has not forgiven his brother from
his heart (v.21-35).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren