The Greatest in the Kingdom
Study note
When the disciples ask who is greatest in the kingdom, Jesus sets a child in their midst and redefines greatness as childlike humility. He then delivers a stern warning about causing 'little ones' -- whether children or young believers -- to sin, using graphic imagery of millstones and amputation to convey the seriousness. The radical commitment to avoiding sin, even at great personal cost, reveals how highly God values the spiritual welfare of the vulnerable.
1 Around that time, the followers came to Jesus and asked, "In the kingdom of heaven, who matters the most?" At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 Jesus called a small child over and had the child stand there among them. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 Then he said, "Truly, you must change and become like little children. If you do not, you will never enter heaven." 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.
4 "So the person who makes themselves as humble and small as this child — that person is the greatest in God's kingdom." Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 "And anyone who welcomes a child like this one because of me is truly welcoming me." And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 "Someone might cause a little child who trusts me to sin. That person would be better off with a great stone tied to their neck. They should be thrown to the bottom of the sea." 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.
7 "How terrible it is for the world because of the things that lead people into sin! Those traps are bound to come, but how terrible it will be for the person who sets them!" 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!
8 "So if your hand or your foot keeps pulling you toward sin, cut it off and throw it away. Entering eternal life with one hand or one foot is far better than keeping both and being thrown into the fire that never stops burning." 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.
9 "If your eye keeps pulling you toward sin, tear it out and toss it away. Entering eternal life with one eye is far better than keeping both eyes and being thrown into the fires of hell." 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.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Study note
Jesus illustrates God's heart for the vulnerable with the parable of a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to search for one that has strayed. The shepherd's rejoicing over the recovered sheep reflects God's own joy when a lost person is found. The conclusion that it is not the Father's will for any of these 'little ones' to perish reveals the depth of God's personal, pursuing love for each individual.
10 "Be very careful not to look down on any of these little ones. Their angels in heaven are always standing in the presence of my Father, looking right at his face." 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.
11 "The Son of man came specifically to rescue people who are lost." For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 "Think about this — say a man owns a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off. Won't he leave the other ninety-nine grazing on the hillside and go search for the missing one?" 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?
13 "And when he finds it, I am telling you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that stayed put." 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.
14 "That is exactly how your Father in heaven feels. He does not want even one of these little ones to be lost." Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Church Discipline and United Prayer
Study note
Jesus provides a clear process for resolving conflict within the community of believers: first approach the person privately, then bring witnesses, and finally bring the matter before the whole church. This process is rooted in love, not punishment -- the goal is always to 'gain your brother.' The authority to bind and loose, coupled with the promise that Christ is present wherever two or three gather in his name, assures believers that their community decisions carry spiritual weight.
15 "If another believer wrongs you, go talk to them privately, just the two of you. If they listen and own up to it, you have won them back." 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.
16 "But if they refuse to listen, bring along one or two other people. That way, everything said can be backed up by witnesses." 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.
17 "If they still refuse to listen, bring the matter to the whole church. And if they even ignore the church, then treat that person the way you would treat someone who doesn't know God at all." 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.
18 "I am telling you the truth: whatever you declare off-limits on earth will be declared off-limits in heaven. And whatever you allow on earth will be allowed in heaven." 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.
19 "Let me say this too. Two of you on earth might agree and ask for something. My Father in heaven will do it for you." 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.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Study note
Peter's question about forgiving a brother seven times provokes Jesus' answer of seventy times seven -- effectively, without limit. The parable of a servant forgiven an astronomical debt of ten thousand talents who then refuses to forgive a fellow servant's small debt exposes the absurdity and wickedness of receiving God's mercy while withholding it from others. The king's severe punishment of the unforgiving servant delivers a sobering message: those who have been forgiven much must forgive much.
21 Peter approached Jesus and asked, "Lord, if my brother keeps doing wrong to me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Is seven times enough?" Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus answered, "Not seven times — try seventy times seven." Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 "Here is why: God's kingdom works like this. A king decided it was time to go through his accounts and collect what his servants owed him." Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 "When he started going through the records, they brought in a man who owed ten thousand talents. That amount was so huge it could never be paid back." And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 "The man could not pay. So the king ordered that the man, his wife, his children, and everything he owned be sold to cover the debt." 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.
26 "The servant threw himself face-down on the floor and begged, 'Please, give me more time! I promise I will pay back every bit of it.'" The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 "The king's heart melted with compassion. He let the man go free and completely canceled the entire debt." Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 "But that same servant walked out the door and ran into a fellow servant who owed him a hundred pence — a tiny amount by comparison. He grabbed the man by the collar and started choking him, demanding, 'Pay up! You owe me money!'" 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.
29 "The fellow servant fell to the ground and pleaded, 'give me a little more time, and I will pay you back.'" And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 "But he had no mercy. He dragged the man off and had him thrown in jail until the debt was paid." And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 "The other servants watched the whole thing happen and were deeply troubled. They went straight to the king and reported everything." So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 "The king summoned that first servant back and said, 'You are a terrible person! I wiped out your entire massive debt because you begged me to." 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:
33 "Shouldn't you have shown the same mercy to your fellow servant that I showed to you?'" Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 "The king was furious. He turned the servant over to the jailers to be punished until the full debt was paid." And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 "My Father in heaven will treat you the same way if you do not truly forgive others from the bottom of your heart." So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.