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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

Matthew 18

Matthew 18:1

MATTHEW CHAPTER 18 MATTHEW 18:1 Christ proposes a little child to his disciples for a pattern of innocence and humility. MATTHEW 18:7 He warns them to avoid offences, though at the expense of a hand, a foot, or an eye, MATTHEW 18:10 and not to despise the little ones, whom it is the Father's will to... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:4

OLBGrk; Ver. 2-4. Mark saith, MARK 9:35, _And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, &c... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:6

OLBGrk; Ver. 5,6. Mark hath it thus, MARK 9:37, _Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me._ Then he addeth, MARK 9:42, _And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is bette... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:9

Ver. 7-9. By _offences_ are here meant stumbling blocks to souls, such persons or actions as are to others temptations to sin. The world, saith our Savour is full of temptations. Temptations to sin are on all hands, some enticing and persuading men to that which is evil, others setting them an examp... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:10

Our Saviour having before declared how dear believing souls are unto him, though their quality or parts be not like others, here he gives the world a further charge not to _despise, _ that is, not to contemn or neglect them, because God the heavenly Father hath such a care of them, so as he hath giv... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:11

We find the same in LUKE 19:10, but applied upon another occasion. Our Saviour here riseth higher in his argument against giving offence to his little ones. All scandal tendeth to the ruin and destruction of him to whom it is given. _Scandalum non est nisi malae rei aeidificans ad Gehennam, _ saith... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:14

Ver. 12-14. We shall meet with the parable or similitude more fully, LUKE 15:4. To what purpose it is brought here our Lord hath told us, MATTHEW 18:14, to show us, that it is not the will of our heavenly Father that the least and meanest believer should perish. And every scandal, or offence, (as I... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:17

OLBGrk; Ver. 15-17. Our Saviour very appositely addeth this to his former discourse concerning avoiding offences, that none might think that by the former doctrine he had made void the law, LEVITICUS 19:17, which commanded all _in any wise to rebuke_ their _neighbour, and not to suffer sin upon him... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:18

We met with this sentence, MATTHEW 16:19, where we observed that by binding and loosing was signified (according to the usage of the Jews of those times) declaring of propositions true or false, or judging things lawful or unlawful. Some think that it hath no further import here; but it is the opini... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:20

Ver. 19,20. Most interpreters agree there is a connection betwixt these verses and those immediately preceding, as if it were a further confirmation of what God had said concerning his binding and loosing in heaven whatsoever they should bind or loose on earth; and say, the asking mentioned in this... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:22

Ver. 21,22. Luke hath something like this LUKE 17:4, but it seemeth to have been spoken at another time, and upon some other occasion; yet the sense is much the same, and there are who think that Peter's mention of seven times arose from our Saviour's command there, that we should forgive our brothe... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:28

SEE POOLE ON "MATTHEW 18:35" The Roman penny is the eighth part of an ounce, which after five shillings the ounce is seven pence half penny. (MATTHEW 20:2).... [ Continue Reading ]

Matthew 18:35

Ver. 23-35. All these verses (except the last) are but a parable, which (as I before showed) is a similitude brought from the usual actions of men, and made use of to open or apply some spiritual doctrine. The main scope, or the proposition of truth, which our Saviour designs to open or press, is th... [ Continue Reading ]

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