Matthew 18:1._At that time the disciples came to Jesus. _It is evident from the other two Evangelists, that the disciples did not come to Christ of their own accord, but that, having secretly _disputed on the road_, they were brought out of their lurking-places, and dragged forth to light. There is... [ Continue Reading ]
2._And Jesus called a child to him. _The general meaning is, that those who desire to obtain greatness by rising above their brethren, will be so far from gaining their object that they do not even deserve to occupy the lowest corner. He reasons from contraries, because it is humility alone that exa... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Unless you are converted. _To the example of _little children _must be referred the _conversion _of which he now speaks. Hitherto they had been too much habituated to the ordinary customs of men; and if they would gain their object, they must pursue a totally different course. (499) Every one wis... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Whosoever shall humble himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. _This is intended to guard us against supposing that we degrade ourselves in any measure by freely surrendering every kind of distinction. And hence we may obtain a short definition (500) of humili... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And he that shall receive such a child. _The term _children _is now applied metaphorically by Christ to those who have laid aside lofty looks, and who conduct themselves with modesty and humility. This is added by way of consolation, that we may not account it troublesome or disagreeable to exerc... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:6._But whosoever shall offend one of those little ones. _This appears to be added for the consolation of the godly, that they may not be rendered uneasy by their condition, if they are despised by the world. It is a powerful obstruction to the voluntary exercise of modesty, when they imag... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Woe to the world on account of offenses! _This passage may be explained in two ways. It may be taken _actively_, as meaning that Christ pronounces a curse on the authors of _offenses; _and then by the term _world_, we must understand all unbelievers. Or it may be taken _passively_, as meaning tha... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Beware of despising one of these little ones _As pride is the mother of disdain, and as contempt hardens men in giving _offense_, our Lord, for the purpose of applying an appropriate remedy for curing this disease, forbids his disciples to _despise the little ones. _And certainly, as we have alr... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:11._For the Son of man cometh _Christ now employs his own example in persuading his disciples to honor even weak and despised brethren; for he came down from heaven to save not them only, but even the dead who were _lost _It is in the highest degree unreasonable that we should disdainfull... [ Continue Reading ]
12._What think you? _Luke carries the occasion of this parable still farther back, as having arisen from the _murmurings _of the _Pharisees and scribes _against our Lord, whom they saw conversing daily with sinners. Christ therefore intended to show that a good teacher ought not to labor less to rec... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:15._But if thy brother shall sin against thee. _As he had discoursed about bearing the infirmities of brethren, he now shows more clearly in what manner, and for what purpose, and to what extent, we ought to bear with them. For otherwise it would have been easy to reply, that there is no... [ Continue Reading ]
16._But if he shall not hear thee. _The second step is, that he who displayed obstinacy, or refused to yield to one man, should be again admonished in presence of _witnesses _Here some object, that it will serve no purpose to call _witnesses_, if we have to deal with an obstinate and rebellious man,... [ Continue Reading ]
18._What things soever you shall bind. _He now repeats the same words which he had formerly used, (Matthew 16:19,) but in a different sense; for there he intended to maintain their authority in doctrine, but here he appoints discipline, which is an appendage to doctrine. There Christ declared that t... [ Continue Reading ]
19._Again I say to you. _He confirms the former statement; for not only will God bestow the spirit of wisdom and prudence on those who ask it, but he will also provide that not one thing which they shall do according to his word shall want its power and effect. By uniting _agreement _with _prayer, _... [ Continue Reading ]
20._For where two or three are assembled in my name. _This promise is more extensive than the former; for the Lord declares that he will be present, wherever two or three are met together in his name, to guide them by his counsel, (Psalms 73:24,) and to conduct to a prosperous result whatever they... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:21._Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me? _Peter made this objection according to the natural feelings and disposition of the flesh. It is natural to all men to wish to be forgiven; and, therefore, if any man does not immediately obtain forgiveness, he complains that he is t... [ Continue Reading ]
23._The kingdom of heaven is compared. _As it is difficult to bend us to mercy, and as we are quickly seized with weariness, particularly when we have to bear with many faults of brethren, our Lord confirms this doctrine by a most appropriate parable, the substance of which is, that those who will n... [ Continue Reading ]
25._His master ordered him to be sold. _It would be an idle exercise of ingenuity to examine here every minute clause. For God does not always display severity at first, till, constrained to pray, we implore pardon, but rather meets us with undeserved goodness. But Christ only shows what will become... [ Continue Reading ]
31._When his fellow-servants saw what was done. _Though we ought not to search for mystery in these words — because they contain nothing but what nature teaches, and what we learn by daily experience — we ought to know that the men who live among us will be so many witnesses against us before God; f... [ Continue Reading ]
34._Delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that he owed. _The Papists are very ridiculous in endeavoring to light the fire of purgatory by the word _till_; for it is certain that Christ here points out not temporal death, by which the judgment of God may be satisfied, but eternal de... [ Continue Reading ]