WHO THEN IS GREATEST (τις αρα μειζων εστιν). The αρα seems to point back to the tax-collection incident when Jesus had claimed exemption for them all as "sons" of the Father. But it was not a new dispute, for jealousy had been growing in their hearts. The wonderful words of Jesus to Peter on Mount... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED TO HIM (προσκαλεσαμενος). Indirect middle voice aorist participle. It may even be Peter's "little child" (παιδιον) as it was probably in Peter's house (Mark 9:33).SET HIM (εστησεν). Transitive first aorist active indicative, not intransitive second aorist, εστη.IN THE MIDST OF THEM (εν... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT YE TURN AND BECOME (εαν μη στραφητε κα γενησθε). Third-class condition, undetermined but with prospect of determination. Στραφητε is second aorist passive subjunctive and γενησθε second aorist middle subjunctive. They were headed in the wrong direction with their selfish ambition. "His ton... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS LITTLE CHILD (το παιδιον τουτο). This saying about humbling oneself Jesus repeated a number of times as for instance in Matthew 23:12. Probably Jesus pointed to the child by his side. The ninth-century story that the child was Ignatius is worthless. It is not that the child humbled himself,... [ Continue Reading ]
IN MY NAME (επ τω ονοματ μου). For "one such little child" (ανψ βελιεςερ ιν Χριστ) Luke (Luke 9:48) has "this little child" as a representative or symbol. "On the basis or ground of my name," "for my sake." Very much like εις ονομα in Matthew 10:41 which does not differ greatly from εν ονοματ (Ac... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE LITTLE ONES (των μικρων τουτων). In the same sense as "one such little one" above. The child is the type of believers.A GREAT MILLSTONE (μυλος ονικος), literally, "a millstone turned by an ass." The upper millstone was turned by an ass (ονος). There were no examples of the adjective ονικο... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH WHOM (δι' ου). Jesus recognizes the inevitableness of stumbling-blocks, traps, hindrances, the world being as it is, but he does not absolve the man who sets the trap (cf. Luke 17:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
In verses Matthew 18:8 and Matthew 18:9 we have one of the dualities or doublets in Matthew (Matthew 5:29-30). Jesus repeated his pungent sayings many times. Instead of εις γεενναν (Matthew 5:29) we have εις το πυρ το αιωνιον and at the end of verse Matthew 18:9 του πυρος is added to την γεενναν. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
DESPISE (καταφρονησητε). Literally, "think down on," with the assumption of superiority.THEIR ANGELS (ο αγγελο αυτων). The Jews believed that each nation had a guardian angel (Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:20; Daniel 12:1). The seven churches in Revelation (Revelation 1:20) have angels, each of them,... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAVE THE NINETY AND NINE (αφησε τα ενενηκοντα εννεα επ τα ορη κα πορευθεις ζητε το πλανωμενον?). This is the text of Westcott and Hort after BL, etc. This text means: "Will he not leave the ninety and nine upon the mountains and going does he not seek (change to present tense) the wandering one?... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WILL OF YOUR FATHER (θελημα εμπροσθεν). Observe that Westcott and Hort read μου here rather than υμων after B Sahidic Coptic. Either makes good sense, though "your" carries on the picture of God's care for "each one of these little ones" (εν των μικρων τουτων) among God's children. The use of... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THY BROTHER SIN AGAINST THEE (εαν αμαρτηση αδελφος σου). Literally, commit a sin (ingressive aorist subjunctive of αμαρτανω). Aleph B Sahidic do not have "against thee" (εις σε).SHEW HIM HIS FAULT (ελεγξον). Such private reproof is hard to do, but it is the way of Christ.THOU HAST GAINED ... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE WITH THEE (παραλαβε μετα σου). Take alone (παρα) with (μετα) thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
REFUSE TO HEAR (παρακουση). Like Isaiah 65:12. Many papyri examples for ignoring, disregarding, hearing without heeding, hearing aside (παρα-), hearing amiss, overhearing (Mark 5:36).THE CHURCH (τη εκκλησια). The local body, not the general as in Matthew 16:18 which see for discussion. The probl... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN (εστα δεδεμενα εν ουρανω). Future passive periphrastic perfect indicative as in "shall be loosed" (εστα λελυμενα). In Matthew 16:19 this same unusual form occurs. The binding and the loosing is there addressed to Peter, but it is here repeated for the church or for the di... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL AGREE (συμφωνησωσιν). Our word "symphony" is this very root. It is no longer looked at as a concord of voices, a chorus in harmony, though that would be very appropriate in a church meeting rather than the rasping discord sometimes heard even between two brethren or sisters.OF MY FATHER ... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE AM I (εκε ειμ). This blessed promise implies that those gathered together are really disciples with the spirit of Christ as well as "in his name" (εις το εμον ονομα). One of the Oxyrhynchus _Sayings of Our Lord_ is: "Wherever there are (two) they are not without God, and wherever there is o... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL SEVEN TIMES? (εως επτακισ?) Peter thought that he was generous as the Jewish rule was three times (Amos 1:6). His question goes back to verse Matthew 18:15. "Against me" is genuine here. "The man who asks such a question does not really know what forgiveness means" (Plummer).... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN (εως εβδομηκοντακις επτα). It is not clear whether this idiom means seventy-seven or as the Revised Version has it (490 times). If επτακις were written it would clearly be 490 times. The same ambiguity is seen in Genesis 4:24, the LXX text by omitting κα. In the _Test. o... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE A RECKONING (συναρα λογον). Seen also in Matthew 25:19. Perhaps a Latinism, _rationes conferre_. First aorist active infinitive of συναιρω, to cast up accounts, to settle, to compare accounts with. Not in ancient Greek writers, but in two papyri of the second century A.D. in the very sense h... [ Continue Reading ]
TEN THOUSAND TALENTS (μυριων ταλαντων). A talent was 6,000 denarii or about a thousand dollars or 240 pounds. Ten thousand times this is about ten or twelve million dollars, an enormous sum for that period. We live today in the age of national debts of billions of dollars or even of pounds sterli... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD NOT WHEREWITH TO PAY (μη εχοντος αυτου αποδουνα). There is no "wherewith" in the Greek. This idiom is seen in Luke 7:42; Luke 14:14; Hebrews 6:13. Genitive absolute though αυτον in the same clause as often in the N.T.TO BE SOLD (πραθηνα). First aorist passive infinitive of πιπρασκω. This wa... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEBT (το δανιον). The loan. Common in the papyri for a loan. The interest had increased the debt enormously. "This heavy oriental usury is of the scenery of the parable" (McNeile).... [ Continue Reading ]
A HUNDRED PENCE (εκατον δηναρια). A denarius was worth about eight and a half pence. The hundred denarii here were equal to some "fifty shillings" (Bruce), "about 4 pounds" (McNeile), "twenty pounds" (Moffatt), "twenty dollars" (Goodspeed), "100 shillings" (Weymouth). These are various efforts to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WOULD NOT (ο δε ουκ ηθελεν). Imperfect tense of persistent refusal.TILL HE SHOULD PAY (εως αποδω). This futuristic aorist subjunctive is the rule with εως for a future goal. He was to stay in prison till he should pay. "He acts on the instinct of a base nature, and also doubtless in acco... [ Continue Reading ]
TOLD (διεσαφησαν). Made wholly clear to their own lord. That is the usual result in the long run. There is a limit to what people will put up with.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOULDST THOU NOT? (ουκ εδε σε?) "Was it not necessary?" The king fits the cap on this wicked slave that he put on the poor debtor.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TORMENTORS (τοις βασανισταις). Not to prison simply, but to terrible punishment. The papyri give various instances of the verb βασανιζω, to torture, used of slaves and others. "Livy (ii. 23) pictures an old centurion complaining that he was taken by his creditor, not into servitude, but to a... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM YOUR HEARTS (απο των καρδιων υμων). No sham or lip pardon, and as often as needed. This is Christ's full reply to Peter's question in Matthew 18:21. This parable of the unmerciful servant is surely needed today.... [ Continue Reading ]