Matt 18 Nkjv (2024)

FAQs

What does Matthew 18 say about forgiveness? ›

ESV So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." NIV "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

“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. “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.

Matthew's discourse on community discipline, as chapter 18 is often designated, in fact describes the foundational values and practices that distinguish the community of disciples from any other: solidarity with one another as “children” (Matthew 18:1-5), avoidance of actions that cause others to “stumble” (18:6-9), ...

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Forgiveness is not conditional.

It's not deserved. It's not bargained for. It's not paid for. It's not based on some promise that you'll never do it again.

Jesus Christ called the Holy Spirit "Spirit of Truth" (John 14:17; 15:26; John 16:13) and warned us, "All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men" (Matthew 12:31).

18:18 expresses the conviction that God causes a person to repent (which does not deny there also being human causation).

18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be ^[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be ^[f] loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

“They shall speak with new tongues.” The word “new” suggests a newness of quality, not chronological newness (Greek word “kainos”). In other words, the Lord indicates that this gift would involve a fresh or new way of speaking; not a new kind of utterance unknown to mankind.

We are called upon to be humble followers of Christ and trust in the wisdom and salvation of God. True humility is to see ourselves as we actually are, fallen in sin and helpless without God.”

Who does Matthew 18 apply to? ›

1. Matthew 18 applies when unrepentant sin is involved. The passage begins with the conditional statement, “IF your brother sins against you….” This passage is referring to cases where clear identifiable wrongdoing against another in the church is involved. If sin is not involved, then this passage should not be used.

“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. 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.

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus exalts children because they – not the powerful and the successful – teach us how to become part of this new family. While the disciples argue over who will be the greatest in the kingdom, Jesus places a small child before them as an answer (Mark 9:34–37).

Jesus' response to the women of Jerusalem foreshadows the suffering the people in Jerusalem would soon face in the revolt against Rome in AD 70. He prophesied the suffering of their children's generation who would rebel against Rome and pay the price.

In Matthew the primary motivation for the forgiveness of others is not their contrition, but rather the command of God that his children should forgive others as he had forgiven them (cf. 6:12, 14-15; 18:23-35). They are thus to imitate him as their heavenly Father.

We ought to forgive as our King has forgiven us, Jesus says. In answering the disciples' request for help in praying Jesus teaches them that forgiveness — both the giving and the receiving of it — is reciprocal, one cannot have it without doing it.

What does the Bible say about forgiving others? Ephesians 4:31-32: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Jesus taught that God is willing to let us off a debt we cannot repay, so we should be ready to forgive others. The servant who did not forgive was tortured. Perhaps Jesus is referring to the way a person feels when they cannot forgive. They remain bitter and resentful and end up suffering the most.