TAWG - December 31, 2022 - Matthew 18:1-20
December 31, 2022

Matthew 18:1-20

18:1 | The issue of rank and status loomed large for the disciples, who still thought Jesus would remove Rome’s yoke and bring an earthly kingdom that would restore Israel to prominence – a kingdom in which the disciples expected to be given high-profile positions. But the kingdom of heaven is spiritual, not political – and its standards are opposite of an earthly kingdom’s.

18:2-5 | Jesus could have given His men a simple lecture on humility and true greatness, but instead He did something unexpected: He brought in a little child as a living object lesson to show who enters the kingdom of heaven (1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Pet. 2:2). When people are filled with themselves, they cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit.

18:6-9 | Throughout Scripture, woe is an exclamation of judgment. Jesus solemnly warned the disciples (and believers in general) to go to any length to avoid being stumbling blocks to the faith of little ones (young believers or children).

18:8 | Causes you to sin denotes a lifestyle of sin that requires extreme measures to root out (1 John 3:7-10).

18:10 | Many have debated what Jesus meant by the angels of these little ones. Is Jesus saying that each child has a specific guardian angel? Perhaps, but a better interpretation is that the angels are continually in God’s holy presence, looking out for all of God’s people; so Christians should remember to treat all believers well (Ps. 34:7; 91:11).

18:11-14 | With a fierce passion, God loves the little ones who are sometimes ignored or even despised. If God will seek out the one lamb that strays, even though He has ninety-nine sheep that remain safe n the pen, then no one dare ignore the little ones placed in his or her care.

18:15-20 | Most conflicts could be contained or resolved if believers would take seriously this counsel from Jesus. At every step, restoration is the goal, not casting blame.

18:17 | A heathen and a tax collector represent those who rebel against God and therefore exclude themselves from Christian fellowship (2 Thess. 3:6).

18:18 | This verse is directly tied to the matter of conflict resolution in 18:15-17 and is not to be understood as giving special power to the disciples, or to anyone else for that matter (John 20:23). The verse means that what is permitted or not permitted is determined in heaven, not on earth.