Matthew 19:10-12

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10 His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it." ~ Matthew 19:10-12

Today, we continue our study of Matthew 19 where the religious leaders of Israel had just tried to make the Lord Jesus look bad in the eyes of the common folk when they asked Him a question about divorce. In context, the Lord Jesus drew attention to unfaithfulness, not divorce. Divorce was allowed but it was just a band aid to the real problem. At the very end of the Old Testament we learn that "God hates divorce." And, unfaithfulness between two people who made a promise to be faithful to one another undermines God's purpose for marriage. The physical union of a woman and a man is the visible picture of what a marriage ought to be. This is why God reserves physical union only in the context of the marriage commitment. 

In v.10 of today's passage we read, "His disciples said to Him, 'If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.'" 

In answering the Pharisees’ question about divorce, the Lord Jesus reiterated the serious commitment required of the marriage relationship. Having heard what the Lord Jesus had to say about commitment, the disciples concluded that it was better not to marry. The disciples realized the responsibility to remain committed and that it was a tremendously tall task. 

According to the religious leaders of Israel divorce was legally permitted for almost any reason, but the Lord Jesus explained the husband had a weighty obligation no matter how easy it might have been to legally divorce his wife. The Lord only allows one condition for divorce and that is sexual immorality. To the heart of the issue is the greatest conclusion about the will of the Lord and nothing is more important for us than His will.

In v.11-12 of today's passage we read, "11 But He said to them, 'All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.'"

The kind of human love and intimacy we all yearn for is best experienced in a lifelong, faithful, monogamous union with one person of the opposite gender. The idea of having an affair may seem exciting, but the excitement of unfaithfulness is short-lived, and the pain that follows lasts a long, long time. Interestingly, marriage provides a means toward discipleship. As we have noted, the Lord Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, teaching His disciples about denying themselves, taking up their cross and following Him. Marriage requires enormous quantities of selflessness and self-denial. In fact, if we make it a habit to die to ourselves, we will be positioned to experience the best of marriages.

The Lord Jesus yet again used this opportunity to teach us another aspect of what it looks like to be His disciple. To be disciples of the Lord Jesus we must not serve self, but we must serve those with whom we have relationship, particularly our spouse. As fathers and mothers who are learning to be defined by God, we train our children best on what it looks like to have a meaningful and personal, and faithful relationship with Christ through the way we treat one another.

Marriage isn’t for everybody. And yes, from the biblical point of view there’s a lot to be said for the advantages of single life. Being married doesn't mean we are second-class or that being single is the ideal. There is a clear reason God said from the very beginning that it’s not good for man to be alone. But, God did purposely make us male and female. All of this is to say, marriage is vital to the design of creation. It’s central to the Lord’s original intentions for the human race. Along these lines, there’s an important difference between being single and being called to celibacy. We have to be careful not to confuse the two.

Being single is circumstantial. It happens to people for all kinds of reasons: not being able to find a mate, death of a spouse, difficult family situations, medical or financial difficulties. Celibacy, according to 1 Corinthians 7:7, is a rare gift that God grants only to a few people. Those who are single but not given to celibacy should not give up on marriage. One thing is abundantly clear though: It is better to be single and want to be married than to be married and want to be single.

The word eunuch means one who does not engage in sexual activity with the opposite gender. And some were born as eunuchs. Then there are some eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men through castration. And then there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs and this is not by some physical surgery. They have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. This means there are some people who are single for God’s sake. The word "accept" in v.12 means to have room or space for something. It means to embrace something with heart and mind. The desire to remain single is a gift from the Lord but God doesn't just give this gift to just anyone.

Matthew 19:1-9

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1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there. 3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" 4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?' 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 7 They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" 8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." ~ Matthew 19:1-9

Today, we transition into Matthew 19 where the Lord Jesus along with His disciples were on the move from north to south. From Galilee, they went down to Judea, leaving the place which had been the headquarters for their ministry for three and a half years. The Lord Jesus had completed His Galilean ministry, and, He and His disciples were on His way to Jerusalem. The eventual goal of the Lord Jesus was to die on the cross of Calvary.

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there."

According to the other gospel accounts, after having spoken at that Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus then traveled with His disciples to the area on the eastern side of the Jordan River, the region called Perea. It was there that the Lord Jesus taught the large crowds and He healed the sick. His ministry of teaching and healing and delivering people from the clutches of the devil was consistent throughout the three and a half years that He ministered. As a result, many followed Him.

In v.3 of today's passage we read, "The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?'" 

Once again, the religious leaders challenged the Lord Jesus with yet another trick question. The Greek word used here for "testing" reveals these supposed leaders were trying to trip up the Lord Jesus with deception. They desperately wanted to nullify Him and His teaching, even though He was teaching the truth and the needy benefitted. Had they been totally successful, salvation would have never come to you and me. But, the Lord Jesus persisted and even though the religious leaders convinced Pilate to later crucify Him, the Lord Jesus prevailed and became our Savior.

The largest group of miracles performed by the Lord Jesus mentioned in the Gospels involved healing people who were ill, infirmed or disabled. In fact, He performed so many miracles that, according to John 21:25, "If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." 

These miracles prove the compassion of God toward people who hurt. Sadly, there has and will always be those people who no matter how much truth they are given, they will not believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior. And the reason they will not believe is due to the stubbornness of their heart. Fallen man wants to run his own life, knowing that if he yields his life to Christ, he cannot keep on living the way he once did. Quite frankly, these religious leaders of Israel loved their sin much more than they loved the truth. 

In v.4-6 of today's passage we read, "4 And He answered and said to them, 'Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?' 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

In His response to the question of the religious leaders, the Lord Jesus took them back to the beginning of time because in doing so, He revealed God's view of marriage from the beginning. God defined marriage between a man and a woman. As pointed out by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1, any other combination of a couple is not natural. As Paul notes, it is not natural for a man to be with a man and a woman to be with a woman. For us to believe marriage should be two people of the same gender is to undermine God's definition of marriage and is dangerous. 

We will never understand God's view of divorce until we understand God's view of marriage. God intended marriage to be intimate and permanent, enjoyed in the context of commitment. God used the phrase "one flesh" which underscores the vulnerability involved in the relationship. God's definition of marriage is the commitment between a husband and a wife. Underscored here is discovered a very important principle which is: We must be defined by God. What we believe to be true is revealed through our thoughts and our words which are spelled out best by our choices. When God's word defines what we believe, it is then that we are being defined by Him. The real issue with all humans is to be found in our hearts. If we truly want to walk in the truth, we will be defined accordingly. If we have a softened heart toward the truth and we therefore desire to be defined by God, we will obey the Word of God. For those who really do not want to be defined by God, their hearts will be hardened to the truth.  

The word "joined" used in v.5-6 in the Hebrew means to be glued permanently together. When we try to separate what God has joined together, we make a bigger mess out of it. God's intention in marriage in the first place was to create a bond that would serve the fabric of the family which provides the infrastructure for a good society. Children are most healthy when they grow up in a home where their mother and their father are being defined by God.

In v.8-9 of today's passage we read, "8 He said to them, 'Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.'"

Before the Fall of Man when there was no hardness in the human heart, sin had not entered into the world at that time. As a result, no man had the right to separate the union between a man and a woman. In answering the religious leaders' question the way He did, the Lord Jesus did not speak against the Law of Moses. As a result, the Pharisees couldn’t trap Him. It is also important to note that the Lord Jesus spoke in favor of marriage, not against divorce. His emphasis was not on what God permitted due to the hard heart of fallen man. His emphasis was not on what was lawful, His emphasis was on what is wise and of God.

We read in Deuteronomy 24:1 that Moses allowed divorce if there was some "uncleanness" found in a man's wife. The key to understand this is understanding what the word "uncleanness" means. God led Moses to use the word uncleanness which means sexual immorality. The religious leaders of Israel had come to falsely believe uncleanness meant anything dissatisfying in the wife. So, the religious leaders tried to trick the Lord Jesus with this question hoping that His answer would minimize Him in the eyes of the people. Interestingly, marriage provides a means toward discipleship. As we have noted, the Lord Jesus taught His disciples about denying themselves, taking up their cross and following Him. Marriage requires enormous quantities of selflessness and self-denial. In fact, if we make it a habit to die to ourselves, we will be best positioned to experience the best of marriages. The answer to all of life's ills are found in our obedience to God's definitions of all things as found in the Bible.

Matthew 18:28-35

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"28 But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." ~ Matthew 18:28-35

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 18 where the Lord Jesus is highlighting forgiveness as one of the most valued characteristics of greatness in the kingdom of God. In fact, the Lord Jesus had just told Peter a parable where a king forgave a servant who had a debt that he could never have been able to repay, even if he had been given an eternity to do so. This is the gospel, that we were ruined by sin and we had been assured of an eternity in Hell as a result. But, it was then that the Lord Jesus decided to leave heaven in order to be become a man so that He could rescue us from our ultimate misery. It is only those who from their heart ask God for forgiveness who realize true release from such bondage.

In v.28 of today's passage we read, "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'"

After he had been forgiven his enormous debt, a debt totaling over a billion dollars, the forgiven servant left his master and confronted a fellow slave who owed him a few hundred dollars. The first servant grabbed the second servant with rage in his heart. Astonishing, since he had been forgiven so much, he lacked the will to forgive one who owed him so little. It was Martin Luther who once said, "We are all beggars before God." Forgiven people forgive people. Having been forgiven by God of the inexcusable equips us to forgive the inexcusable in others. We are all forgiven people and for us to refuse to extend forgiveness to others is the height of hypocrisy. It is hypocrisy that prevents us from greatness in the kingdom of God.

In v.29-30 of today's passage we read, "29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt."

The good part of this story is that the second servant was given the same great opportunity to realize forgiveness as the first servant. But, his ability to feel the enormity of forgiveness wasn't as great as the first servant. Even though the second servant's ability to forgive wasn't as great as the first, he still was exposed to forgiveness. We know forgiveness because God has demonstrated it for us. This is the case with all things good. We would not know the meaning of forgiveness if it weren't for God teaching it to us. Sadly, most of the time we do not learn of forgiveness until we are given a trial to stage the setting. Once the need for forgiveness arrives, it is then that we are positioned to learn its value. This is why the request for forgiveness is preceded in this story with one falling to his knees in worship before the one from who we seek forgiveness. It was Mark Twain who once said, "Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."

In v.31-33 of today's passage we read, "31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'"

Those who looked on and saw this story unfold were very grieved. As a result they went and told their master who then confronted the first servant. After his master had forgiven all of the debt the first servant owed, the first servant lacked the heart of his master. This is why he would not be the greatest in the kingdom of God. Those who experience the heart of forgiveness are marked by the very same forgiveness. Everyone could be forgiven due to the enormous efficacy of the cross of the Lord Jesus. But, only those with a sincere heart before God know the forgiveness of God. Once we experience God's forgiveness, we will be known as those who forgive.

In v.34-35 of today's passage we read, "34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Not all come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ because they fail to be embraced by the forgiving heart of God. The Jews missed the heart of God even though God had given hint after hint throughout the Old Testament of the cross. Sadly, people refuse to believe that God loved us so much that He sent His Son to earth to become our substitute on the cross. In today's passage, the king’s servant was rebuked by the king because he lacked compassion in his heart for the servant who owed him. In reality, even though he had been extended forgiveness, the first servant never experienced it. As a result, the jailers of the servant became his "torturers." In stead of being defined by the compassion of God, he chose to be defined by the torture. Forgiveness never defined him. In order to be the greatest in God's kingdom we must first be forgiven by God, and those who have been forgiven forgive "from the heart."

Matthew 18:23-27

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23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, "Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all." 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. ~ Matthew 18:23-27

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 18 where the Lord Jesus is describing greatness in His kingdom to Peter who had asked Him how often he must forgive a brother who has hurt him. The Lord Jesus told this story in order to accentuate the lesson He desired for Peter to know regarding forgiveness. It is the extremely dark background of sin that makes God's mercy and grace so astounding. The problem is that most do not see the severity of their sin and they seem to exist in order to protect their sin which is why they have become its prisoner.

In v.23 of today's passage we read, "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants."

This story about the kingdom of heaven was told by the Lord Jesus in order to provide for the disciples more understanding about forgiveness. The subject is the kingdom of heaven or the rule of God. The only way that we realize the culture of God in our souls is if He is our king who is calling the shots regarding our daily lives. In order for the kingdom of God to be realized by you and me, we must have a servant king relationship with the Lord Jesus. The word "therefore" reveals this story was in response to the previous exchange Peter had with the Lord Jesus regarding forgiveness. 

God calls all of us to an accounting for our lives. According to Romans 1, before man rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, God had deposited in us the knowledge of Himself. In Ecclesiastes 3:11 we read, "Also He has put eternity in their hearts." It is clear throughout the Bible that God has given to man the wherewithal, the intellectual capability to understand, and the reason, to see the truth about Him. And, the more man responds to the revelation God has given, the more revelation He will give. Since this is so, God holds all of mankind responsible regarding the response we give to Him. For those who reject His culture will be ruled by the culture of the evil one. They will spend their eternity in Hell with Lucifer because they have chosen his ways.

In v.24-25 of today's passage we read, "24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made."

When the accounts of the servants were considered, there was one who owed 10,000 talents which is the equivalent to more than a billion dollars today. It was an amount he could not possibly pay, but as was customary in the middle east, the servant, in polite reverence, prostrated himself before the master and begged him to have patience with him as he would try to repay his debt. Based on the amount owed, his promise would be impossible to keep, but his master, showing compassion, pitied him and released him with his family and forgave his debt. Amazingly, this is what God has done for us through the sacrifice of His Son. The difference is our debt was much more severe and far-reaching.

People go to Hell to pay for their sins, but an eternity in Hell will never provide the time needed. Realistically, the debt of sin that we owe is so vast that it is unpayable. When we sinned in the Garden of Eden, we tried to rip the glory of God from Him. The glory that we tried to steal from God could never be returned to God. There was no way that we could pay our debt off, even if we spent an eternity in Hell. People who reject the gracious gift of forgiveness from God go to Hell because sin must be atoned for if we are to be forgiven. God is just and sin must be atoned for in order for anyone to go free. Sin is an unpayable debt apart from the incredible accomplishments of Christ on Calvary's cross. 

Through this illustration, Peter was granted the understanding that as a fallen sinner, he could not pay for his sin before the Lord. Peter began to understand how much of an enemy his sin had made him before God. In John 16 we are informed that the Holy Spirit came to convict the world of sin, and righteousness, and judgment. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to call men, women, boys and girls to give an account for their sin. This is called conviction in the Bible. It makes sense that once we have come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and we have realized we could not pay our enormous debt, that we turn to the only One who could fix it. Sadly, most do not do this. When we came to believe in the Lord Jesus as our God and Savior due to the Holy Spirit's convicting work, we experienced the relief of the enormous burden that our sin had created. It is that relief that fuels our reservoir of forgiveness toward others.

In v.26-27 of today's passage we read, "26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt."

As soon as he heard his master's words the servant fell down and worshiped his master. Brokenness is necessary for our worship of God. Through his devastation the servant bowed before his master. Out of the understanding that there was really no way he could have paid his debt, the servant turned in worship of his master. Had he not done this, he knew he would be bound in permanent bondage. Simply, he knew he could never pay off his debt. But, the shackles of Hell stand no match to the liberating freedom that comes from the One who laid down His life for us. 

So, here was Peter who didn't realize that he was just like that servant. So were you and I. Like Peter, we didn't understand that our sin under God’s perfect law placed us in the greatest debt. This is why conviction of sin is so necessary. This is why the Word of God must find us guilty. We would not be postured enough to be saved if it weren't so. We owed an amount to God that was so large we could never be able to pay it off. But, due to God's great love and compassion, He sent His Son to die on the cross as our perfect sacrifice to pay our debt. Overwhelmed by our sin debt, we turned to the Savior who Himself overwhelmed sin and death on our behalf. We pleaded for the mercy and grace of God to intervene and praise God that it did.

Matthew 18:21-22

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21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." ~ Matthew 18:21-22

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 18 where the Lord Jesus is responding to His disciples about greatest in His kingdom. Greatness according to the world is in direct opposition to what God says about it and the default mode for most is in accordance with Lucifer's definitions of things, not God's. The late Jim Valvano once said, "What enables us to achieve our greatness contains the seeds of our destruction." There is a fine line between greatness God's way and that of this world that is ruled by Satan. The notable difference is motivation. The real question is why do we want to be great? Is it for our glory or for God's. Only that which is of and for God will endure.

In v.21 of today's passage we read, "Then Peter came to Him and said, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?'"

Today's passage was in response to the question asked of the Lord Jesus by the disciples, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" After the Lord Jesus highlighted several characteristics of greatness, Peter came to Him and asked how often he must forgive someone who has sinned against him. To the extent that we struggle with forgiveness, when it comes to relationships, it is absolutely necessary if we desire depth in the relationship. It has been said by many that "Bitterness is like drinking poison and then waiting on your enemy to die."  

Peter's question revealed that his understanding and appreciation of forgiveness was tainted. Peter wanted to know the bare minimum that God required of him. Peter didn't understand forgiveness at its core. Forgiveness in the Bible reflects the heart of God. It means to no longer hold sin against the person who has sinned against you. It’s not about forgetting what happened or pretending it didn’t hurt, it’s a choice to respond in mercy and grace rather than revenge. We must always be on guard against the flesh that recoils out of the desire to protect ourselves and to penalize those who have hurt us.

In v.22 of today's passage we read, "Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'"

Biblical faith that is informed by God's forgiveness will always conform to the commands of Christ. The response the Lord Jesus provided Peter is not a counter offer of a literal amount of seventy-seven times. No, the Lord Jesus used a figure of speech here to declare that there should be no limit on how many times we are willing to pursue the spiritual well-being of our brother by pursuing them for the sake of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Forgiveness matters because it lies at the center of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. In His final hour, the Lord Jesus looked upon those who condemned Him and said, "Father, forgive them." His death and suffering was the greatest expression of mercy and grace the world has ever witnessed. Through His sacrifice, God offers full forgiveness to those who trust in Him, washing away guilt and reconciling broken people to Himself. God's grace is more than something we believe, it’s a gift that changes everything. It lifts the weight of shame and guilt. It restores the relationship that sin robbed from us with our Creator. 

This kind of forgiveness isn’t meant to stop with us. God calls us to pass it on every chance we get. Due to the fact that the Lord Jesus gave up His life for us, we choose to lavish upon those who have hurt us the same mercy and grace that God showed to us at the cross. Forgiveness is not just something we receive from others, it’s something we’re called to share with others, especially those who should know better than to deliberately hurt us. Forgiveness is part of the resurrection story still being unfolded through the shaping our words and reactions toward those who have hurt us. This great expression of mercy and grace is God's greatest change agent. No-one should want to conceal that.

When we hold onto bitterness, resentment, or anger, we allow those emotions to take root and to shape how we think, speak, and live. In Ephesians 4:31–32, we are told to "put away all bitterness and wrath and anger, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Forgiveness breaks the cycle of Satan's destruction. It gives space for peace to settle in where hostility once lived. Forgiveness allows us to move forward in freedom, rather than staying stuck and stunted in the hurt. Choosing to forgive draws us closer to the heart of God. Every time we release an offender, we choose to trust God’s justice more than our own.

Matthew 18:18-20

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18 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. 19 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. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. ~ Matthew 18:18-20

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 18 where the main topic is greatness. This subject was under consideration, because as they were walking along with the Lord Jesus, the disciples began to discuss which one of them would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Greatness in the eyes of God is different than greatness in the eyes of man. Greatness according to God's economy is measured by servanthood. 

In Mark 10:42-43 we read, "42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, 'You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.'"

In v.18 of today's passage we read, "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."

Literally, this verse reads, "Whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."  This is linked to the previous verses of dealing with sin exacted upon one believer by another. When we are truly being defined by God, we are granted His power and His authority. This authority rings true even in the hearts of those who disagree with. The moral authority always comes from the truth. The goal of such authority and subsequent power has as its purpose the upholding of the truth. It is out of this context that the hurt brother offers the brother who exacted the offense reconciliation. All of this is built upon the earlier mention principle by the Lord Jesus that He doesn't want any of these little ones to perish.

In Matthew 16:19 we read, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 

In this verse, the Lord Jesus’ words meant the disciples would have His power and authority as symbolized by the possession of the keys, to deliver the truth of God to the world. The unfolding of this process is seen in the book of Acts. Through his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter opened the door of the kingdom to his hearers. The words "bind" and "loose" were common Jewish legal phraseology meaning to declare something forbidden or allowed. The words "bind" and "loose" provide a picture of harmony due to the fact that together these words mean "to sound together," or "to harmonize." When two related notes are struck on any instrument, the result is harmony. The harmony is already there, it is simply brought out as the right notes are struck. This is where the power and the authority to communicate most profoundly is discovered, when we harmonize with the will of God.

In v.19-20 of today's passage we read, "19 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. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

There are those who come to today's passage and conclude that if we ask God for anything that He will respond to it affirmatively. This is not that the teaching to be discovered here. We must always remember the context and the context is how to deal with a brother who has offended us and is not repentant. In addition to that, the Lord Jesus was describing greatness. We will be great in His kingdom as we are increasingly described by His word and His will. And, when this is the case, we will be committed to reconciliation with a brother who has hurt us.

This passage is important because it describes how many must be involved in order for us to arrive upon the will of God. The Lord Jesus clearly said the number needed is at least two which was the number He required in Deuteronomy 19:15. We must always remember that when we study a Bible passage, our goal is not to determine our personal meaning, our goal is to discover what the Holy Spirit meant when He gave those words. The key is that we are in submission to God's Word. And, this is the goal behind any message rendered from God by the believer. When we are submitted to God's truth, the Lord Jesus promises to honor us with His authority and His power as we deliver that truth. Today's passage clearly means that when believers gather together to deal with unrepentant sinners, they have the complete backing of heaven and the goal is forgiveness and reconciliation.

Matthew 18:15-17

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15 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. 16 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. 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  ~ Matthew 18:15-17

Today, we continue our study of Matthew 18 where the Lord Jesus described for His disciples what greatness looks like. This chapter is all in response to their earlier question about greatness. The Lord Jesus in this chapter highlighted characteristics like humility, dependency upon the Lord, encouraging the weak, and a heart for the struggling. Today, the Lord Jesus highlights the skill and beauty of reconciliation. The rooted of reconciliation is forgiveness. These principles given to us by God are a part of the overall fabric of the judicial system that we Americans have enjoyed since our founding. Greatness is granted to those who are most defined by the truth.

In v.15 of today's passage we read, "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."

Again, the Lord Jesus is painting a portrait of what it looks like to be great in His kingdom. He underscores the fact that when a rift has been created between two brothers, the Lord Jesus tells the one offended to go to his brother and have a conversation with him. Notice that the Lord Jesus said, "sins against you," not merely "annoys you" or "does something which you don’t like" or "has a political view different than yours." At the heart of the culture of the Lord Jesus Christ is love and being loved. This gets us to the heart of reconciliation. At the heart of reconciliation is forgiveness. 

In addition, the Lord Jesus said no one other than you and your brother is to know about the offense. And, if our brother hears us or owns his error, then we have reconciled with our brother. The Lord Jesus did not say if we win the argument we have won the fight. No, He said we have won our brother. Since we as believers in Christ have received forgiveness from God, He expects us to extend this forgiveness to others who have offended us. Believers in the Lord Jesus have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to forgive even the most horrible of offenses. 

In v.16 of today's passage we read, "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."

We must not lose sight of the main idea here which is reconciliation, for if we do, we will find ourselves on the slippery slope of being defined by hatred. So, if our brother does not hear us, we are to take one or two other brothers in the Lord and establish a witness of three. In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, Moses outlined God’s plan for Israel’s spiritual and community life. That chapter focuses in on the judicial process that upholds the truth. It teaches us that we do well to put certain steps in place to deal fairly and respectfully with those accused of crimes. It underscores the goal in any society, the endurance of the truth because the truth sets us free. One such procedure was to require two or three witnesses for a criminal conviction. Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 19:15, "You must not convict any one of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." Being witnesses, we are able to establish the truth and the charge by verifying the facts of the plaintiff’s accusation. And, if we endure in the truth which endures, we will endure.

In v.17 of today's passage we read, "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

There are two common misunderstandings related to this verse. When the Lord Jesus said, "tell it to the church," He did not give us permission to share our brother’s sin with every member of the family of God. The right understanding is that we seek reconciliation and that peace is restored in every possible way. Peace is the goal and peace is only realized through the Prince of Peace. It is only through God's peace that we dwell together as believers in the Lord Jesus as brothers. When the peace of the Lord Jesus grips us in the midst of the most distressing circumstances, we will experience Him directly as He undergirds, sustains and strengthens us. It is then that we discover the peace of God that keeps us, guards our hearts from breaking free into thinking that stomps all over the truth. It is through His peace and truth that our hearts and minds are thus fortified against anxiety and inaccurate and potentially destructive ways of living.

A second misunderstanding of this verse pertains to the words "let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." The Lord Jesus isn't telling us to wrongly treat believers as heathens and tax-collectors. He was telling us that if our brother takes the posture of the heathen and the tax-collector, we are let him. Many wrongly believe that since many Jews despised the Gentiles and the tax-collectors, believers in the Lord Jesus should also despise the brother who sinned against us. This is not the admonition of the Lord here. Matthew, a tax-collector, was chosen by the Lord to be His disciple and the writer of this gospel account. Furthermore, the Lord Jesus died on the cross for both Jews and Gentiles including tax-collectors. Practically speaking, to treat the brother who sinned against us as a Gentile or a tax collector would be inconsistent with the gospel. The goal will always be reconciliation, if we are to be great in the kingdom of God. But, greatness is not the goal. No, the goal is the Lord Jesus. The goal is His kingdom, His rule over our yielded lives. And, as this happens, His peace and truth endures.

Matthew 18:12-14

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12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. ~ Matthew 18:12-14

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 18. The Bible begins with the fact that God created everything and then Lucifer ruined it. It seems senseless but there is much more to the story than we understand. We have all wrestled with the questions. We have asked, "If God is so powerful and all good, why did He let sin happen in the first place?" We've asked, "If God is truly omnipotent, why didn’t He stop the efforts of the enemy?" In response we could say, "God could have created us as robots to choose His will all the time. But, where is the heart in that?" God created us with a free will that enables us to love Him or to reject Him. Along with the freedom to love Him, God had to give us the freedom to choose not to love Him, otherwise there is no love involved from our standpoint.

In v.12 of today's passage we read, "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?"

The Lord Jesus utilized a very familiar illustration to make His point, the illustration of a shepherd seeking his lost sheep. This story was very familiar to His audience. The idea of God as our shepherd is not a unique theme in the Scriptures. The Old Testament has at least 16 passages in which God is called "shepherd." Throughout the Bible God has sought the lost and He rejoices when a lost sinner recognizes his need for His salvation. God, by nature, is loving and holy. This is what sets Him apart from all other manufactured gods of this world. He, by nature, rejoices when we come to the end of ourselves and we cry out to Him for help. God, the Good Shepherd, sent His Son into this world to redeem us who were wooed by the Holy Spirit to believe that His death on the cross paid the penalty for that which separated us from Him. 

While sheep are mentioned over 400 times in the Bible, God is likened to a shepherd over 100 times. Sheep very easily go astray, and that is why we needed a shepherd. The religious leaders of Israel had no problem seeing the tax-collectors and the sinners as "lost sheep," but they themselves would not embrace that metaphor to describe themselves! Even though, Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, made it clear that all of mankind are like sheep who have been duped and have gone astray from God. 

In biblical culture, the shepherd was always held responsible for each sheep. In fact, if one went missing, the shepherd had to pay for it unless he could prove that it was killed by a predator. This explains why the shepherd has always acknowledged his need to leave the flock with the other shepherds and ardently search for the wayward sheep. For the shepherd, failure to find the lost sheep meant money out of his own pocket, plus the disgrace of being known as a shepherd who failed to protect his sheep. 

The Lord Jesus likened Himself as the Shepherd who ardently seeks out the defenseless one lost sheep. This is what He did the day you and I were found. The Lord Jesus has always cared as much for the one lost sheep as He does for the many sheep that are already safe. When the sheep wander off, they are in danger of being accosted by predators, in danger of falling off the cliffs, in danger of exhaustion and dehydration. In fact, when sheep become afraid, they get very nervous and fearful. They become so despondent and discouraged, they lie down and die if not found by the shepherd. By leaving the ninety-nine sheep, the shepherd provides proof that each animal is dear to Him. 

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray."

In Isaiah 53 we are reminded that all mankind are sheep that have gone astray. Isaiah spoke of how we like those silly animals are prone to wander but he gave the solution for the wandering. God's solution for the sheep going astray was the cross of the Lord Jesus. The illustration used by the Lord Jesus revealed that when the shepherd finds the seventy pound lone lost sheep, he lays it on his shoulders and returns it to its home. The belly of the sheep is put against the back of the shepherd’s neck. The shepherd would then take the four legs, pull them around his neck and take a cord and tie the feet together. The shepherd would rejoice as he walked all the way back home. The whole village waited, wondering if the shepherd would find the lost sheep. If the shepherd found the sheep, the whole town would rejoice. This is a picture of what goes on in heaven when a broken one is found by the Savior. Every time it happens, heaven throws a grand party because the lost has been found.

In v.14 of today's passage we read, "Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."  

The Lord Jesus began today's passage with the word "if" which expresses uncertainty. "If" renders the outcome of the Shepherd’s search far from certain. This merely underscores the fact that there is the permissive will of God and the decreed will of God. In this passage we are presented with both. It is not God's decreed will than any perish but some because of His permissive will, do. They do because they reject the will of God. It must be this way, otherwise the human heart is not engaged in the process and we are but robots. Granted, we were dead in our sins and trespasses and we were dead to God. And, had He not moved on us to believe, we would still be dead in our sinful wretchedness. So, we could have rejected Him, made possible by His permissive will.

The word "perish" is used to describe those whose lives have been ruined by believing the lie of the enemy. Since God has this kind of a heart, we must not despise these the little ones who have been duped by the devil whether they are young in age or old. The purpose the Lord Jesus had in mind that day when He told this story was to highlight the joy of God over the return of the wayward. If we have entered into a personal relationship with God, we will long to see the wayward return to the Father. In fact, we will enter the process of pursuing the wayward. This is so because He daily seeks to inculcate His heart into our hearts. We will have His heart for the lost because He has a heart for the lost.

Matthew 18:10-11

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10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. ~ Matthew 18:10-11

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 18 where the Lord Jesus has brought a young child in front of His disciples to teach them a very valuable lesson about greatness. The subject of greatness had been introduced earlier due to a discussion the disciples had among themselves as they walked down the road with the Lord Jesus. With the young child standing before them, the Lord Jesus told His disciples what greatness looks like. Greatness is realized in the lives of those who embrace humility. This is why the Lord Jesus called up the little kid who was needy and dependent and humble. Greatness is seen in servants who are learning the dangers of selfishness. 

In v.10 of today's passage we read, "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven."

The word "despise" means "to think little of" or "to think nothing of." Every person has value due to the fact that God created them. It is quite unwise for the believer in Christ to have a dismissive attitude towards others. To despise them is to despise Him. In Philippians 2:3 we read, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." Greatness is realized by those who learn to reject selfish ambition and vain conceit. "Selfish ambition" is to elevate oneself or to put one’s own interests before another. It is a self-above-others approach to life. "Vain conceit" means "empty glory." When the Lord Jesus "made himself nothing," or literally, "emptied Himself," God exalted Him so that every tongue should confess that He is THE Lord. Christ sought not His own glory but that of the Father, and in so doing, He was glorified.

As was the case with the disciples, having been made in the image of God but damaged by sin, we are in need of being transformed. And, through our relationship with the Lord Jesus, we are being changed from the inside out, so that we may be able to value humility and to reflect His glory. But, when we seek our own glory, seeking to establish a reputation for ourselves, we will always arrive on a street called emptiness. This is so because it is fabricated by the self and it renders nothing and has no lasting value. Humility is the key here and it is humility which aids unity among believers. In context, the Lord Jesus mentioned the angels because they are created beings who aid us in our journey through this fallen world. And, when we are being motivated by our own selfishness we hinder the power to be found in our unity which comes out of being a part of the family of God.

Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is served by at least one of God's angels. The writer of Hebrews wrote, "Angels are ministering spirits sent to serve or minister to those of us who are heirs of salvation." This could mean that we each have our own personal angel. The point the Lord Jesus was making is, if children of God are served by God's angels, then we are wise to recognize their value and to treat them with dignity, otherwise, we may be in danger of causing one of these little ones to stumble in their walk with the Lord. 

In v.11 of today's passage we read, "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost."

This verse explains why it is so important for us to care for all believers because of God's redemptive plan. At the center of God's redemptive plan is the gospel which is the message that God sent His Son into this world in order to save that which was lost. This section in Matthew 18 began with the disciples asking, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” The Lord Jesus answered, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." This is the gospel which is God's unifying message. And, to look down upon anyone is to minimize the gospel.

In Matthew 10:42 we read, "Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." 

The quickest road to unhappiness is the highway of Self. And if we get on that highway, we will discover that it is packed. There's a lot of people on it. But, it is a dead end street, going nowhere but to frustration. On the other hand, when we get on the Humble Road, although it's quite lonely, it is the quickest road to real joy that is not daunted by our circumstances. Even when we do the most insignificant for the most insignificant, the attentiveness of God is triggered to the point of reward for all involved. One of those rewards is joy. The wonder of it all is not that angels serve us, but that we recognize the value of servanthood and we then serve others.  

We must not treat others in belittling ways because "in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." This means the angels have the immeasurable privilege of enjoying the immediate presence of God. We do well to resist despising anyone, especially those who seem to be unimpressive. The reason for this is due to the fact that God sent forth His Son to die for us all. There is no way to announce someone's value more than to lay down your life for them. The ally of unity is "humility," which begins with a proper assessment of ourselves as being dependent upon our Creator. When we humble ourselves before God, we will see that we are valuable in His eyes, but no more valuable than anyone else.

Matthew 18:6-9

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6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 8 If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. ~ Matthew 18:6-9

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 18 where the Lord Jesus continued training His disciples to be His disciples. Earlier, the Lord Jesus had warned the Jewish religious leaders about the sin of loving money. Here, the Lord Jesus turned to His disciples to teach them about loving people. This teaching was prompted by the disciples arguing about who would be the greatest in His kingdom. It was A.H. McNeile who once said, "He will be the greatest who has the least idea that he is great."

In v.6 of today's passage we read, "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

Addressing the disciples’ desire to be great, the Lord Jesus turned up the volume on being child-like in our faith. In fact, He repeated three times a warning about causing those young in their faith to stumble. A disciple is in danger of causing a child to sin by not showing him value. And when a disciple is motivated according to God's will, he will value a child. But, if the disciple is motivated by being great in the eyes of people, he will not value the child. The root problem is selfishness, wanting to be great in the eyes of others.

The Lord Jesus referenced a "millstone" which was commonly used to grind wheat into flour. These stones weighed up to 3000 pounds. When hung around anyone's neck, it would take one to the bottom of the sea very fast. The rabbis taught that drowning was only for Gentiles, not for Jews. The Lord Jesus emphasized it would be better to be drowned, instantly, than to hinder the faith of a young believer.

In v.7 of today's passage we read, "Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!"

The word "woe" is used throughout the Bible describing God's impending judgement on those who deliberately cause others to stumble away from the Lord. The word "offense" is the Greek word from which we get our English word scandal. Used fifteen times in the New Testament, this word describes a "snare." In light of the broader context of this chapter, the Lord Jesus identified the root cause of such behavior as pride. 

In Proverbs 29:23 we read, "A man's pride shall bring him low but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit." Once again the root problem is pride and arrogance.

In v.8 of today's passage we read, "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire."

The Lord Jesus was not suggesting we go out and actually cut off our hand, foot, or even pluck out our eye. Interestingly, these three body parts mediate our contact with others. The Lord Jesus here employed hyperbole in order to issue a radical call to separate ourselves from any behavior that may cause us and others to reject Him. Giving safe haven in our souls to the Lord Jesus is the posture that fulfills us the most.

In v.9 of today's passage we read, "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire."

We must be serious to not allow sin to define us. Oh yeah, we will sin but we do not have to be defined by sin, it mustn't be our practice. As God has shown His grace to us we must share it with others. Being gracious to others is often the bridge that brings them to the Lord. Our eye represents what we see, our hand what we do, and, our foot where we go. There are places, activities and things we have no business being at, going to or doing. We must be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The fire is analogous of God’s judgment. And, if God did not judge evil, evil would run rampant with no end. In fact, evil would win and we all would be doomed because sin destroys. Extinction would be our ultimate state.

The Lord Jesus referred to Hell more than He did Heaven, and when He spoke of it, He described it as a place that some will go. According to Matthew 10:28, Hell is a place where our bodies and souls will be destroyed. According to 2 Thessalonians 1:9 Hell is a place that is away from the presence of the Lord. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus found in Luke 16, the rich man specifically calls Hell, "a place of torment." This is precisely why the Father sent His beloved Son to this earth so that when we believe in Him we would not perish in the fires of Hell but that we would spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Matthew 18:1-5

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1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. ~ Matthew 18:1-5

Today, we transition into Matthew 18 where the setting is Capernaum, the headquarters of the Lord Jesus and the home of Peter. The disciples had been walking on the road where the Lord Jesus had been teaching and doing miracles. While the disciples were on the road, there began an argument as to which of them would be the greatest in the kingdom of the Lord. It was as if the Lord Jesus said nothing to them about His suffering, His death and His resurrection. 

Soon thereafter, the Lord Jesus would be crucified on the cross of Calvary to pay the penalty created by our sin. By doing so, He shined the spotlight on the age old struggle between pride and humility. God resists the proud because the proud resist God. The heart controlled by pride has no room for confession, it does not repent, and it does not ask for forgiveness. Pride is the hidden reef that shipwrecks those who feed it. This is why the Lord Jesus was in the middle of preparing His disciples for His departure from this earth. The primary tool the Lord uses to prepare all of His followers for those moments we face everyday is discipleship. God's idea of discipleship leads us to the place that we decrease and He increases in our lives. 

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'"

The lust of the disciples for greatness in the kingdom of the Lord Jesus prompted this question. This only underscores the fact that the world's idea of greatness is not harmonious with the Lord's. His is a culture of selflessness. His culture navigates us to consider the needs of other’s as more important than our own. His way leads us to serve those around us, instead of expecting them to serve us. According to the Lord Jesus, we truly live the abundant life that He promised when we dethrone self and give our will to Him. Greatness in God's kingdom is not relative, it is absolute. Everyone in His kingdom is the greatest. We are great because our greatness is found in Christ's righteousness which is humbling. When God sees us through the lens of His Son, He sees His righteousness applied to us.

In v.2-3 of today's passage we read, "2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.'"

According to the other accounts of this story, when the disciples saw the people bringing their children to the Lord Jesus, they rebuked them. In Mark 10:14 the Lord Jesus said in response, "Permit the children to come to Me. Don't hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. " 

At that moment the Lord Jesus picked up a little child because a child was the lowest ranking person in their society. Also, a child is the most dependent among us. He then used the child as an illustration about humility. According to the Lord's culture, a dependent child is the greatest. Like the disciples, we most often have a contrary understanding of greatness than the Lord. In fact, their argument in that house that day revealed their ignorance of the ways of the Lord. Humility is so difficult to lay hold of because we most often learn it through humiliating circumstances. It is only when we see our wickedness that we grow in humility and are favored by God. The conversion needed is that we go from being defined by pride to being defined by humility.

Interestingly, the Lord Jesus did not rebuke the disciples for wanting to be great. He didn't because He made us to desire to succeed at whatever we do. What the Lord Jesus did do was to tell the disciples the true way to greatness. True greatness is not accessed by seeking to be first, it is accessed by a willingness to be last. According to God's culture, greatness is when we are defined by Him which will always lead us to the ambition of pleasing Him.

In v.4-5 of today's passage we read, "4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me."

True greatness is championed when we serve others and expect nothing in return. True greatness desires to serve in the name of the Lord Jesus who has won our hearts through His mercy and grace. Serving those most deemed insignificant comes on the heels of being defined by God. But, our problem is we are relentless worshipers of self. It is our nature to worship ourselves. But, when we come into a personal relationship with Christ, He teaches us to be defined by those things which are contrary to our natural way of thinking and living. His culture is dominated by the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

According to the culture of the Lord Jesus, being first means being last. And being last means being a servant. But the disciples had not shirked this world's culture to the point that they were no longer defined by it. Like them, the world has convinced us that we can do acts of service and still not be servants. In the culture of God, servanthood is a must for the disciple of Christ. And, if our intended outcome is personal recognition, we will not be defined by God as servants. True servanthood begins with selflessness which will seek the good of others. This only happens as we are engaged in a meaningful relationship with the Lord Jesus who fully understands our greatest enemy is within us.

Matthew 17:24-27

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24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?" 26 Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you." ~ Matthew 17:24-27

Today, we conclude our study of Matthew 17 where the Lord Jesus was engaged in the process of discipling the twelve disciples. As pointed out before, the most important concept taught in this chapter is that we listen to the Lord Jesus. That we listen to His definitions of things and that we allow those concepts to govern our thinking and our choices. As indicated in today's passage, God always tailor makes His curriculum for each disciple. The key is that we are being defined by Him and we know that we are being defined by Him when we obey Him.

In v.24 of today's passage we read, "When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, 'Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?'"

After their five month trip all around the areas where the Gentiles lived, the Lord Jesus and His twelve disciples arrived back in Capernaum which was located on the north most point of the Sea of Galilee. It was there where Peter grew up and the Lord Jesus did most of His preaching, teaching, and healings. After arriving in Capernaum, the tax collectors asked Peter, who was probably returning from running an errand by himself, if the Lord Jesus had paid the Temple tax which was an OT requirement issued in Exodus 30. This tax was collected from everyone twenty years old and older. It was collected for the construction and maintenance of the Temple.

In v.25-26 of today's passage we read, "25 He said, 'Yes.' And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?' 26 Peter said to Him, 'From strangers.' Jesus said to him, 'Then the sons are free.'"

When Peter entered the house, the Lord Jesus asked Peter, "From whom do kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?" This is the way of discipleship, ask a question creating an internal process which will ultimately deliver an answer. Notice the Lord Jesus asked Simon the question even though the Lord Jesus changed his name to Peter. After Peter responded,  the Lord Jesus said, "Then the sons are free." 

The point is God is our Father and we are His children. In fact, we are joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. God doesn’t take from His children, He gives to His children. And, just as this principle is true for human kings and their children, it's also true for God and His children. In saying this, the Lord Jesus made the point that not everyone who is a child of Israel is in fact a child of God. Only those in right relationship with the Lord Jesus are in right relationship with God. As the Lord Jesus was there to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, the temple tax was now obsolete for the disciples. 

When the Lord Jesus asked Peter the question, He referred to Him as "Simon" which means listening. As we have mentioned before, the theme of this chapter is listening. The one we listen to the most is the one who defines us the most. The word "listen" shows up over 400 times in the Bible, and in many of those, God is pleading with His people to listen, or reprimanding them for not listening. We were created to know God in a deep and personal way. He never intended for our relationship with Him to be distant, formal or mechanical. He has a plan for each of us that is unique, incredible, adventurous and significant. And most of all, He created us to have fellowship with Him.

In v.27 of today's passage we read, "Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."

So as to not to be offensive, the Lord Jesus ordered Peter to go fishing without bait just a hook. And, once he caught a fish, Peter would discover enough money to pay the tax for both of them. Through this incident the Lord Jesus discipled Peter to always seek to give no unnecessary offense, especially to those with whom he differ. The tax was not the issue, having a sincere heart not to offend others was the issue. Although the Lord Jesus couldn't control whether He was an offense to others or not, here He was teaching Peter to avoid the offense if it were at all possible.

This miracle reminds us of God’s grace in paying the price for our redemption through the cross of His Son. This coin reminds us of what the Lord Jesus did when He died for the penalty for our sins. This story pictures Matthew's journey with God and our journey with God and how His grace has always sustained us. This story reveals the curriculum of God for the disciple and the fact that God does not require His disciple to pass the course before he has enrolled in it. Mercifully, God does not allow us to choose our own curriculum. God’s curriculum, tailor-made for each of us, will always include lessons we wish we could avoid. But, His wisdom is always perfect. He uses everything, the good and the bad, our successes and our failures to teach us of His kingdom. Increasingly, His discipleship program is inculcating His culture into our hearts and souls. And, we are wise to let Him do this, even when it is painful.

Matthew 17:22-23

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22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful. ~ Matthew 17:22-23

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 17 where the Lord Jesus taught His disciples on how to be disciples. Discipleship happens when we walk through life learning to listen to Him more and more closely. Discipleship happens when we live in harmony with God's definitions of all things. Discipleship happens when having been taught by God, His influence spills out through our yielded lives into the lives of others. Essential for discipleship to happen is that we listen to the Lord and give safe haven to His truth in our souls. 

In Ecclesiastes 5:1 we read, "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know they do wrong." 

In today's passage the Lord Jesus reiterated to His disciples that He was headed to Jerusalem to deal a death blow to sin and death by dying on the cross Himself. Although the cross was the means by which the Lord Jesus conquered sin and death, for the disciple the cross teaches us the concept of death to self. The reality is that dying to self is essential for discipleship and it is through the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that the disciple is positioned to be most effective for God's glory in this world. 

In v.22 of today's passage we read, "Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, 'The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.'"

This was the second of three times the Lord Jesus told His disciples that He would go to Jerusalem to die and be raised from the dead. He reiterated this fact before He dove into the details of discipleship. He did this to show a clear difference between the believer's justification and sanctification. Christ's cross ushered in our justification while our cross ushers in His sanctification. Our justification and our sanctification must be kept separate because if we teach that our sanctification factors into our justification, then we would be guilty of heresy. We cannot earn God's favor and to teach such is false teaching. Whereas our justification makes us right in God's eyes, His sanctification is the process whereby we learn to die to our selfish desires and thus allowing Him to define us. Discipleship is one tool God uses in our lives to deliver His sanctification into the life of the yielded believer. Justification is a one-time act, never to be repeated, whereas, sanctification is an on-going process that will not end until the Lord calls us to Himself.  

The word "betrayed" is the very same word used later to describe the betrayal of the Lord Jesus by Judas. This, of course, would not be a surprise to the Lord Jesus for He knew that the eternal status of every human who has ever lived and will ever live was dependent upon Him being judged for all sin on His cross. After the Lord Jesus told the disciples about His death and resurrection, they struggled to understand it. They couldn't comprehend it because they clung to the idea that during His first coming He would set up His eternal kingdom in this world. His kingdom in this world. They ignored the teachings of Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 among many others that underscore the fact that during His first coming the Lord Jesus would deal a death blow to sin and death by dying Himself on the cross of Calvary. It will be at His second coming that the Lord Jesus will usher in His eternal kingdom.

At this point, the disciples simply were not ready for a suffering Christ, especially One who would die. The disciples undoubtedly also struggled to understand the fact that He would be raised from the dead. Through this teaching, the Lord Jesus made it very clear to His disciples that there is no discipleship without the secondary teaching of the cross. It is the cross that teaches us God's ways and aids us in our growth as His disciples. In order for our faith in the Lord Jesus to grow, we must be trained by the Lord to say "no" to the evil desires that are still in us and which beckon us daily.

According to Mark's account the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, "Listen carefully" before He taught them that He was "going to be delivered into the hands of men." Once again, listening to the Lord Jesus is the main idea in this chapter. Listening is one of the easiest things we will ever do, and yet, one of the hardest. In Romans 10:17 we read, "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." This type of hearing is not easy because as disciples we are being trained in a culture that is not normal for us. Our default mode, even though we have been born again, is the flesh. The answer is hearing Him with faith which accentuates the achievements and the life of the Lord Jesus. It is through His grace that the disciple is sustained in the faith. 

In v.23 of today's passage we read, "and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful."

Here, the Lord Jesus reiterated a second time that He would be killed in Jerusalem. The disciples did not understand that His atoning death had been highlighted throughout the Old Testament sacrificial system. For some reason they did not connect the dots. As we read in Hebrews 9:22, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin." The death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary was designed of God from eternity past to provide for undeserving and sinful man a personal relationship with God. It was through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead that the deal was sealed. His death happened because in His body God judged sin and rendered it nullified. His life overcame death on the behalf of all who would confess Him as our Savior and Lord. 

Interestingly, the response of the disciples to this teaching this time was entirely different than it was the first time. In Matthew 16:26 all of the disciples responded indignantly at the words of the Lord Jesus vowing to not allow it to happen. But, this time the disciples were "exceedingly sorrowful." The disciples were now learning to listen to the Lord who speaks to us through His Word, through our conscience, and through His creation. The disciples were yet to learn that the hardest and most difficult messages that God gives us come through the most unwanted moments of life. They would soon learn that His most profound message would come on the heels of being plunged into their greatest grief over His violent death on the cross of Calvary.