Matthew 18-19

 

Matthew 18:1-7 Jesus tells His disciples they must enter the kingdom of heaven like little children. One might think this is a statement that He receives them because they receive Him (in simplicity), but in view of the disciples’ question, this is different. He is talking about not causing others to stumble, either by teaching or by lifestyle. It is not possible for little children to teach bad theology (maybe crazy but not evil), or for them to abuse alcohol or drugs or engage in sexual immorality. Adults have to, and should, choose to abstain from these for the basic reason that they can corrupt children’s or new believers’ faith.

Matthew 18:8-9 Self denial; parallel to 5:29-30. Self mutilation is better than eternal fire. Poking out eyes and lopping off hands is the reductio ad absurdum of external-only discipline.

Matthew 18:10-14 Parable of the wandering sheep. The Father values every one of His sheep. This does not imply that one should wander off to increase the Father’s joy when he returns. But He does not want the lost ones to perish, in eternal separation from Him. That is why the angels of the little ones constantly see the Father’s face, to intercede for them. That’s why Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), and died on the cross.

Matthew 18:15-20 Dealing with sin. A matter being attested to by two or three witnesses cites Deuteronomy 19:15. The church practice of excommunication goes back to this passage, with a well defined path of several confrontations with warnings of increasing emphasis. It does not necessarily assume demonic control, starting with the possibility that the sin is due to yielding to temptation or deception. But if there is demonic possession, believers have authority to bind or loose. 18:18 refers to both binding demons and empowering angelic protection. 18:19 indicates prayers have authority outside church when two or three met together. 18:20 sums up the reason for this is Jesus’ presence with groups of two or three united in prayer. It is not a magic formula, but calling on Jesus to exercise His authority,  (17:14-21)

Matthew 18:21-35 Parable of the unmerciful servant. In response to Peter’s question, Jesus makes a contrast to Genesis 4:24, where Cain vowed vengeance, vs. Jesus’ depth of forgiveness. (18:22) God is the King who wants to settle accounts with His servants and is willing to forgive incredible moral debts. But there is a condition. This amplifies 6:12, by contrasting the size of our own moral debt to God to others’ to us. The resolution of this is that out of love for the sinner (another person), we should hate the sin for its effect on him and his life and soul, but discharge him from moral debt to us.

Matthew 19

Matthew 19:1-12 Jesus teaches on divorce, expanding on 5:31-32, in response to the Pharisees’ question about what are grounds for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus starts with the Edenic basis for marriage - God joins man and wife together, quoting Genesis 1:27 & 2:24. Since marriage is of God, man has no standing to break the relationship. The Pharisees turn to Mosaic law, citing Deuteronomy 24:1-4 - aren’t these legal justification in God’s eyes? Jesus’ response is to point out the link between hearts being far from God and sin. The man is forcing his wife to commit adultery unless she already has done so voluntarily.

The disciples were then concerned about the risk of marriage; Jesus’ response seems enigmatic, talking about eunuchs. Some men are biologically that way, and others choose that life for the sake of the kingdom of God. But only those who either are born or consciously choose monastic lifestyle can accept it. We know Peter was married (8:14), but not much about the other disciples. And we know from our day and age that many who are not married live sinful lifestyles. 

Matthew 19:13-15 Jesus says to let little children come to Him, which parallels 18:1-5.

Matthew 19:16-30 The rich and the kingdom of God.  This section parallels Matthew chapters 5-6. In defining the entrance criteria for heaven, Jesus starts by quoting Exodus 20:12-16  and Leviticus 19:18. (See 5:21, 27, 33, 41) His  call to a vow of poverty because earthly riches don’t matter in heaven parallels 6:19-33; earthly riches distract us at the very least, and control us if we let them.   Jesus will perfect us if we let Him, but it will be painful in our earthly lives.  19:28 implicitly cites Proverbs 13:7-8, but only if we achieve humility which comes through service, self-denial, and submission to others & God. The bottom line is 19:30: many who are first will be last; and the last, first. Not every one, but many. Jesus judges the heart before He puts anyone on a throne.