1.
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
At =
In. Greek. en. App-104 .
time = hour.
Who = Who, then.
greatest = greater. Put by Figure of speech Heterosis (of Degree) for greatest. See App-6 .
the kingdom of heaven. See App-114 .
heaven = the heavens (plural) See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
2.
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
little child. Greek. paidion. App-108 .
him = it.
3.
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .
Except = Unless. Literally "If ye be not". Assuming the possibility.
be converted = be turned: i.e. to God, in repentance.
not = by no means. Greek. ou me.
4.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
as this. Not as this little child humbles himself, for no one but the Lord humbles Himself. Compare Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:7 , Philippians 1:8 .
5.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
offend = cause to offend, as in w. 8, 9, and Matthew 16:27 ,
little ones. Not the same as in Matthew 18:2 .
believe in. See App-150 .
a millstone = an ass-millstone. Onikos. Occurs only here and Luke 17:2 ; but frequently in the Papyri (see Deissmann, New Light, &c, p. 76). Here denoting a great millstone requiring an ass to turn it.
about. Greek. epi = upon. App-104 . But all the texts read " peri " = around. App-104 .
drowned. See note on Matthew 14:30 .
the depth = the deep sea (i.e. the sea as to its depth).
the sea = the sea (as to its surface). So in Revelation 18:17 .
7.
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
world. Greek. kosmos. App-129 .
because of. Greek. apo.
but = yet, or only.
by = by means of. Greek. dia.
8.
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
if thy hand, &c. Assuming the condition. See App-118 .
offend = keepeth on causing thee to offend.
better = good. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Degree). App-6 .
life = the life: i.e. resurrection life, or life eternal. Greek. zoe. App-170 . See note on Matthew 9:18 and Leviticus 18:5 . Compare Matthew 7:14 .
hell fire = Gehenna of fire. See note on Matthew 5:22 . Occurs elsewhere only in Mark 9:47 . App-131 .
9.
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
10.
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
not Greek. me App-105 .
their angels. Their servants (Hebrews 1:14 ), The tradition of so-called "guardian" angels has no foundation in this.
that which was lost. Compare Matthew 15:24 .Matthew 15:12; Matthew 15:12
How = What. This parable was repeated later, in another connection. See Luke 15:4 , &c.
if a man, &c. The condition is not the same as in Matthew 18:8 , but is purely hypothetical = if there should be to any man.
doth he not, &c. ? Or, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and seek, &c.
11.
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12.
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13.
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .
of = over. Greek. epi. App-104 .
that sheep = it.
14.
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
will = desire. Greek. thelema, from thelo. App-102 .
your. L Tr. WH and Rm read "My".
15.
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
trespass. Greek. hamartano. App-128 .
against. Greek. eis .
tell him his fault = reprove him.
16.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
with. Greek. meta.
in = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .
two or three. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 19:15 ). Compare John 8:17 . See App-117 .
word. Greek. rhema = statement. See note on Mark 9:32 .
17.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
neglect = fail. Greek. parakouo. Occurs only here.
church = assembly. In this case the synagogue, or local court, as in Acts 19:39 . See App-120 .
the church = the assembly also.
an heathen = the Gentile. Greek. ethnikos. Occurs only here, and Matthew 6:7 .
a publican = the tax-gatherer.
18.
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Whatsoever, &c. See Matthew 16:19
on = upon. Greek. epi .
earth = the earth. Greek. ge. App-129 .
heaven = the heaven. See notes on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
19.
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
as touching = concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 .
thing = matter.
ask. Greek. aiteo. App-134 .
of = from. Greek. para .
20.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
two or three. It was believed that "where two are assembled to study the Law, the Shechinah was with them".
21.
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
sin. Greek. hamartano. App-128 .
22.
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
seventy times. Greek. hebdomekontakis. Occurs only here.
23.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Therefore = On account of this. Greek. dia ( App-104 .Matthew 18:1; Matthew 18:1 ), touto.
a certain king = a man ( App-123 .) a king (Hebraism).
would = wished. Greek. thelo . App-102 .
take account = to compare accounts. Greek. sunairo. Occurs only in Matthew (here, Matthew 18:24 , and Matthew 25:19 ). Said not to be classical Greek: but the colloquial Greek is found in the Papyri in Cent. II. in two letters, one from Oxyrhynchus, and the other from Dakkeh in Nubia, dated March 6, 214 A.D. See Deissmann's Light , &c., pp 118, 119.
of = with. Greek. meta .
24.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
to reckon = to compare accounts, as in Matthew 18:23 . See note above.
one . . . -which owed = one debtor. Found in Sophocles and Plato as well as the Papyri, though said to be only Biblical.
talents. See App-51 . Greek. talanton. Occurs only in Matthew.
25.
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
to be sold. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:3 .Leviticus 25:39 , Leviticus 25:47 ).
and. Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
children. App-108 .
26.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
worshipped = did homage. See App-134 and App-137 :1.
with. Greek. epi. App-104 . (Tr. reads 3).
27.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
loosed = released.
debt = loan. Greek. daneion. Occurs only here.
28.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
found = sought and found.
owed = was owing.
pence. Greek. denaria. See App-51 .
laid hands on = seized.
took him by the throat = began throttling him.
that = what.
29.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
at. Greek. eis.
besought = kept beseeching (imperfect). App-134 .
30.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
cast him into prison. The Papyri show that this was a widespread Graeco-Roman-Egyptian custom.
31.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
was done = had taken place.
very = exceedingly.
told = narrated (gave an exact account). Greek. diasapheo. Occ only here.
32.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
wicked. Greek. poneros. App-128 .
desiredst = besoughtedst. Same word as in Matthew 18:29 .
33.
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Shouldest, &c. = Was it not binding on thee?
had compassion = pitied, as in the next clause. Same word.
even as I = as I also.
34.
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
tormentors: or jailors. Greek. basanistes. Occurs only here. Imprisonment was called in Roman law-books cruciatus corporis.
35.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
heavenly. Greek. epouranios. Elsewhere Greek. ouranios. See Matthew 6:14 , Matthew 6:26 , Matthew 6:32 ; Matthew 15:13 .Luke 2:13 .Acts 26:19 .
trespasses. See App-128 .