Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Matthew
Chapter 18: Except Ye Become as Little Children
Matthew 18 is Jesus' great teaching on life together in the kingdom. When the disciples argue over who is greatest, He sets a little child in their midst and says the way up is down: 'Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.' He warns with fearful seriousness against causing His little ones to stumble, and tells the parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety and nine to seek the one that is lost, for it is not the Father's will that one should perish. He gives the pattern for winning back an erring brother, promises His presence 'where two or three are gathered together in my name,' and answers Peter's question about forgiveness, not seven times, but seventy times seven, sealing it with the parable of the servant forgiven a vast debt who would not forgive a small one. The chapter calls the church to humility, to care for the weak, to seek the straying, and to forgive from the heart as we have been forgiven.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Matthew chapter 18. For each section you will find the KJV text, word studies that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Jesus teaches childlike humility, the seeking of the lost, the reconciling of a brother, and forgiveness from the heart. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Become as Little Children
The greatest in the kingdom is the one who humbles himself as a little child.
Seeking the One Lost
The shepherd leaves the ninety and nine to seek the one that is gone astray.
Gaining Thy Brother
Christ gives the loving pattern for reconciling an erring brother, and His presence among the gathered.
Forgive from the Heart
Forgiven a debt he could never pay, the servant must forgive his brother, or face judgment.
The Son of Man Is Come to Save That Which Was Lost (Matthew 18:1-14)
Greatness in the kingdom is childlike lowliness; and the God who prizes His little ones seeks every one that strays.
Except Ye Become as Little Children
"At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 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. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 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. 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! 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. 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. 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. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 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? 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. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."
Word Study
"be converted," Greek straphete (στραφῆτε). The word means to turn, to turn around and go the other way. The disciples were facing the wrong direction, upward and inward, jostling over "who is the greatest." Jesus says they must "turn" and "become as little children" or they "shall not enter into the kingdom." This is the turning of true repentance and conversion: away from pride, ambition, and self-importance, and back to the lowliness, trust, and dependence of a little child. The kingdom is entered not by climbing but by turning and becoming small.
Explanation
When the disciples ask who is greatest, Jesus sets a child in their midst and overturns the question: greatness in the kingdom is measured by smallness, by becoming humble and dependent like a little one. He then warns with terrible severity against causing "one of these little ones" to stumble -- better a millstone and the sea. The chapter's heart is the value God places on the lowly and the straying: the shepherd leaves the ninety and nine to seek the one that wandered, "for it is not the will of your Father... that one of these little ones should perish." The kingdom's math prizes the single lost sheep.
Gospel Focus
The disciples ask the wrong question, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?", and Jesus answers by setting a little child in their midst. The way into the kingdom, and the way up within it, is down. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter." A child is small, dependent, trusting, without status to defend; that is the posture of saving faith and of true greatness. "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest." From this Jesus turns to the care His little ones deserve. To "receive one such little child in my name" is to receive Christ Himself; but to "offend one of these little ones which believe in me", to cause a weak or young believer to stumble into sin, brings a woe so severe that drowning with a millstone would be better. He calls His people to deal ruthlessly with whatever in themselves causes stumbling: "if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off", better to enter life maimed than to be cast whole into "everlasting fire." Sin is not to be coddled but cut off. And He lifts the worth of the humble believer to heaven's own valuation: "their angels do always behold the face of my Father," and "the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." Then comes the tender parable of the lost sheep: the shepherd "leaveth the ninety and nine" and searches the mountains for the one that strayed, and rejoices over its finding, for "it is not the will of your Father... that one of these little ones should perish." Here is the heart of God, the seeking, saving heart that came in Christ. He does not write off the straggler; He goes after him. The chapter binds the two truths together: be small enough to be saved, and value the small ones God so loves.
Thou Hast Gained Thy Brother (Matthew 18:15-20)
Christ gives the loving, step-by-step way to reconcile an erring brother, and promises His presence among His gathered people.
Where Two or Three Are Gathered Together
"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. 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. 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. 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. 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. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Word Study
"the church," Greek ekklesia (ἐκκλησία). The word means an assembly, those "called out" and gathered together. This is only the second time Jesus uses it in Matthew, and here He gives the assembly real authority in the matter of an unrepentant brother. The whole aim, however, is not condemnation but restoration, every step is designed to "gain thy brother." The ekklesia is Christ's called-out people, and its business with a straying member is the same seeking love that leaves the ninety and nine.
Explanation
Jesus gives the pattern for restoring a sinning brother -- private appeal first, then witnesses, then the church -- always aiming at winning him back, not casting him off. The binding and loosing entrusted to the gathered church is exercised under heaven's authority, and it rests on His presence: "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." That He can be present with every gathering of His people everywhere at once is a claim only God can make, for only God is omnipresent. The church acts not in its own name or power but in His, and He Himself stands among them.
Gospel Focus
Having taught the worth of the little ones and the seeking of the lost, Jesus now gives the loving pattern for dealing with sin between believers. The goal is stated at the very first step: "thou hast gained thy brother." This is not a procedure for winning arguments or punishing offenders but for winning people back. First, go privately, "between thee and him alone." Most wrongs should be settled quietly, without spreading the matter, giving the brother every chance to hear and be restored with his dignity intact. If that fails, "take with thee one or two more," that the matter may be weighed fairly "in the mouth of two or three witnesses." Only if he still refuses is it brought to "the church," and only if he will not hear even the church is he treated "as an heathen man and a publican", that is, as one outside, no longer walking as a brother, yet, note, even publicans and heathen were those Jesus sought and saved. The aim to the very end is repentance and return. To the church Jesus gives authority, "whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven", to act in His name in these matters, and He crowns it with two great promises: that united prayer, "if two of you shall agree," is heard by the Father, and that His own presence rests upon His gathered people, "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." This is a precious word. The Lord is present not only in great assemblies but wherever even two or three gather in His name. And it quietly declares who He is: the same Jesus who ascended is present with His people everywhere at once, exactly what only God can be. Handle offences His way, and gather in His name, and you will find the Lord Himself in the midst.
Should Not Thou Also Have Had Compassion? (Matthew 18:21-35)
Forgiven a debt he could never repay, the servant who will not forgive his brother a trifle stands condemned by his own hardness.
Until Seventy Times Seven
"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 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. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 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. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 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: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."
Word Study
"ten thousand talents," Greek muria talanta (μύρια τάλαντα). A talent was the largest unit of money, and "ten thousand" (murioi) was the largest number the language commonly named. Together they mean an incalculable, unpayable sum, against which the fellowservant's "hundred pence" (a hundred days' wages) is a trifle. The contrast is the whole point of the parable: the debt God forgives us is beyond all reckoning, and the wrongs our brothers do us, however real, are small by comparison. The forgiven must forgive.
Explanation
Peter thinks seven times a generous limit for forgiveness; Jesus answers "seventy times seven" -- forgiveness beyond counting. The parable of the unforgiving servant drives it home: a man forgiven an unpayable debt of ten thousand talents seizes a fellow servant over a few pence, and the king's verdict is terrifying. The logic is inescapable -- those who have received mercy without measure cannot withhold it without exposing that they never grasped their own forgiveness. To refuse a brother the pardon God has lavished on us is to insult the cross that bought it.
Gospel Focus
Peter thinks he is being generous: "how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?" The rabbis taught three times; Peter doubles it and adds one. But Jesus explodes the whole idea of keeping count: "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." Forgiveness is not a quota to be filled but a disposition of the heart that does not tally. Then He tells why, in the parable of the unforgiving servant. A servant owes his king "ten thousand talents," a debt so vast it could never be paid, and pleads for patience. The king does far more than grant patience: "moved with compassion," he "loosed him, and forgave him the debt", canceled the whole crushing sum. This is the gospel in a picture: we owed God a debt of sin we could never pay, and in Christ He forgives it all, out of sheer compassion. But that same forgiven servant seizes a fellowservant who owes him "an hundred pence," a trivial amount, takes him "by the throat," and casts him into prison, refusing the very patience he had just been shown. His lord's verdict is terrible: "O thou wicked servant... shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?" and he is delivered "to the tormentors." Jesus applies it with sobering directness: "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." The lesson is not that we earn forgiveness by forgiving, but that a heart truly gripped by God's mercy cannot hold a grudge; and a heart that hardens itself against a brother shows it never truly grasped the mercy it claims. Notice the phrase "from your hearts", not a grudging word but genuine release. When the memory of someone's wrong against you rises up, set it beside the ten thousand talents God forgave you at Calvary. The forgiven forgive.
Chapter 18 in Review
Matthew 18 is the Lord's charter for life together in His kingdom. To the question, "Who is the greatest?", He sets a child in the midst and says the way in and the way up is down: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter." He warns with fearful weight against causing His "little ones" to stumble and against coddling our own sin, and He reveals the seeking heart of God in the parable of the lost sheep, for "it is not the will of your Father... that one of these little ones should perish." He gives the loving, step-by-step way to "gain thy brother," promises His presence "where two or three are gathered together in my name," and, to Peter's question about forgiveness, answers "seventy times seven," sealing it with the parable of the servant forgiven an unpayable debt who would not forgive a small one.
For the Apostolic reader the chapter gathers the graces that must mark Christ's church: humility, care for the weak, holiness that cuts off sin, seeking love for the straying, patient reconciliation, and forgiveness from the heart. Woven through it is the character of God Himself, come in Christ: the Shepherd who leaves the ninety and nine, the King moved with compassion to cancel a hopeless debt, the Lord present in the midst of even two or three who gather in His name. That last promise, that Jesus is personally present wherever His people gather, is a quiet testimony to His deity, for only God can be everywhere with His own at once. The whole chapter presses one searching truth: those who have received such mercy must show such mercy. Be small enough to be saved, tender toward the weak, quick to seek the lost, and forgive your brother from the heart, "even as I had pity on thee."
- The kingdom is entered by turning and becoming as a little child, not by climbing (18:3-4).
- Causing a little one to stumble brings fearful judgment; cut off what makes you stumble (18:6-9).
- The Father seeks every straying sheep; He wills that not one should perish (18:12-14).
- Deal with an erring brother privately and lovingly, aiming always to gain him (18:15-17).
- Christ is present wherever two or three gather in His name (18:20).
- The forgiven must forgive from the heart, remembering the debt God cancelled (18:32-35).
Questions for Reflection
- Have you turned and become as a little child, or are you still measuring greatness?
- Is there sin you are coddling that Christ says to cut off?
- Are you seeking a straying brother, or writing him off?
- Whom do you need to forgive "from the heart," in light of your own forgiven debt?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. The lost sheep and the seeking Shepherd: Luke 15:3-7; Ezekiel 34:11-16. Two or three witnesses: Deuteronomy 19:15. Forgiving as we are forgiven: Matthew 6:12, 14-15; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13. God present with His gathered people: Matthew 28:20. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- Childlike humility, offences, and the lost sheep: Matthew 18:1-14; Mark 9:33-50; Luke 15:3-7.
- Reconciling a brother and the gathered church: Matthew 18:15-20; Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 28:20.
- Forgiveness and the parable of the unforgiving servant: Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:32.