Matthew 18

Christ teacheth by example of a little child, who is the greatest in the Kingdome of Heaven,1. Of what punishment they are worthy who give offence, 6. How narrow men must beware that they give none offence to the little ones, whom the Angels themselves do take care of, 8 and Christ it to come to save them; as he declare by the simitude of lost sheep, 11 How we must deal with a brother that hhath sinned against us, and what the office and power of the church is herein, 15. How powerful the common prayer of the faithful is, 19. That we must be always ready to forgive; which is declared by the similitude of King, take account of his servant, 21.

1. At that same hour, [That is, time] came the Disciples to Jesus, saying; Who (we pray) is greatest [That is, who shall be greatest] in the Kingdom of the Heavens

2. And Jesus having called a little child unto him, did set the same in the midst of them.

3. And said, verily, i say unto you, if ye be not changed [Gr. turned away; namely from this pride and ambition] and become like little children, [namely like Devid testifies of himself, Psal.131] ye shall in no wise enter the Kingdom of the Heavens.

4. Therfore whoso evr shall humble himself as his little child, the same he is the greatest in the Kingdom of the Heavens.

5. And whoso receiveth such a little child [Namely, not only in age, but also those who like children , are lowly of mind; as that which follows sufficiently declares, verse 6] in my name, he receiveth me,

6. But whhoso offendeth [That is, doth, speaketh, or teacheth anything, whereby he draws another to sin or apostacy] one of these little ones which believe in me; it were more profitable for him, that a mill – stone [Gr, an Asses – mill – stone; as if we should say, hhorse – mill – stone] were hanged at his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the Sea.

7. Wo to the world from the offences ; for it is necessity that offences should come; [Namely, in regard of the melice of the devil, the corruption of men, and Gods righteous permission and judgment. See 1 Cor. 11.19. 2 Thess. 2. verse 11,12.] but wo to that man, by whom the offence cometh.

8. If therefore thy hand or thy foot offend thee, [see hereof the Annotation of Matth.5. verse 29.] cut it off and cast if from thee. It is better for thee to enter into life (being) a cripple, or maimed, then having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.

9. And if thine eye offended thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: It is better for thee having but one eye, to enter into life, then having two eyes, to be cast into hhell- fire.

10. Lookto it, that ye despise not one of these little ones: For i say unto you, that their Anggels, [That is, which are sent for thheir defence and service, Heb.1. 14] in the Heavens. [that is, hhave alsways access to the Thhrone of God, to receive commands for their protection, and for the punishment of those that should despise or oppress them, A similitude taken fron the Kings of the East, who gave their chiefs Ministers, by whom thhey governed their Kingdom, free access to see their face; as may be seen, Esth.1.14. see Luke 1.verse 19 Rev.8.2.]

11. For the Son of man is come to svae that was lost.

12. What think ye; if any man should an hundred sheep, and one of them were strayed; will be not leave the ninety and nine, and ggoing into the mountains, seek that which is strayed? [By this similitude Chhrist teacheth, that if any of thhe faithful should happen to be seduced, He, their Shepherd, would not cease till he hhad reduced thhe same.]

13. And if hhappen that he find the same, then for the ninety and nine, which were not strayed.

14. Even so, it is not the will of your Fathher [Gr. before your Father] which is in the Heavens, that one of these little ones should perish. [namely, which believe in me, as is exprest,verse 6.]

15. But if thy brother hhath sinned against thee, [That is, give thhee any offence, whetehre he wrong thy self, or trespass otherwise against God or his neighbour, it being known to thy self, and not in plublik: for publique sins, ought to be publiquely reproved , 1 Tim 5.20.] go thy way and reprove him, [that is, admonish and convince him of his trespass] between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hhast gained thhy brother.

16. But if he do not hear (thee) then take one or two more with thee, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may stand. [That is, every matter or truth may be held Deuteronomy 19:15.]

17. And if he give no ear to them, Tell it to the Church: [That is, the Ruler of the Church, who do as it were represent the whole Congregation. See 1 Cor.12. verse 28. and 2 Cor. 2 verse 6] and if he likewise give no ear to the Church, let hhim be to thee as the Heathen and Publican. [that is, as one thhat is a stranger from thhe Church of Christ, Acts 10. verse 28.]

18. Verily i say unto you; Whatsoever you bind on the Earth, [see hereof, chapter 16. verse. 19.] shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on the earth, shall be loosed in Heaven; and whatsoevr ye shall loose on the earth, shall be loosed in Heaven.

19. Again, i say unto you; if two of you do consent on the earth, corncening any thing, which they might ask, [namely, in faith, according to Gods will, Jam.1 verse 6. and 1 John 5:14] that it shall come to pass to them of my Father which is in the Heavens, [or, be done]

20. Fow whence two or three are gathered together in my name, there am i the midst of them. [Namely, by my spirit and grace, John 14 verse 16,23.]

21. Then came Peter to him, and said; Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and i forgive him, till seven times?

22. Jesus sai unto him, i say not unto thee till seven – times, but until seventy times seven (times) [that is, so many times as he offends thee, a certain number being taken for a great and uncertain number, like as Gen.4.24.]

23. Therefore is the Kingdom of the Heavens likened to a certain King, which would reckon with his servants. [Gr. take up reckoning]

24. Now when he began to reckon, thhere was brought unto him, one that was indebted to him [Gr. a debtor of ten thousand talents] ten thousand talents. [A common talent is valued at fix hundred Crowns of gold]

25. And when he had nothing to pay, His Lord commanded that hhe should be sold, [This was usual in the Old Testament, that thhe children with their parents for their debt might be sold for slaves, see Exo.22. verse 3. and 2 Kings 4, verse 1] and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and that (the dedt) should be paid.

26. The servants therefore falling down, worshhipped hhim, saying: Lord, forbear me, and i will par thee all.

27. And the Lord of this servants, being inwardly moved with compassion, released him the debt.

28. But the same servant going out, found one of his fellow – servants, which owed an hundred pence, [Gr. Denarti. A Denarius was a piece of silver – money, weighing about a drachme or hhalf quarter of an ounce of silver, being worth about a single Ryal, or fix Stivers] an lying hold on hhim, took (him) by the throat, [Gr. chhoaked; that is, took him by the throat, so that he will – nigh choaked him] saying, pay me that thou owest.

29. His fellow – servant therefore falling down at his feet, prayed him, saying; Forbear me, and i will pay the all.

30. Ye he would not: but went away, and cast him into prison, until he should have paid the debt.

31. Now when his fellow – servants saw what was done, they were very much grieved, and coming, they declared unto their Lord all that was done.

32. Then his Lord called him unto hhim, and said unto him; Thou wicked servant, i remitted thee all that debt, seeing thou didst intreat me.

33. Oughest not thou also, to hhave compassion on thy fellow – servant, like as i also had compassion on thee?

34. And hhis Lord being wroth, belivered him over to the tormentor, [The scope of Christ here, is not to teach, that God having once forgiven sins, should yet afterwards punish the same. For that God doth not, Heb.8. 12. but he declares his scope himself, verse 35. and it is acknowledged that parables or similitudes ought not to be stretched further, then the principal scope of the same can bear] until he should have paid all thhat he was indebted to him. [that is, for ever; for the sinner can never satisfie for his sinnes, Matth 16 verse 26. and 25. 46.]

35. So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do to you, if ye do not from the hheart [Gr. from your hearts] forgive every one his trespasses.