Matthew 18

1-9. See notes on Mark ix. 33-50.

3 converted. “Except ye turn,” i.e., change your attitude and conduct.

7 offences. “Causes of stumbling”; hindrances.

9 hell fire. “Gehenna of fire,” see v. 22, note.

10 their angels. Guardian angels.

12-14. This parable occurs, with a different application, in Luke xv. 4-6; see notes thereon. Here it is designed to show the solicitude with which God watches over His children, so that none of them may perish (14).

15 thou hast gained thy brother. This kind, manly, and wise manner of treating injuries, so different from any that is generally adopted, would prevent the growth of many misunderstandings and quarrels.

17 the church. Our Lord shows, in ver. 19, that by “the church” He means those who are “gathered together in His name”; the “congregation” of believers. The words do not prescribe any particular method of organisation or of action.

18. Whatsoever ye shall bind.** See note on xvi. 19.

20 in my name. By my authority, and for my service and honour. The subsequent promise shows that He possesses Divine attributes, and bestows Divine influence. The Rabbis had a similar saying, “that where two or three of their doctors were sitting in judgement, the Shekinah was in the midst of them” (Lightfoot).

21 till seven times? The Rabbis inferred from Amos i. 3 that forgiveness was to be granted three times. “Seven” seems to be here used by Peter for a large but yet limited number. Our Lord’s reply is evidently designed to take away all limits: cp. Gen. iv. 24; Prov. xxiv. 16. The following parable shows that the sins which God forgives us are incalculably more and greater than we are ever called to forgive others.

24 one was brought unto him. One of his chief ministers. Ten thousand talents evidently stands for an immense amount (more than $20,000,000), representing the exceeding greatness of our debt to God.

25 commanded him to be sold. This was a practice of many ancient nations: see Lev. xxv. 39-41; 2 Kings iv. 1; Amos ii. 6.

28 a hundred pence. The Roman “penny,” or denarius, being worth about 9½d., a “hundred pence” would be less than £4, a very insignificant sum compared with the other. So trifling are the offences which any one can commit against us, compared with our sins against God!

34 the tormentors. Probably, “the gaolers” (Liddell and Scott).

35. So likewise.** “An unforgiving man is no son of God” (David Smith). Cp. Eph. iv. 32; v. 1, 2; Jas. ii. 13.

one party (the school of Hillel) holding that anything which displeased a husband gave him a right to divorce his wife; and the other (the school of Shammai) limiting the right to the case of adultery. Both appealed to Deut. xxiv. 1; which, however, was not a “command” to divorce, but rather a restriction upon a practice then prevailing: see notes on Exod. xx. 23; Deut. xxiv. 1. Our Lord, after pointing out the purpose of this national and temporary regulation, refers to the original law (see Gen. ii. 24, and notes); which He traces to the primary creation of the race (see Gen. i. 27), when “He who made them at the beginning made them a male and a female, and said, On this account (i.e., because they were so made) a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Nothing, therefore, but the sin which does in itself vitiate the bond can justify their separation.