Gary Eugene Howell uses the Berean Standard Bible. The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. The Text of the Berean Standard Bible was dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

Verses 1-4

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Commentary

Satan was cast out of heaven because of his pride. Now the disciples are asking which one of them will be the greatest in heaven.

Jesus responds by teaching them a lesson in humility. He invites a little child to stand among them as an example of humbleness. Can a little child do anything for themselves? A two-year-old can’t dress themselves, they can’t prepare food, they can’t travel anywhere on their own, or even communicate effectively with the outside world. Small children are totally reliant upon their parents. There is nothing they can brag about. Jesus is saying that we must change and become like a child in humility.

Jesus says, “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

At the heart of pride is the belief that a person doesn’t need God; that he knows better than God. He doesn’t require God’s input, help, or guidance because he considers himself wiser than God. A prideful person may not state these ideas explicitly, but their attitude clearly conveys them.

When atheists claim there are contradictions in the Bible, they are implying that it’s not possible they themselves might lack understanding. It doesn’t even occur to them that the problem could be within themselves.

When an atheist argues that God is immoral, such a person is claiming to be more righteous and more moral than God. When skeptics and scoffers demand that we prove the existence of God to them, what they are really seeking is to sit in judgment over God. They wish to elevate themselves above Him and force God to submit to their examination.

All of these attitudes flow from pride; a pride that says, “I am better than God,” “I know more than God,” and “I don’t need God.”

So when the disciples argue about which one of them will be the greatest, they are debating their own merits rather than the merits of God. He alone is the one who makes their entrance into heaven even possible.

Little children, however, do not entertain such lofty thoughts about themselves. A little child cannot do anything for himself without the assistance of his parents.

This is how we ought to view our relationship with God. We are the two-year-old, and God is the parent. Even though, as adults, we can make decisions and plans regarding the course of our lives, we must humble ourselves and adopt an attitude of dependence upon God. This begins with faith, prayer, and a sincere desire to seek after Him.

Verse 5

And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.

Commentary

In this statement, Jesus is not referring to infants or toddlers, but to the children of God. The phrase “a child like this” points back to His earlier description of humility: “whoever humbles himself like this little child.” Jesus is speaking of those who place their faith in Him and adopt an attitude of humble dependence on God. Therefore, when someone welcomes a follower of Christ, they are welcoming Christ Himself.

Verses 6-7

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

Commentary

Again, the phrase “one of these little ones” is not referring merely to infants and toddlers. Jesus is speaking of those who believe in Him. That could be someone who is young or old. Those who believe in Him are the children of God.

God said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.” (Deuteronomy 32:35)

For God to be truly all-loving, He must also be a God of justice. Consider our own criminal justice system: if a judge were to release every murderer, rapist, and arsonist without punishment, that would not be an act of love. Such injustice would demonstrate a complete lack of compassion for the victims. It would be the very opposite of love.

Therefore, an all-loving God must also be a God of justice and wrath toward those who cause His followers to stumble into sin.

Jesus is teaching that for such people; it would have been better to drown in the sea than to stand before God on the day of judgment. Can you imagine the One who has the power to create every galaxy in the universe focusing His wrath upon a single person?

Yet there is mercy. If you repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ, your sins will be forgiven.

Verses 8-9

If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Commentary

Jesus then proceeds to make what may seem like a strange and shocking statement. “If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” Is this meant to be taken literally? No. Jesus is using hyperbole. If this were literal, the entire world would have neither hands nor feet, nor any other body parts. Moreover, Scripture makes clear that sin originates in the heart, not in the hands, feet, or eyes.

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. (Matthew 15:19)

So then, what is Jesus telling us? We must be willing to take drastic measures to remove sin from our lives. Yet here is the irony: we cannot overcome sin through our own strength or self-discipline. If we could, anyone could become sinless and teach others to do the same. But sin is bound in our flesh. So what then should we do?

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7-8)

God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6b). Remember, salvation is not earned; it is a gift to those who have faith. However, those who have faith and earnestly seek God will be rewarded. With what? With holy living, spiritual wisdom, peace, joy, fulfillment, and contentment.

Verse 10

See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.

Commentary

Based on the context already discussed, I believe the phrase “little ones” refers to anyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of age.

Jesus tells His disciples not to look down on those who place their faith in Him; Bear in mind that only minutes earlier, they had been arguing among themselves about which of them would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. An argument that can easily lead someone to look down on others, thinking, “I’m going to be better than you in the kingdom of heaven.” These discussions can also cause someone to despise another when being told they won’t amount to much compared to their fellow disciple.

Jesus is instructing the disciples, and us as readers of the Bible, not to do this. Never assume you are the one who will receive great rewards in heaven for all the wonderful things you did in this life. Instead, be humble.

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ (Matthew 25:21)

This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; (2 Timothy 2:11-12)

My advice to you, the reader, is this: when we return with Christ to rule and reign with Him for a thousand years, don’t assume you will be placed in charge of nations. Instead, assume you will be the garbage picker-upper. Then, when you are placed in charge of something greater, give thanks to God. (See Isaiah 2 and Revelation 20)

Also, in this life, we should not despise other Christians simply because one appears to have a greater calling or look down on a fellow Christian who seems to have fewer spiritual gifts. A pastor with a congregation of 1,000 members should not look down on a pastor with 20 couples in his congregation. The Christian who failed the music audition at church should not despise those who perform on stage every Sunday. Those whose responsibility it is to organize and manage a large ministry should not look down upon the Christian whose job is to clean the bathrooms at church. One is not greater than another.

Later, Paul will illustrate this with an analogy involving parts of the body.

The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

For the body does not consist of one part, but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, whereas our presentable parts have no such need.

But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)

Next, Jesus talks about “their angels.”

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11)

Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)

From this, we conclude that angels, who continually see the face of God, also guard, serve, minister to, and help believers.

There are several instances in scripture when God sends an angel, or an army of angels, to defend or protect a person or group of people, (see 2 Kings 6 and 2 Kings 19). I have also heard accounts of missionaries being physically guarded by visible angels when someone sought to harm them.

Verse 11

If you are reading from any of the following Bible translations, you may notice that your bible does not contain verse 11 in Matthew 18.

• Berean Standard Bible (BSB)
• English Standard Version (ESV)
• New International Version (NIV)
• New Living Translation (NLT)
• Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
• New American Standard Bible (NASB) – 2020 Edition

Many people point to such missing verses as “proof” that these Bible translations are corrupted, but the reality is just the opposite. Verse 11 does not appear at all in the oldest and most reliable copies of Matthew’s gospel that exist. Rather, it was added at some point later. All of the above Bible translations were derived from these oldest and most reliable manuscripts and therefore do not include verse 11. Each of these Bible translations had 100 or more Bible scholars involved in their translation, so I am confident in their findings and conclusion that verse 11 does not belong. Therefore, I am choosing to skip it in this commentary.

Verses 12-13

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

Commentary

After instructing His disciples not to look down on other believers, Jesus gives an analogy that illustrates the value God places on every person that puts their faith in Him. He compares them to a sheep that wanders from the flock, and the shepherd is willing to go and search for them. Jesus is teaching that every Christ follower is extremely valuable to Him.

Throughout the previous verses, Jesus has repeatedly referred to “one of these little ones who believe in Me.” Now He says that if one of them goes astray…

When He uses the phrase “goes astray,” I am reminded of the following verses:

We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

And;

For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25)

“If a man has a hundred sheep… and one of them goes astray.” This shows that the one who is now wandering had previously been part of the flock. Jesus values this individual so much that, despite his backsliding and/or drifting away, Jesus is willing to pursue that person.

Verse 14

In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Commentary

Of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ (“these little ones”), it is not God’s will that any of them should end up in hell.

It should also be noted that salvation is a work of God, not a work of yourself. The wandering sheep did not know the way back to the flock; the shepherd had to go get the sheep and bring it back. This is true of you and me. Throughout our lives, Jesus directs our steps and keeps us within a hedge of protection.

Recall when Satan complained that God had placed a hedge of protection around Job (see Job 1).

Does an all-loving God send people to hell? No. An all-loving God rescues people from hell.

Verses 15-17

If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Commentary

Maintaining the theme of backsliding believers, Jesus now says, “If your brother sins against you…” A brother is not necessarily referring to one’s sibling but to a fellow believer, and more specifically, one that you have an existing relationship with (a brother referring to a male believer and sister to a female believer). In modern terms, this would likely refer to someone who attends the same church as you.

“If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately.” A moment ago, Jesus was telling us not to look down on or despise a fellow Christian. Now He explains what we are to do when such an offense occurs.

The first step is to go to him privately. If he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

When Jesus says regard him as a pagan, I believe he is instructing us to disassociate from the person.

Verse 18

Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Commentary

Although this same phrase appears earlier in Matthew 16, the context there is the building of the church, whereas here in Matthew 18 the context is church discipline. This demonstrates the depth and breadth of God’s Word: the same phrase can carry related but distinct meanings depending on its context.

In Matthew 16, I understand Jesus to be speaking about the building of his church through the sharing of the gospel. God builds His church by using ordinary believers who share the message of Christ with others. In that setting, the language of “binding and loosing” reflects heaven’s authorization of the gospel message itself. When a believer shares the gospel and a hearer receives Christ, that decision is ratified in heaven. What is bound on earth is bound in heaven.

It would be unthinkable to imagine a situation where someone shares the gospel with a person who genuinely accepts Christ, only for heaven to object and say, “You were not authorized to share the gospel.” Jesus’s words rule out such a notion. The authority to proclaim the gospel is not restricted to a special class of believers; it is granted to all who belong to Christ.

Therefore, when Jesus says, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,” He is affirming that heaven stands behind the faithful proclamation of the gospel. Any believer may share their faith with any person, anywhere. When that message is received, salvation truly occurs; not merely on earth, but with heaven’s full approval.

In the context of church discipline, if you go privately to confront a brother and he asks you for forgiveness, heaven likewise ratifies that forgiveness. And if he refuses to listen and is eventually expelled from the church, heaven approves. What you loose on earth is loosed in heaven, meaning heaven has your back.

Verses 19-20

Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”

Commentary

Remember, when reading the Bible, we cannot take verses as stand-alone statements. This is why I despise the often-promoted “verse of the day.” If we were to read Matthew 18:19-20 in isolation, we would conclude that if two or three Christians gather together and pray for something, God will automatically give it to them.

If that were true, I would immediately gather two other Christians, and together we would pray for a million dollars, new cars, and a dual-outboard fishing boat. No one can pray for something outside of God’s will and expect to receive it. Remember, God answers every prayer with either yes, no, or not yet. What God does not do is grant anything and everything simply because two or three people are asking. God is not a genie in a lamp.

Okay then, what is the context of Matthew 18:19-20, and what does the verse actually mean? Recall that just moments earlier Jesus said that if your brother will not listen, you are to take one or two others along, so that “every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Now, in this verse, He is saying that when those same two or three are gathered, during the confrontation of a brother who refuses to listen, Jesus will be there also.

Verses 21-22

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

Commentary

This is self-explanatory. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to forgive those who sin against us. Every single time someone sins against you, you are called to forgive them. This does not mean, however, that you must allow others to abuse you or take advantage of you. I have known people who equated forgiveness with permission, but the two are not the same.

Jacob was saving money for a mission trip and had about $1,000 tucked away in a tin can on the bookshelf in his bedroom. One day, he invited a guest over for dinner. After the meal, the guest asked to use the bathroom, and Jacob pointed him down the hall, past his bedroom. Busy washing dishes, he paid little attention to his guest’s brief absence. The following day, however, when Jacob checked the tin can, he found it empty; the money was gone. Jacob was eventually able to forgive his dinner guest, but he never invited that person into his home ever again.

This illustrates the difference between forgiveness and permission. As Anthony Weldon wrote in his 1651 book Court and Character, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”

Verses 23-27

Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.

Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.

Commentary

The king represents God. Settling accounts represents the great Day of Judgment. The debtor symbolizes everyone who has sinned against God (i.e., all people). The debt that cannot be paid represents our sins, which have separated us from God. There is no amount of good deeds that can earn God’s forgiveness. The servant falling to his knees represents how Jesus will ultimately be exalted.

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (Philippians 2:9-10)

The master’s compassion and forgiveness of the debt represents God’s grace; the unmerited favor of God toward sinners. In His infinite mercy, God chose to forgive the unpayable debt of sin, not because the servant deserved it or could earn it, but because of God’s compassion.

Verses 28-35

But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’

But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt. When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.

Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.

That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Commentary

Many Christians have interpreted this passage as a lesson on how believers should forgive. I strongly disagree. Let’s look carefully at the wording in this parable and ask whether it is referring to those who are saved or those who are not saved. Jesus describes the servant as wicked; someone who is ultimately handed over to the jailer to be tortured. Within the New Testament, are saved believers ever thrown into the “jail” and tortured because of their sins? No!!

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (Ephesians 1:7-8)

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:11-12)

Make no mistake, it is absolutely a sin not to forgive those who sin against you. But to teach that God will throw a Christian believer into hell to be tortured because of unforgiveness (i.e. bad behavior) amounts to salvation by works; a false doctrine.

If a person is sent to hell because of bad behavior, then it also means that ascension into heaven is due to good behavior. Again; a false doctrine.

He saved us, not by righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)

In the spiritual realm, who is subjected to punishment; the saved or the unsaved? This parable of the unforgiving servant is not about a Christian who fails to forgive. It is not a lesson on how believers should behave, nor a warning about the punishment a believer will receive if they don’t behave properly. I strongly believe this passage is describing the unsaved.

Those who are saved have all their sins forgiven including the sin of unforgiveness. Believers who put their faith in Jesus Christ are never handed over to the jailer to be tortured.

having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! (Colossians 2:14)

Therefore, the wicked servant in this story represents someone who never placed his faith in Christ. God sent His own Son to die on the cross for the forgiveness of sins, but for those who never believe, all of their sins; including their refusal to forgive others; will be held against them.