Matthew 18:15-35

Matthew 18:15-35

Jesus speaks about the rescue of the lost sheep. Immediately, He talks about addressing the wayward brother, these two are more closely related than we have let on. The picture of going out and finding the lost sheep in vs. 12-14 is given practical application in vs. 15-20. This passage is not strictly about church discipline or personal offense, though these would apply. These verses are about pastoral care. The objective is repentance, restoration, and righteous life. The teaching about answered prayer and the Lord’s promise must be taken in this context. Jesus teaches about restoration and will in a moment teach about forgiveness. In the middle of this, He is not likely to randomly interject a teaching that we can get what we want by praying for it with someone else in agreement. This teaching on prayer is about restoring relationship.

The context of this passage is about a wayward disciple and the church and the conflict between two brothers. Vindictiveness must never be our motivation. Forgiveness is un-calculating. The point is not 77 or 70 times 7, but forgiveness that will lose count and not try to keep track. This is a contrast to Lamech (Genesis 4:23-24) who promised revenge for wrongs suffered. The parable of verses 23-34 is comforting; the application in verse 35 is distressing.

The first debtor owed the value of twelve million ounces of silver. That level of debt reflects governmental embezzlement. This man’s debt reflects that he was a traitor to his king. The second debt was essentially 1/600,000 of the first. In verse 34, the king hands over to the “jailer” the first debtor. The term jailer is the wrong word. It is better translated “torturers”. He is to be tortured till he reveals where the money has gone and can produce it. Misery is the lot of this man. Verse 35 tells me that God will hand me over to be tortured unless I forgive. Scripture is not specific what those tortures are. But does that really matter?

"Lord, help me to forgive others in the same way You have forgiven me. Help me to consider Your grace to me and apply it to anyone who has done evil to me. AMEN

Matthew 18:1-14

Matthew 18:1-14

The band of disciples is moving toward Jerusalem and Jesus begins teaching about life in the community of faith. This chapter is critical in understanding how to live in community. The command in 17:25-26 about relationship to the King brings up questions about status in the Kingdom. Understanding this passage is only possible if we understand what it means to “become like children”. We have romanticized and sentimentalized “children” and have projected on them virtues that are not consistent with reality. As often as a child is loving, trusting and affectionate he/she is also stubborn, dishonest, and rebellious. In first century Jewish culture children were people with no status. They did not figure into the authority structure at all. They were not part of the power structure or the power struggle. If this passage is about life in the Kingdom then children represent the insignificant member of that community of faith. Jesus here is speaking about protecting the “little people” in the church.

The battle of ecclesiastical position has always been a part of every religious order. Jesus is saying that care of the ecclesiastical “nobodies” is the priority of the church. A quick drowning is better than causing an “insignificant” believer to stumble. Better for the church, better for the insignificant believer, and better for the one who would cause it to happen.

This is completely opposite of what the world deems in terms of leadership. The world is all about growing and advancing their cause. Step on the insignificant people, use them like a wrung on a ladder. Jesus sets this approach on its head. Jesus calls us to set aside our privilege and advantage, the way He did in the incarnation. Become like the insignificant ones, without the ability to push our own agenda or plan for power. How much of the church’s efforts are about appealing to the bright and the beautiful, the favored and preferred, because we believe that the “little people”, the insignificant ones, can’t help us grow our church?

"Lord, give me Your heart for the least people in my world. Help me treat them with the kind of respect I would for You. AMEN"