Matt5-3

The disciples come to Jesus with a question that seems to indicate that they were thinking about hierarchy in the kingdom of God and, no doubt, where they fitted into that hierarchy. The temptation for each of us is, in our insecurity, to want to establish ourselves in some “position” in God's kingdom, whether it be as a leader, or simply in the place of acceptance as being seen to be a “nice person”, someone who is “getting on” in the kingdom. Jesus challenges that approach.

He takes a child as a visual aid and says, to get into the kingdom you have to become childlike and then live in it you have to maintain a childlike humility. A little child completely trusts its parents and when we come to Christ we have to come with nothing of our own and simply trust him completely to save us. This complete trust is to be the hallmark of our ongoing Christian lives as well, not only the criteria for entry. There is to be a humility in us that says I do not trust any of my own abilities, I do not see myself as anyone great, I simply trust in Christ to save me and I see that without him there is nothing good about me! That is at the heart of the Christian life.

D. Application:

1. To come to Christ there has to be a forsaking of all self reliance and

instead relying totally on him.

2. As we live out the Christian life, it is to be with the recognition that still

without Christ we are nothing, and whatever we achieve does not put

us “above” others, for it is all of him.

Chapter: Matthew 18

Passage: Matthew 18:5-9

A. Find Out:

1. What did Jesus say about those who cause children to sin? v.6

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, 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.

2. What two warnings did he then give? v.7

"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

3. What did he say to do to yourself? v.8a

If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away

4. Why? v.8b

It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

5. What further did he say to do? v.9a

And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.

6. Why? v.9b

It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

B. Think:

1. What warning does Jesus bring in respect of children?

2. What warning does he bring in respect of sin generally?

3. What warning does he bring in respect of personal sin?

C. Comment:

Jesus has just used some little children as visual aids to teach on heart attitude for entry to and living in the kingdom. He now extends this teaching. He first says that little innocent, trusting children should remind us of him, and therefore when we receive them we receive him. He then goes on to warn anyone against taking away their innocence and leading them into sin. That person is in trouble with God!

Then he broadens the scope of his warning. There are always temptations to sin, he says, by the very nature of the world, but the man who brings temptations to lead others into sin should watch out! He's in trouble with God as well!

Then he narrows it down and makes it personal. Look, he says, if part of your own body seeks to lead you into sin you would do better to cut it off or gouge it out rather than end up in hell. This isn't a literal teaching to cut pieces off ourselves but a very strong warning not to let sin take hold of our lives, because once it does, then the slope is downwards and away from God and the ultimate destination is hell!

Sin has no place in the kingdom of God and those who cause others to sin will suffer special judgement from God. Beware!

D. Application:

1. Avoid tempting circumstances or people. They lead to downfall.

2. Avoid allowing sin into you life for it takes hold and leads to a

downward slope away from Christ.

Chapter: Matthew 18

Passage: Matthew 18:10-14

A. Find Out:

1. What command did Jesus then give? v.10a

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones.

2. What reason does he give for that? v.10b

For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

3. What will a man with a lost sheep do? v.12

"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?

4. What does he feel when he finds it? v.13

And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.

5. How does Jesus then apply that? v.14

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

B. Think:

1. Look back. How do we know Jesus is speaking about children here?

2. What does he seem to reveal about children? (v.10)

3. What does he teach about them? (v.12-14)

C. Comment:

In verses 2-5 Jesus spoke several times about little children. In verse 6 he refers to them as “little ones” and repeats that here in v.10 & 14. In the earlier verses he shows that innocent, trusting children have a special place in his heart. In the earlier verses he went on to warn about anyone who would bring sin into the lives of innocent children. Now he says that children have a special place in God's heart (they appear to have guardian angels!) and indeed He goes out of His way to go looking for them and bring them to salvation. Matthew shows us the parable of the lost sheep in the context of children, to emphasise the Father's love and concern for children.

In an age when “children” are killed in the womb, when children are “cast off” by self-centred family breakdown, and when children are abused in every way possible, we need to consider these words of Jesus in a particularly solemn way. Children come into the world tainted with sin and are not pure, but anyone who destroys the level of innocence they do have and the trust they have, will be held particularly accountable by God. The concern of the Father for children is clearly evident in this passage.

D. Application:

1. God has a particular concern for the weak and vulnerable, the innocent and trusting.

To abuse them is to incur God's anger.

2. God's desire is to bless small children and draw them to Himself before

sin is given a chance to enslave their lives.

Chapter: Matthew 18

Passage: Matthew 18:15-17

A. Find Out:

1. What should we do with one who sins against us? v.15a

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.r.

2. What may be the result? v.15b

If he listens to you, you have won your brother ove

3. If he won't listen, what should we do? v.16a

But if he will not listen, take one or two others along

4. For what purpose? v.16b

so that `every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses

5. If he won't listen what should you then do? v.17a

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church;

6. If he still refuses to listen what should you do? v.17b

and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

B. Think:

1. What is the problem being dealt with?

2. How does the thing progress?

3. Why do you think it is in this order, not church first?

C. Comment:

In this chapter on different aspects about sin, Jesus now moves on to tell the disciples how they should respond to someone who sins against them. We should note that is “sins” and not simply “disagrees”.

The first thing to do is to confront the person with the thing. To harbour a grievance is not the Christian way; it is to go to the person and point out to them the sin. We should note in passing that the way of confronting is not mentioned here but 6:1-5 is a guide for this.

If the person receives our gentle approach that is good but if they refuse to repent and be reconciled, then the second stage is to share it with two or three others, who are not to take sides but simply be witnesses to your overtures of reconciliation. Hopefully being aware that others are watching will bring that person to their senses.

If that does not happen then the third stage is to bring it to the

leaders of the church and the church itself. If the censure of the hole body still does not have effect then exclusion is the only step left. We must remember that, by this stage, it is obvious that we are dealing with a very rebellious person and refusal to repent puts them outside the blessing of Christ on the church.

D. Application:

1. Do we treat sin casually, horrified at the thought of dealing with it?

2. Grace and gentleness and a desire for genuine reconciliation are to be

at the heart of confrontation.

Chapter: Matthew 18

Passage: Matthew 18:18-20

A. Find Out:

1. What first activity does Jesus mention v.18a

"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,

2. What is the second thing? v.18b

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

3. What third activity is next mentioned? v.19

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

4. What principle does Jesus then state? v.20

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

B. Think:

1. Read the note at the bottom of the page in your Bible in respect of

verse 18. What is the order of things happening?

2. How is unity referred to here? What are its effects?

C. Comment:

Some amazing verses! First note the reference to binding and loosing. This implies the church has the power to affect people or situations through the spiritual realm. We “bind” or call a stop to spiritual activities of the enemy. We “loose” of set free where there has been a restricting by the enemy. But note the verbs in verse 18: “What you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven. In other words what is first decreed in heaven is then spoken on earth and is then done.

Then there is unity in prayer causing the Father to act. Do our united prayers make God act? No, the truth is that the Father acts when His people catch in the Spirit His heart and pray it out together. It is not a selfish, self-centred agreeing for personal things, but an agreeing as led by the Spirit over the will of God. Then the Father acts.

Finally it is when two or more Christians come together desiring to do the will of God in obedience to Him, that Jesus stands among them to express himself through them.

In every case, it is not doing or saying what we want, what we desire, but coming together with a heart to do His will and serve Him. Then He can take us and use us and express His will through us, taking authority through us to bring changes on the earth.

D. Application:

1. Prayer is first about submitting our hearts to the Father, allowing His

love and His will to fill us.

2. Declaring the will of God for binding or releasing only comes after a

sense of His presence and directing.

Chapter: Matthew 18

Passage: Matthew 18:21,22

A. Find Out:

1. Who came to ask Jesus a question? v.21a

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked,

2. What question did he ask? v.21b

"Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?

3. What answer did he suggest? v.21c

Up to seven times?"

4. What was Jesus' answer? v.22

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

B. Think:

1. Why do you think Peter would ask such a question?

2. What do you think his answer implies?

3. What does Jesus' answer imply?

C. Comment:

In v.15 Jesus had been speaking about what to do when someone sins against you. Peter, who was so often the one to speak out hastily, puts into words a question that has arisen in his mind. Being the fiery, instant type of person that he was, it was quite likely that he was the sort of person who often had fraught relationship situations. How far must I go on this, he is thinking, so he voices his question. In his answer he thinks himself quite generous; to forgive the same person seven times is a lot!

But then comes Jesus answer which is devastating, and which opens the way for the parable he goes on to tell: Peter, forgive so many times that you will probably lose count, so many times that change must come! That is the gist of Jesus' simple reply: keep on and on with your forgiveness, don't stop forgiving. But what if that person keeps on sinning against us, we ask. It is as we say that, that we reveal the true state of our hearts. As long as we say, “Do I have to…..” we show that we still have a self-centred heart, a heart that has a tendency to wanting self justification, wanting to condemn others, wanting to blame, not wanting their blessing. How terrible these words of Jesus are, they penetrate the heart of unbelief and self-centredness!

D. Application:

1. Forgiveness is an expected norm in the Christian life. It is something

Jesus is very strong about (see Mt 6:14 ,15).

2. So much so is it a norm that it is supposed to be unending, to go on

and on seeking reconciliation and the blessing of others.

Chapter: Matthew 18

Passage: Matthew 18:23-25

A. Find Out:

1. What situation arose and what did the king want to do? v.23-25

"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

2. What did the servant do and with what result? v.26,27

"The servant fell on his knees before him. `Be patient with me,' he begged, `and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

3. What then followed? v.28

"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. `Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

4. What did that servant ask and what followed? v.29,30

"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, `Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

5. Who then did what with what consequence? v.31-34

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

"Then the master called the servant in. `You wicked servant,' he said, `I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 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 pay back all he owed.

6. What warning did Jesus then give? v.35

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

B. Think:

1. How did the king originally treat the first servant?

2. What would we have expected of that servant then?

3. What is the overall message of this parable?

C. Comment:

Peter has just asked about forgiveness and so now Jesus tells a graphic and memorable story to drive home the point about the need to forgive. A man owed a king a big debt, of which he was forgiven. That man in turn was owed a much smaller debt by someone else, but refused to “forgive” it. When the king found out how unmerciful he had been he then brought the full weight of justice upon him. The implications?

The king in this story is God. When we cry to Him for mercy he gives it. But then when others ask for mercy from us, if we refuse to give it, then God will come back to us and insist that the demands of justice bear upon us.

In Jesus, God has forgiven us all our debts against Him; He has forgiven us everything. When others offend us, He expects us to forgive in the same way He has forgiven us - totally! This is not something that is open for discussion, it is a simple rule of the kingdom. Forgive as you have been forgiven. Fail to forgive and the rules of justice will prevail and you will receive the natural consequences of your actions. God steps back and removes the protection from us so that we suffer the consequences that inevitably flow. This is as true for Christians as for anyone else. We reap what we sow.

D. Application:

1. Forgiveness is not an optional extra. It is a requirement.

2. Failure to forgive releases disciplinary consequences.

RECAP: Teaching on Humility and Mercy- Matthew 18

SUMMARY :

In this third group of 7 studies we have seen :

- Jesus using children as an example of humility

- Jesus warning against allowing sin to have a toehold

- Jesus telling the parable of the lost sheep

- Jesus teaching on how to confront offences

- Jesus teaching on forgiveness

- Jesus telling the parable of the unforgiving servant.

COMMENT :

Being redeemed sinners means that being close to Jesus means that we can allow pride to rise up in respect of our righteous position in the kingdom. When this happens, as with the disciples, Jesus has to teach us about humility. Within this we need to remember our tendency to sin and do all we can to avoid letting sin take a hold in us. When others in the church offend us, we should not retaliate but take a strategic course designed to give them opportunity to come to their senses. Our attitude should be of forgiveness and seeking restoration and reconciliation. It is only a heart of humility that will go with this!

LESSONS?

1. Jesus calls us to child-like reliance upon him.

2. Sin should be an anathema to us.

3. If someone offends us, give them opportunity to get right.

4. If someone offends us, forgive and forgive again.

PRAY :

Thank the Lord for your salvation. In prayer, purposefully forgive anyone who has wronged you. Thank the Lord for them.

PART 4 : "Questions and Answers"

In this next Part we will find a number of questions that were asked of Jesus. First the Pharisees asked questions to test him. That prompted the disciples to ask for clarification. Then a rich young man enquires of Jesus and this prompts the disciples to ask for further clarification. Watch for the teaching here and, again, how the various people responded to Jesus.