Matthew 18: Do Not Stumble Others, and To Forgive Others

Matthew 18: Do Not Stumble Others, and To Forgive Others

Collin Leong. May 4, 2025

v1-6: The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-50)

(v1-4) The disciples asked Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus called a little child to him, and told them that unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

Jesus is teaching that greatness in God's kingdom is not about power or prestige but about humility, trust, and dependence on God. A child-like humility depends on God, and a child-like faith totally trust God. This is what God is looking for.  

v5-9: Causing Other Believers To Stumble (Mark 9:42-50; Luke 17:1-4)

(v5-6)  Jesus said that whoever welcomes such a person in His name welcomes Him. However, anyone who causes these "little ones"  who believe in Him to stumble, it would be better for them to drown in the sea with a large millstone hung around their neck. 

Welcoming such a person and supporting them is how we demonstrate Christ's love to each other. However, if we lead them into sin - meaning to discourage them in the faith, setting a bad example, misusing spiritual leadership to manipulate or harm them, or failing to support and guide them - then it is better for the person to die.  Jesus used strong words to highlight the seriousness of such acts.

(v7) Jesus continued to say "woe" to the world where these "things" will cause believers to stumble. These could include false teaching, bad examples, peer pressure or temptation. He holds the person who causes this things to come responsible. 

The world symbolizes secular people who influences Christians to stumble or sin. This includes pornography, prostitution, cheating, and lying for financial gain. The people involved, including the believers that fell, will be judged. 

Even within the church, we've heard that priests and pastors sexually abusing the church members, and the members themselves having adultery with each other.  If the offenders are Christians, there is still a way out by confession and repentance. However the consequences to cause the sin on another Christian is heavy, whether on earth or in heaven. 

(v8-9) Jesus said that if your hand, your foot or your eye causes you to stumble, cut them off and throw it away, for it's better for you to enter (eternal) life without them, than to have your body thrown into the eternal fire of hell.  

Jesus' message is not literal but a metaphor for removing sinful influences or behaviors. Avoiding sin is worth any sacrifice because the consequences of sin are severe. Becoming a dedicated Christian is not easy and is very costly. He wants His followers to take their spiritual health seriously and remove anything that threatens their relationship with God. It is not possible to do so without help from the Holy Spirit that lives within us. 

(v10-14) Parable of the Straying Sheep (Luke 15:1-7)

(v10) Jesus continued to warn us not to despise these little ones (His disciples). For their angels in heaven always see the face of the Father in heaven.

(v11) Verse 11 is deliberately left blank in later bible translation (NIV, ESV, etc.) as it does not appear in the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscript of Matthew. In some manuscript, including KJV and NKJ, verse 11 read as "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost."  Some scholars believe Matthew 18:11 was later added by scribes who wanted to harmonize Matthew with Luke 19:10, which in the story of Zacchaeus. 

(v12-14) Jesus continued to tell a parable of a man with a hundred sheep. One of them goes astray, he will leave the rest of the sheep and go to the mountains to seek the straying sheep. And if he finds it, he is happier about that sheep than the rest on sheep that did not wander off. In the same way, our Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. 

If the sheep represent believers, and one of the believer back-slide and went astray; the shepherd (the Lord) will do all He can to find him. I find it strange that verse 14 says that God is not willing that the believer should perish. Can a believer lose his eternal life if he went astray? 

If we believe that true believers are secure in the salvation, as passages like John 10:28-29 where Jesus says no one can snatch His sheep from His hand, then he shouldn't perish. 

However, some argues that persistent wandering and rejection of God can lead to spiritual ruin, referencing warnings in Hebrews 6:4-6, that say: "For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened - those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come - and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God..."

The Bible doesn't contradict itself. Hebrew is describing a man who goes to church, have been blessed and seen miracles from the Holy Spirit, and have the knowledge in the Word of God, decided to reject Jesus Christ. They may have believed in Christ once, but somehow, like the seed that fell on rocky ground or among thorns - when trials come or distracted by worldly concerns, they will fall back to their old self. 

Other verses that speaks about these people is Matthew 7:21-23 where Jesus warns that not everyone who calls Him "Lord" will enter the kingdom—only those who do the will of the Father. And also Matthew 25:31-46 where Jesus separates people into two groups—the sheep, who inherit eternal life, and the goats, who thinks they are believers, but face eternal punishment.  

(v15-19) Dealing With Sin in the Church (Deuteronomy 19:15-21)

(v15-17) Jesus told them that if a brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault privately. If they listen, your have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church and if they still refuse to listen to the church, then treat them like a pagan or tax collector. 

Jesus' instruction is to keep the sinner's fault private. We are not to gossip to everyone. Sometimes when we speak to him/her, we may realize there is a misunderstanding or they are struggling with it and need our help. However, if they refuse to stop sinning, then bring a couple more people to help you. It also establish a confirmation from several witnesses to go to the church leaders, if they still refuse to listen. 

Some people interpret the "church" as the church community, rather than church leaders. For me, I would rather let the church leaders know first. The church leaders have the authority to tell the church, or they can decide to speak to the sinners privately. However, if the sinner continue to sin after that, then the congregation should be told and to disallow the person from coming to church, and be a bad example to the congregation. 

Jesus said that the sinner should be treated like a pagan and tax collector. It may seem a bit harsh, but we need to know how Jesus treat these people. Jesus engaged with them, showed them love, and invited them into transformation. He ate with tax collectors like Matthew and Zacchaeus, and He ministered to Gentiles, offering them grace and truth. So, when Jesus says to treat someone as a pagan or tax collector, it likely means recognizing that they are outside the faith community but still worthy of love and redemption.

(v18) Jesus continued to say that whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 

Jesus is giving authority for the church (or church leaders) to manage detailed spiritual and moral decisions, that was outside of what Jesus or the Word has said. The decision should be aligned with the Word. For example, what decision should the church make of smoking and drugs? What about abortion & euthanasia? What about gender identity? What about alcohol and gambling?  Sometimes, different churches have different interpretation of the Word itself, such as baptism, speaking in tongues, prosperity theories, etc.  All these need to be based on evidence from the Word to ensure that the church makes a decision aligned with God's will. 

(v19-20) Jesus said that if two of the believers agree about anything they asked for, it will be done for them by His Father in heaven. Where two or three gather in His name, He will be there with them. 

This is why corporate prayer is important, especially regarding church matters. Jesus will not let us run the church by our own. His presence will be with the church when we pray together. 

(v21-35) Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Romans 12:14-21)

(v21-22)  Peter asked Jesus how many times shall he forgive his brother or sister who sin against him - is it up to seven times?  Jesus answered: "not seven times, but seventy-seven times." 

Peter may have expected Jesus to praise him for being so forgiving; however, he must be surprised to hear Jesus said seventy seven times. In NKJ, it was interpreted as "seventy times seven" times. Either way, Jesus is asking us to forgive infinitely. 

(v23-27)  Jesus then said the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle account with his servants. A man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. (Note: In ESV and NKJ, instead of 10 bags of gold, it is ten thousand talents, which is the original Greek translation. One talent is worth about 20 years of a day laborer's wages.) 

The man couldn't pay and the master ordered him and his family and all that he had to be sold. The servant fell on this knees, begging to patience so he can pay him everything. But the master pity him and forgave him the debt. 

Basically, the amount he owed is outrages in Jesus' example. The total debt was about 200,000 years of a laborer's pay. There is no way he can pay it, but the master forgave all his debt. In the same way, there is no way for us to pay for our sin. Yet, Jesus paid for them by his sacrifice, so that God can forgive us. 

(v28-30)  The servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denari. (Note: one dinari was a silver coin equivalent to a standard daily wage.)  The servant seized him and began to choke him, and tell him to pay what he owe. The fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him for more time. However, the servant refused and put him in prison until he pay the debt. 

This servant was forgiven so much more debt, but he refused to forgive a small debt from his fellow servant. 

(v30-35)  The other fellow servants saw this and was distressed. They reported it to their master. The master summons the servant and told him : "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 

In anger, the master delivered him to the jailers, until he pay all his debt. Jesus said that this is what the Father will do to us, if we do not forgive our brother from your heart. 

The key phrase "from your heart" highlights that forgiveness must be genuine, not just a superficial act. God’s forgiveness is limitless to everyone after Jesus paid for everyone's sin. Even non-believers are forgiven, if only they accept it and accept the the Lord as their savior. Therefore God expects His followers to extend that same grace to others. Holding onto grudges can damage our relationship with Him.