Jesus’ Last Discourse in Galilee ®

Matthew 18:1-35
BSF Lesson 19
Notes
Matthew

Focus Verse
“And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the
kingdom of heaven.’” – Matthew 18:3
■ Jesus’ Statement of True Greatness – Matthew 18:1-9
■ Jesus’ Strategy for Humble Restoration – Matthew 18:10-20
■ Jesus’ Standard for Grace-Filled Forgiveness – Matthew 18:21-35
Engage
Why is it so easy to think about yourself? What makes us naturally self-centered? Because we are
born as sinners, pride is deeply embedded into our motives, attitudes, and thoughts. We long to be seen
as strong and independent. Sometimes our focus on ourselves shows up as arrogance. Or we can focus
only on our weaknesses. Humility is an elusive but desirable virtue. As God’s people, we need to recognize
our spiritual neediness and God’s heart toward us. We can come to our heavenly Father both boldly and
humbly, as His dearly loved children.
In Matthew 18, Jesus offered His final discourse in Galilee. In this profound teaching, He beautifully
described the humble posture of His children. God defines greatness differently than most people. Jesus
also helped us understand the way people who have been so loved by God should respond to others. Those
who have freely received God’s grace can freely mirror His heart by extending grace to others. True great-
ness is not found in human accolades or achievement but in humble surrender to Jesus. Are you willing to
define greatness the way Jesus does? God honors childlike faith and humility. God calls His children to
reflect His heart toward others. Are you ready to allow this passage to challenge your priorities and call
you to a posture of humility?

Jesus’ Statement of True Greatness – Matthew 18:1-9

had room to grow. Perhaps they thought that Jesus
The Greatness of Humility – 18:1-4 would soon establish an earthly kingdom and were
vying for positions of prominence in His kingdom.
The Question – 18:1 Jesus gently redirected their misguided motives.
“At that time” Jesus’ disciples approached Him
The Illustration – 18:2
with a question, “Who, then, is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven?” Mark and Luke offer helpful Creating a visual image to underscore His
background to the disciples’ question.1 They were words, Jesus called a little child to Him and placed
walking to Capernaum and had been arguing among that child among the disciples. He did not rebuke
themselves about which of them would be the greatest. them for their short-sighted ambitions. Instead, as a
master teacher and compassionate Savior, He taught
While we cannot fully evaluate their motives, Jesus
them in a powerful way.
could. He used this moment to illustrate and teach an
important lesson about true greatness in His kingdom. The Truth – 18:3-4
The disciples had come to realize that Jesus really Jesus’ words offer a call to repentance and
was the Messiah and Son of God.2 Jesus began to conversion. Childlike humility is necessary to enter
prepare them for His upcoming death and resurrection.3 God’s kingdom. “Truly I tell you, unless you change
Their understanding was budding, but they definitely and become like little children, you will never enter

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the kingdom of heaven.” What are little children like?
They are humble and dependent, surviving by simple The highest fulfillment possible in this life is found
trust in those who care for them. Little children wait in utter dependence on God.
for someone to fix their food and feed them. They have
little control over their existence.
Do Not Cause Another Believer to Stumble –
Children are not great and powerful by this world’s 18:6-7
standards. In the ancient world, children did not have
Jesus offered a stern warning regarding the
any value until they could contribute to daily work.
seriousness of causing one of His little ones to
Unlike most modern cultures where we adoringly
stumble into sin. The Bible describes God’s love and
treasure our children, in those days a child was best not
care for His children as His jealousy. God’s jealousy
seen nor heard. Jesus set a startling example by giving motivates His preservation of His people from harm
value to someone deemed of little status. He illustrated and from false gods that would draw them away from
His point with a little child, likely a toddler. He was not Him. The natural response of a loving parent is to
advocating childish thoughts or prolonged immaturity.4 protect their child from danger and harm. Hindering
Jesus upheld the value of all people and our utter a believer or putting obstacles in the path to faith is a
dependence on Him for physical and spiritual survival. serious offense to God. God’s heart is always turned
Jesus went on to describe true greatness in toward His children.
His kingdom. Whoever takes the lowly position of Jesus’ little ones are precious to Him. Our thoughts
a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. may go to those who are literally “little ones.” Children
God’s definition utterly contradicts this world’s idea need care and protection. It is important to invest in
of greatness. We live in a world that exalts self- the spiritual training of children. Awareness of how
advancement and self-sufficiency. We are taught to our words and actions might become obstacles to
promote ourselves, not humble ourselves. However, faith should be of vital concern. At the same time, we
human pride is actually a barrier to greatness in God’s should consider the danger of leading any believer
eyes. Jesus called His disciples – and He calls us – into confusion or sin. We must consider the spiritual
to turn from selfish pursuits and humbly trust Him. welfare of those who are weak or new to the faith. The
People who abandon self to seek Christ will also bottom line is that believers are responsible for their
learn to love and serve others. The highest fulfillment influence on others. What we do or fail to do matters.
possible in this life is found in utter dependence on The seriousness of causing another believer to
God. There is nothing greater.5 sin cannot be overstated. Jesus said it would be better
for someone to be drowned in the sea with a huge
millstone around their neck rather than cause “one of
The Seriousness of Sin – 18:5-9 these little ones” to stumble. These incredibly strong
words illuminate the severe judgment awaiting
Welcome the Little Ones – 18:5 those who lead another into sin by negligence,
First, Jesus commended those who welcome “one deliberate intent, or personal example. Sorrow
such child” in His name. Jesus’ union with His people awaits the person who chooses to put obstacles in the
is so great that He equates kindness offered to His way of another’s faith.9
children as offered directly unto Him.6 These words Do Not Tolerate Sin in Your Own Life – 18:8-9
commend humble service extended to people of the Neither can believers afford to ignore sin in their
lowest status. Jesus did not limit the “little ones” to own lives. Sometimes we cause others to stumble;
children. He also included those who are insignificant other times, we tolerate known sin and allow needless
in this world’s eyes. Because the world rejects them, temptations into our own lives. We are often so
believers may be regarded as His “little ones.” accustomed to sin that we foolishly ignore or excuse
The disciples previously worried when Jesus it within ourselves. No matter what the sin and no
offended the Pharisees.7 They asked Jesus to send away matter what the cost, Jesus urged believers to cut it
the hungry crowds and other people.8 Honoring those out of their lives.10
whom the world fails to esteem defies our human The Lord used an unforgettable picture to stress the
inclinations. Christians still struggle with this but are urgency of His warning. Cutting off a hand or foot or
called to see people as God sees them. No matter their gouging out an eye seems extreme. But Jesus explained
position in the world or the church, believers are called that it is better to go through life maimed or crippled
to put others before themselves. The utmost desire than to hold on to what causes you to sin and “be
should be that Jesus Himself is known and honored. thrown into eternal fire.” Jesus was not advocating self-

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mutilation but speaking figuratively. There is nothing than we really are and dabble with sin’s poison. Casual
worth preserving at the expense of righteousness. tolerance of sin does not work. Patterns of sin can
No habit, relationship, entertainment, or comfort is become a painful part of our identity and security. Sin’s
more valuable than being near to God. Too often, we diminishing returns will lead us into deeper sin if we do
try and see how close we can walk to the edge of sin’s not turn to God. Take personal sin seriously. When God
cliff without falling off. We think ourselves stronger reveals sin, repent and run into His arms.

Jesus’ Strategy for Humble Restoration – Matthew 18:10-20

Jesus’ discourse continued as He explained how believers. Jesus taught that the unity of His people
to protect and care for His dear children. He offered demonstrates the power of the gospel to the world.11
a parable to explain the lengths to which we must go How is that unity preserved? Jesus gave practical steps
to seek “little ones” in spiritual peril. He then gave for God’s people to take when they face inevitable
specific instructions on how to deal with sin to preserve conflict and sin within the local church or between
the unity and purity of His Church. believers. It is tempting to ignore or avoid issues
that divide us. However, the seriousness of sin and
the purity of God’s people must always be kept in
Protect and Love God’s Children – 18:10 view. Jesus calls believers to love each other well.
Christ’s “little ones” are of great value to Him. This requires humility and active intervention when
God’s children are so important that He dispatches anything threatens to divide or corrupt the church.
angelic attendants dedicated to serve and protect Restoration is so important that Jesus said earlier that a
His people. To love what God loves, we must believer should not come to worship until first going to
passionately love and protect His children. make peace with a brother or sister.12
Start With a Private Conversation – 18:15
Jesus gave instructions for resolving a matter
The Parable of the Lost Sheep – 18:12-14
when a “brother or sister” sins. He emphasized the
If a shepherd owned 100 sheep, he would leave loving relationship God intends within His family. The
99 of them in order to go into the hills to rescue one place to start in resolving conflict is directly with
lamb who had wandered away. When he found and the person involved. When dealing with an offense,
brought that little lamb back to safety, the shepherd keeping as small a circle as possible makes the way
would be happier about the rescue of that one sheep back easier. Most issues should be resolved at this
than about the 99 who did not stray from the fold. level. To discuss another’s sin without first taking the
The shepherd’s jealous care and patient search for the matter to them privately is to sin yourself. While it is
wandering sheep represents immense effort and even always easier to talk about someone rather than directly
risk for the sake of only one sheep. to them, this only multiplies the offense. Gossip risks
The context of Jesus’ parable tells us that He is
becoming slander and makes the process of healing
talking about expending effort to restore a Christian
even more painful.
brother or sister who has wandered away into sin or
The motive in approaching someone who has
spiritual danger. Maintaining spiritual health within the
offended you or is caught in sin is not merely personal
community of believers is a priority matter. He had just
reconciliation. A renewal of a relationship with God
taught about our accountability regarding causing little
for all involved is the goal. Many small offenses
ones to stumble. He will go on to teach about the path
should be overlooked and forgiven, for the sake of
of restoration and forgiveness in the following verses.
unity within the church. However, humble care for
Believers should be willing to put forth effort to see
others means not overlooking or tolerating serious
even one of His sheep restored to spiritual safety.
disobedience to God or wrong inflicted upon others.
When we do that, we reflect the heart of our heavenly
Father. And like the shepherd, we rejoice greatly when The goal is to turn the person back to God’s way
God preserves and restores even one. and renew the relationship.
Next Take Two to Three Witnesses – 18:16
If the offender fails to repent after the first
The Problem of Sin in the Church – 18:15-20 meeting, Jesus said to “take one or two others
So how do we restore the wandering? Conflict along.” Joining with one or two members of the church
and sin easily hinder fellowship with God and other to also speak with the person helps establish the issue

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with clarity, certainty, and objectivity. The humble and indicate that the person should not be counted as a
loving addition of godly counsel and encouragement member in good standing with the church.
can help bring the individual to restoration. The Mosaic Jesus spoke of the authority God has delegated
Law required the testimony of two witnesses to convict to the church. “To bind” and “to loose” point to the
someone of a serious crime.13 This process prevents responsibility of the church to administer corrective
scandal from rippling through the church. A quiet, discipline according to Jesus’ commands. The gospel
solemn, and caring confrontation upholds the good has the power to set sin’s captives free. When a sinful
believer repents, the church can fully restore that
of the person and the unity of the church. Above all,
believer to fellowship. This process should be carried
knowing Christ is glorified should be the goal.
out prayerfully, cautiously, and deliberately. This
A Solemn Confrontation by the Church – 18:17-20 process carries God’s authority and blessing.
When a person has committed a grave sin Verses 19-20 are often quoted out of context to
against God and does not repent, the Lord indicate that when two or three believers gather to
commanded a solemn confrontation with the entire pray, God’s presence is with them. In truth, God’s Holy
church. The goal of this kind of discipline is always Spirit indwells every believer at all times and in every
situation, whether alone or gathered with others. In
repentance and restoration. If the person persists
this serious situation of church discipline, the two
in refusal to repent and continues to live in open or three believers prayerfully stand with God in the
defiance of God, Jesus gave the church the authority matter and follow His plan. His power and presence
to remove that person from fellowship within the go with them.
church body.14 This action is not purely punitive. God A believer who walks with God looks beyond their
determined these steps as the best path to demonstrate own interests to show humble love and concern for
the seriousness of the sin and lead to restoration of the others. When another believer sins, it is loving to
individual. An unwillingness to repent and respond to humbly confront the sin and seek restoration. The
loving correction and spiritual accountability would unity and purity of Christ’s Church matters to God.

Growing in Holiness
The Doctrine of Sanctification
The moment you come to Christ for salvation and trust in His sacrifice for your sin, His sinless
perfection is immediately attributed to you. Justification is the theological word that describes this
amazing transaction. As you walk with God through the rest of your life on earth, He continues
His purifying work within you. Sanctification is the process by which you grow in practical
righteousness – to be more like Jesus in the way you think and live.15
As a Christian, God is deeply invested in your spiritual growth. He will use your battle with
personal sin, your life challenges, and your relationships to wean you from dependence on yourself
and patterns of sin. God will intentionally put you in situations where you need to trust Him more
fully. The Holy Spirit will convict you of specific sin and supply the power to repent and obey God
in specific ways that deepen your relationship with Him. If you get caught in sin, God calls your
brothers and sisters in Christ to help you find restoration and healing. God loves you too much to
let you stagnate spiritually. He lovingly promotes your continued growth in holiness and faith.
It is easy to forget that you face every event in your life by God’s design. When you fail to
believe that God has purifying intentions in your trials, you can wrongly see Him as uncaring
or punitive. If you do not look to God to supply strength and direction, you will make decisions and
roll forward without a sense of His loving purposes. You miss opportunities to grow when you fail
to understand the process of sanctification in the life of a believer.
What if you immediately looked to God the next time you hit the wall and ran out of human
answers? God wants to reveal the sinful attitudes and actions of which you are unaware or tolerant.
He will supply what you lack and lead you to greater faith and obedience. Will you recognize God’s
loving and purifying purposes in your daily life? Sanctification can be a painful process. God’s
purifying blows to your idols only reveal His tenacious love for you as His child. Will you yield
to the Holy Spirit?16 How will you trust Him to grow you with a customized plan that is for His glory
and your good?

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 Jesus’ Standard for Grace-Filled Forgiveness – Matthew 18:21-35
pay in the ancient world. He pled for mercy, and the
Peter’s Question – 18:21 debt was forgiven. On his way home, this very same
Jesus’ teaching on a believer’s responsibility to man met someone who owed him a small amount of
reach out to restore one another got Peter thinking. money (a little over four months of wages) and rejected
How often must he follow this pattern? What if cries for mercy from the one unable to pay. The man,
someone sinned against him repeatedly? Jewish rabbis so recently forgiven of a huge debt, ordered his debtor
be thrown into prison. When the king or master heard
commonly taught that people should forgive others up
about this man’s lack of mercy, the unforgiving servant
to three times, after which no forgiveness needed to
was also sent to prison.
be offered. Peter’s suggestion to forgive a brother
or sister up to seven times probably seemed The Application – 18:35
amazingly gracious. Jesus drove the truth of His illustration home with
a stern warning, “This is how my heavenly Father
will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother
Jesus’ Answer – 18:22-35 or sister from your heart.” What was Jesus teaching?
Every forgiven sinner owes the heavenly Father an
The Principle – 18:22 incomprehensible debt that can never be repaid – the
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but debt of their sin. When we cry for mercy, God forgives
seventy-seven times.” His answer must have shocked our debt because Christ paid that debt for us. Certainly,
Peter. Anyone who repeated an offense 77 times surely those who have received such great mercy should be
had a deeply ingrained pattern of sin. Was Jesus just generous in forgiving others. People’s transgressions
expanding the limits? His answer reflects 1 Corinthians against us are minor compared to our offense against
13:5, where Paul wrote, “[Love] … keeps no record God. The forgiven must be forgiving. Our Christian
of wrongs.” The point was to stop counting and to communities are to have a gracious, forgiving spirit
establish a habit of forgiveness. toward one another, even as we seek to be righteous
before God.
The Parable – 18:23-34 A willingness to forgive others is not natural. In
Jesus expanded and illustrated His teaching faith, we look out not just for our own interests but
with another parable. A man owed the king an the spiritual health of others. God calls His children
incomprehensible sum of money that was totally to reflect His heart toward others. People who have
beyond his ability to repay. The amount equated to been freely forgiven learn to forgive others freely and
187,000 years of work at the average worker’s rate of from the heart.

Take to Heart
Matthew 18 calls believers to humility before holiness. One wandering sheep is worth seeking.
Hold Fast

God and toward others. Instead of seeking this The seriousness of sin, both personally and within
world’s brand of greatness, God’s children come the Church, must be kept in view. Any potentially
to Him as humble and dependent “little ones.” divisive issue or harmful sin should be lovingly
Greatness in God’s eyes means forsaking self- confronted with restoration as the goal. Forgiveness
interest to care for and protect others with is not withheld but extended freely. As forgiven
tender, sacrificial love. Every individual is people, forgiveness should be the hallmark of our
important. And the corporate unity and purity of Christian communities. The deeper we sense what
God’s people must be intentionally preserved. we have been forgiven, the greater our empathy for
Believers are called to expend effort to seek out and others.17 God must transform our hearts, so we are
help others. able to love and forgive like He does.
God’s people unite to love each other well
and grow together in individual and corporate

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 Humility is an underrated allure. Often, we are unwilling to God’s Word. We build each other
Apply It virtue in our world. Adam’s sacrifice our comforts, much less up and stand with each other
descendants do not easily give “gouge out an eye” to keep from through the joys and storms of
up their rights or grudges. Only sin. Do you love Jesus more than life. When you become a part
in Christ’s strength and with you love your sin? He loves you of a local church, you commit
the Holy Spirit’s power can we even more than He hates your sin. to a body of believers dedicated
humble ourselves before God He gave Himself to deliver you. to your spiritual growth. The
and others. Are there areas of Flee from sin, and run to Him. unity and purity of the Church
service you consider beneath How do you respond to proclaims the saving power
you? In what ways do you conflict? Some people seek of the gospel to the watching
struggle to see someone else’s confrontation while others avoid world. In our day, people often
needs as more important than it at all costs. Jesus helped us take a consumer mentality into
your own? Do you fight situations understand the necessary posture their evaluation of a church.
that strip you of answers and and right methods for dealing People church-hop and church-
leave you feeling needy and with sin in ourselves and others. shop without reaping the benefits
dependent? Ask God to expose Our lives and relationships are of the family life within a church
your pride that wears so many messy. Healthy relationships
body. Will believers in a local
different faces. Are you willing to require honest conversations
church irritate each other and
grow free of self to be set free to and humble accountability
disagree with one another?
love and serve others? to one another. How do
Most certainly. But God’s plan
Jesus called us to extreme you respond when someone
for our sanctification includes
measures to combat personal confronts, corrects, or offends
sin. We often excuse our sin as you? Do you hesitate to interfere our interaction within a local
personal weakness or a needed when someone you care about church. Are you reaping the
concession to cope with life. We is struggling with sin and needs benefits God intended from your
unnecessarily allow ourselves to help? Is there someone you church? In what way does the
be in places of vulnerability and struggle to forgive? We must benefit of Christian fellowship
temptation, underestimating our desire the well-being of others fortify your faith? How are you
capacity to fall into sin. Jesus more than we love our comfort. committed to and contributing to
has so much more for us than We need each other. We must the spiritual life of a healthy body
the temporary thrill sin offers. be willing to invest in others for of believers? How quick are you
Finding contentment in anything their good and God’s glory. to forgive? Do you hold grudges?
less than God’s presence and Believers thrive and find The fact that God has forgiven
pleasure results in forfeiting life’s protection within a local church. you a great debt frees you to
greatest treasure for a destructive You do not attend church to forgive others. Individually and
substitute. We need to love and check a box and earn God’s in Christian community, we
long for Jesus so much that the favor. Believers join together to should be quick to forgive as God
lesser thrills of this world hold no celebrate Christ and learn from has forgiven us.

Check out these footnoted references for further study of God’s Word in this week’s lesson.
Go Deeper

1: Accounts from Mark and Luke: Mark 9:33-37; 7: Offending the Pharisees: Matthew 15:12 13: Two witnesses: Deuteronomy 19:15
Luke 9:46-48 8: Response of the disciples: Matthew 14:15; 14: Removal for restoration: 1 Corinthians 5
2: Peter’s confession: Matthew 16:16 15:23; John 4:27 15: Sanctification: Romans 6:1-23; 8:12-13;
3: Jesus announces His death: Matthew 16:21; 9: No stumbling blocks: Romans 14:13; Ephesians 4:22–5:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7
17:22-23 1 Corinthians 8:9 16: Live holy: Colossians 3:1-17
4: Warning against immaturity: Hebrews 5:11-14 10: Getting rid of sin: Ephesians 4:22-24; 17: Forgiven much: Luke 7:47
5: Possessing everything: 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 Colossians 3:5-8; 1 John 3:9
6: Jesus’ identity with His people: 11: Believers’ unity: John 13:34-35; 17:20-21
Matthew 25:40; Acts 9:4-5 12: Restoration before worship: Matthew 5:22-26

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Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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