Matthew
Chapter 18
Who Is the Most Important
At that time, the disciples approached Jesus and asked him:
“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Then Jesus called a small child, placed the child in the middle of the disciples
and said: “I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,
and whoever receives such a child in my name, receives me.”
Radicalism in the Face of Sin
If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble and fall, it would be better for him to be thrown into the depths of the sea with a great millstone around his neck.
Woe to the world because of so many scandals! Scandals are unavoidable, but woe to the one who causes a scandal.
If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to be thrown into the eternal fire with two hands and two feet.
And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to be cast into fiery Gehenna with two eyes.
Parable of the Lost Sheep
Make sure you do not underestimate any of these little ones; for I tell you, their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father.
[[For the Son of Man has come to save what was lost.]]
What do you think of this? If someone has a hundred sheep and one strays, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go to look for the stray one?
And I tell you, when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it than about the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
The same applies to your Father in heaven. Your Father in heaven does not want even one of these little ones to perish.
On Forgiveness
If your brother has sinned against you, go and confront him privately, and if he listens to you, you have restored your brother.
If he doesn’t listen to you, bring one or two others with you, so that the matter can be decided based on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the gathered Church. But if he does not listen to the Church, then consider him a pagan or a tax collector.
I say to you: whatever you bind on earth, heaven will also bind; and whatever you unbind on earth, heaven will also unbind.
Similarly, I tell you, if two of you agree on anything you ask for, it will be granted to you by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three gather in my name, I am there among them.
Then Peter asked him:
“Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister’s offenses? Seven times?”
Jesus answered:
“No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Parable About Forgiveness
This story sheds light on the kingdom of Heaven: A king decided to settle accounts with his servants.
One of the first was someone who owed him ten thousand pieces of gold.
Since the man couldn’t repay the debt, the king ordered that he be sold into slavery along with his wife, children, and all his possessions as payment.
The servant knelt before the king and said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.’
The king took pity on him and not only freed him but also waived his debt.
When this servant left the king’s presence, he encountered one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He seized him by the throat and almost choked him, shouting, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
His fellow servant threw himself at his feet and begged him, ‘Give me time, and I will pay everything.’
But the other disagreed and put him in prison until he paid off all his debt.
Now the king’s servants saw what had happened. They were very upset, so they went and reported everything to their lord.
Then the lord summoned his servant and said, ‘Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed me when you begged me to do so.
Weren’t you supposed to have pity on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?
The lord was now angry. He handed the wicked servant over to be punished until he paid the entire debt.
Jesus added:
“So will my heavenly Father do with you unless you sincerely forgive your brothers and sisters.”
Commentaries
Who Is the Most Important? – Radicalism in the Face of Sin.
This chapter presents the fourth of Jesus’ five major discourses. It is mainly directed at the disciples and offers guidance for a divided community. Tensions between different groups and issues of coexistence are evident. In Matthew’s Gospel, the word “little” does not only refer to children. Little ones include all humble and simple people who, through their straightforward way of life, have chosen to follow Jesus with complete radicalism. The Christian community, especially its leaders, must be careful not to underestimate the importance and contributions of these individuals.
Parable of the Lost Sheep.
Perhaps it would be better to focus on the shepherd who goes out to find the lost sheep. Jesus’ understanding of his Father was not that of an exclusive God. Leaving the ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that is lost, carrying it on his shoulders, rejoicing when he finds it, and sharing his happiness with others—was this not the clearest way of showing that God is truly a Father? Loving the lost person does not mean stopping love for the others but ensuring they are loved if they also become lost. Matthew applies the parable to the seduced and deceived disciples who have strayed from Jesus’ teachings. A life in danger needs someone to value it and prevent its end. God never gives up on anyone and always waits.
On Forgiveness.
Peace must prevail in the community, either because there are no offenses or because reconciliation is pursued (14). If a community member refuses reconciliation, they will be like a stranger, and those in charge have the right to exclude them as long as they maintain that attitude (cf. 1 Cor 5:5f). The message about forgiveness and reconciliation is reinforced with an instruction on community prayer. The praying community is a special place of the Lord’s presence (cf. 28:20) as long as the conditions and attitudes that Jesus highlighted in the Lord’s Prayer are present.
Parable about Forgiveness.
Jesus responds to Peter’s “arithmetic” question (21) in the same way, moving from a specific number to a larger, undefined one. He clarifies this with a parable that highlights stark contrasts. Revenge was a sacred law in the ancient East, and forgiveness was seen as humiliating, but for Christians, the opposite of revenge is unlimited forgiveness. God offers his grace of forgiveness in an unexpected way, but he withdraws it from narrow-hearted people who refuse to forgive their neighbors. Anyone who has experienced the Father’s mercy cannot go around trying to limit forgiveness and acceptance of their brothers and sisters.