Bible Commentaries
Matthew 18

Verse 1

At =

In. Greek. en. App-104 .

time = hour.

Who = Who, then.

greatest = greater. Put by Figure of speech Heterosis (of Degree) for greatest. See App-6 .

the kingdom of heaven. See App-114 .

heaven = the heavens (plural) See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

Verse 2

little child. Greek. paidion. App-108 .

him = it.

Verse 3

Verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .

Except = Unless. Literally "If ye be not". Assuming the possibility.

be converted = be turned: i.e. to God, in repentance.

not = by no means. Greek. ou me.

Verse 4

as this. Not as this little child humbles himself, for no one but the Lord humbles Himself. Compare Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:7 , Philippians 1:8 .

Verse 6

offend = cause to offend, as in w. 8, 9, and Matthew 16:27 ,

little ones. Not the same as in Matthew 18:2 .

believe in. See App-150 .

a millstone = an ass-millstone. Onikos. Occurs only here and Luke 17:2 ; but frequently in the Papyri (see Deissmann, New Light, &c, p. 76). Here denoting a great millstone requiring an ass to turn it.

about. Greek. epi = upon. App-104 . But all the texts read " peri " = around. App-104 .

drowned. See note on Matthew 14:30 .

the depth = the deep sea (i.e. the sea as to its depth).

the sea = the sea (as to its surface). So in Revelation 18:17 .

Verse 7

world. Greek. kosmos. App-129 .

because of. Greek. apo.

but = yet, or only.

by = by means of. Greek. dia.

Verse 8

if thy hand, &c. Assuming the condition. See App-118 .

offend = keepeth on causing thee to offend.

better = good. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Degree). App-6 .

life = the life: i.e. resurrection life, or life eternal. Greek. zoe. App-170 . See note on Matthew 9:18 and Leviticus 18:5 . Compare Matthew 7:14 .

hell fire = Gehenna of fire. See note on Matthew 5:22 . Occurs elsewhere only in Mark 9:47 . App-131 .

Verse 10

not Greek. me App-105 .

their angels. Their servants (Hebrews 1:14 ), The tradition of so-called "guardian" angels has no foundation in this.

that which was lost. Compare Matthew 15:24 .Matthew 15:12; Matthew 15:12

How = What. This parable was repeated later, in another connection. See Luke 15:4 , &c.

if a man, &c. The condition is not the same as in Matthew 18:8 , but is purely hypothetical = if there should be to any man.

doth he not, &c. ? Or, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and seek, &c.

Verse 13

verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .

of = over. Greek. epi. App-104 .

that sheep = it.

Verse 14

will = desire. Greek. thelema, from thelo. App-102 .

your. L Tr. WH and Rm read "My".

Verse 15

trespass. Greek. hamartano. App-128 .

against. Greek. eis .

tell him his fault = reprove him.

Verse 16

with. Greek. meta.

in = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

two or three. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 19:15 ). Compare John 8:17 . See App-117 .

word. Greek. rhema = statement. See note on Mark 9:32 .

Verse 17

neglect = fail. Greek. parakouo. Occurs only here.

church = assembly. In this case the synagogue, or local court, as in Acts 19:39 . See App-120 .

the church = the assembly also.

an heathen = the Gentile. Greek. ethnikos. Occurs only here, and Matthew 6:7 .

a publican = the tax-gatherer.

Verse 18

Whatsoever, &c. See Matthew 16:19

on = upon. Greek. epi .

earth = the earth. Greek. ge. App-129 .

heaven = the heaven. See notes on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

Verse 19

as touching = concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 .

thing = matter.

ask. Greek. aiteo. App-134 .

of = from. Greek. para .

Verse 20

two or three. It was believed that "where two are assembled to study the Law, the Shechinah was with them".

Verse 21

sin. Greek. hamartano. App-128 .

Verse 22

seventy times. Greek. hebdomekontakis. Occurs only here.

Verse 23

Therefore = On account of this. Greek. dia ( App-104 .Matthew 18:1; Matthew 18:1 ), touto.

a certain king = a man ( App-123 .) a king (Hebraism).

would = wished. Greek. thelo . App-102 .

take account = to compare accounts. Greek. sunairo. Occurs only in Matthew (here, Matthew 18:24 , and Matthew 25:19 ). Said not to be classical Greek: but the colloquial Greek is found in the Papyri in Cent. II. in two letters, one from Oxyrhynchus, and the other from Dakkeh in Nubia, dated March 6, 214 A.D. See Deissmann's Light , &c., pp 118, 119.

of = with. Greek. meta .

Verse 24

to reckon = to compare accounts, as in Matthew 18:23 . See note above.

one . . . -which owed = one debtor. Found in Sophocles and Plato as well as the Papyri, though said to be only Biblical.

talents. See App-51 . Greek. talanton. Occurs only in Matthew.

Verse 25

to be sold. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:3 .Leviticus 25:39 , Leviticus 25:47 ).

and. Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

children. App-108 .

Verse 26

worshipped = did homage. See App-134 and App-137 :1.

with. Greek. epi. App-104 . (Tr. reads 3).

Verse 27

loosed = released.

debt = loan. Greek. daneion. Occurs only here.

Verse 28

found = sought and found.

owed = was owing.

pence. Greek. denaria. See App-51 .

laid hands on = seized.

took him by the throat = began throttling him.

that = what.

Verse 29

at. Greek. eis.

besought = kept beseeching (imperfect). App-134 .

Verse 30

cast him into prison. The Papyri show that this was a widespread Graeco-Roman-Egyptian custom.

Verse 31

was done = had taken place.

very = exceedingly.

told = narrated (gave an exact account). Greek. diasapheo. Occ only here.

Verse 32

wicked. Greek. poneros. App-128 .

desiredst = besoughtedst. Same word as in Matthew 18:29 .

Verse 33

Shouldest, &c. = Was it not binding on thee?

had compassion = pitied, as in the next clause. Same word.

even as I = as I also.

Verse 34

tormentors: or jailors. Greek. basanistes. Occurs only here. Imprisonment was called in Roman law-books cruciatus corporis.

Verse 35

heavenly. Greek. epouranios. Elsewhere Greek. ouranios. See Matthew 6:14 , Matthew 6:26 , Matthew 6:32 ; Matthew 15:13 .Luke 2:13 .Acts 26:19 .

trespasses. See App-128 .