1Christ proposeth a little child to his disciples for a pattern of innocence and humility; 7he warneth them to avoid offences, though at the expense of an hand, a foot, or an eye: 10and not to despise the little ones: 15he teacheth how to treat an offending brother, 21and how oft to forgive him, by the parable of a king.
1AT thea same 1time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who 2is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
a Mark 9:34; Luke 9:46; 22:24.
1 That is, hour.
2 That is, who shall be the greatest.
2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3And said, Verilyb I say unto you, Except ye be 3converted, and become as 4little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
b Mat. 19:14; 1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Peter 2:2.
3 Gr. turned, that is, turned away, namely, from this pride and ambition.
4 Namely, as David testifies of himself in Psalm 131.
4Whosoeverc therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
c 1 Peter 5:6.
5Andd whoso shall receive one such 5little child in my name receiveth me.
d Mark 9:37; Luke 9:48; John 13:20.
5 Namely, not only in age, but also those who, like children, are lowly of mind, as what follows sufficiently declares, verse 6.
6Bute whoso shall 6offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a 7millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
e Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2.
6 That is, does something, speaks or teaches whereby he draws another to sin or apostasy.
7 Gr. an asses’ millstone; as if we would say, a horse-millstone.
7¶Woe unto the world because of offences! forf it must 8needs be that offences come; butg woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
f 1 Cor. 11:19.
8 Namely, in regard of the malice of the devil, the corruption of men, and God’s righteous permission and judgment. See 1 Cor. 11:19; 2 Thes. 2:11, 12.
g Mat. 26:24; Acts 2:23; 4:27, 28.
8Whereforeh if thy 9hand or thy foot offendi thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life haltj or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
h Deut. 13:6; Mat. 5:29, 30; Mark 9:43.
9 See hereof the annotation on Mat. 5:29.
i cause to stumble or sin*
j lame, crippled*
9And if thine eye offendk thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
k cause to stumble or sin*
10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, Thatl in heaven 10their angels do always 11behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
l Psalm 34:8.
10 That is, who are sent for their defense and service, Heb. 1:14.
11 That is, have always access to the throne of God, to receive commands for their protection, and for the punishment of those who would despise or oppress them. A similitude taken from the kings of the east, who gave their chief ministers, by whom they governed their kingdom, free access to see their face, as may be seen, Esther 1:14. See also Luke 1:19; Rev. 8:2.
11Form the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
m Luke 19:10.
12Hown think ye? 12if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
n Luke 15:3.
12 By this parable Christ teaches that if any of the faithful would happen to be deceived, He would not cease till He had reclaimed the same.
13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14Even so it is not the will 13of your Father which is in heaven, that one of 14these little ones should perish.
13 Gr. before your Father.
14 Namely, who believe in Me, as is expressed in verse 6.
15¶Moreovero if thy brother shall trespassp15against thee, go and 16tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
o Lev. 19:17; Prov. 17:10; Luke 17:3; James 5:19.
p sin, transgress.
15 That is, gives you any offense, whether he wrongs yourself, or trespass otherwise against God or the neighbor, known to you and not in public. For, public sins ought to be publicly reproved, 1 Tim. 5:20.
16 That is, admonish and convince him of his trespass.
16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, thatq in the mouth of two or three witnesses 17every word may be established.
q Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15; John 8:17; 2 Cor. 13:1; Heb. 10:28.
17 That is, every matter or truth may be held firm, Deut. 19:15.
17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tellrit unto the 18church: but if he neglect to hear the church, lets him be unto thee 19as an heathen man and a publican.
r 2 Thes. 3:14.
18 That is, the rulers of the church, who do, as it were, represent the entire congregation. See 1 Cor. 12:28 and 2 Cor. 2:6.
s 1 Cor. 5:9; 2 Thes. 3:14.
19 That is, as one who is a stranger of the church of Christ, Acts 10:28.
18Verilyt I say unto you, 20Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
t Mat. 16:19; John 20:23.
20 See hereof Mat. 16:19.
19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing 21that they shall ask, it shall be 22done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
21 Namely, in faith and according to God’s will, James 1:6 and 1 John 5:14.
22 Or, shall come to pass.
20Foru where two or three are gathered together in my name, 23there am I in the midst of them.
u Luke 24:15, 36.
23 Namely, with My Spirit and grace, John 14:16, 23.
21¶Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? tillv seven times?
v Luke 17:4.
22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Untilw24seventy times seven.
w Mat. 6:14; Mark 11:25; Col. 3:13.
24 That is, so many times as he offends you, a certain number being taken for a large and uncertain number, as Gen. 4:24.
23¶Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take 25account of his servants.
25 Gr. take up reckoning.
24And when he had begun to reckon, 26one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand 27talents.
26 Gr. a debtor of ten thousand talents.
27 A common talent is valued at six hundred crowns of gold.
25Butx forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be 28sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
x Mat. 5:25.
28 This was usual in the Old Testament that the children with their parents were permitted to be sold for slaves for their debt, see Exod. 22:3 and 2 Kings 4:1.
26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred 29pence: and he laid hands on him, and 30took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 Gr. denari. A denarius was a piece of silver money, weighing about a drachme or half quarter of an ounce of silver, being worth about a single real, or six stivers.
30 Gr. choked, that is, took him by the throat, so that he well-nigh choked him.
29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34And his lord was wroth,y and 31delivered him to the tormentors,z32till he should pay all that was due unto him.
y angry
31 The intention of Christ here is not to teach that God, having once forgiven sins, would yet afterwards punish the same, for, God does not do this, Heb. 8:12, but He declares His purpose Himself in verse 35, and it is acknowledged that parables or similitudes ought not to be stretched further than the principal scope of the same can bear.
z torturers
32 That is, forever; for, the sinner can never satisfy for his sins, Mat. 16:26 and 25:46.
35Soaa likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye 33from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
aa Mat. 6:14; Mark 11:26; James 2:13.
33 Or, heartily.