rd

Matthew 18

1 The greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 3 He teacheth his disciples to be humble and harmless, 6 To avoid occasions of evil, 10 Not to contemn the little ones. 11 Why Christ came. 15 Of brotherly correction. 17 Of the authority of the Church. 19 The commendation of prayer and godly assemblies. 21 Of brotherly
1.The *same time the disciples came unto Jesus, saying, aWho is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2.And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the middes of them,
3.And said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be *converted, and become as little bchildren, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4.Whosoever therefore shall humble him self as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5.cAnd whosoever shall receive such a little child in my Name, receiveth me.
6.*But whosoever shall offend one of these littleones which believe in me, it were better for him, that a dmillstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7.eWo be unto the world because of offences: for it must needs be that offences shall come, but wo be to that man, by whom the offence cometh.
8.*Wherefore, if thine hand or thy foot cause thee to offend, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life, halt, or maimed, then having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire.
9.And if thine eye cause thee to offend, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, then having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
10.fSee that ye despise not one of these littleones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their *gAngels always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11.For *the Son of man is come to hsave that which was lost.
12.How think ye? *If a man have an hundreth sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave ninety and nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that which is gone astray?
13.And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, then of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14.So is it not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these littleones should perish.
15.*Moreover, if thy brother trespass against ithee, go, and ^tell him his faute between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast won thy brother.
16.But if he hear thee not, take yet with thee one or two, that by the *mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed.
17.And if he will not vouchsafe to hear them, tell it unto the kChurch: and if he refuse to hear the Church also, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and a Publican.
18.Verily I say unto you, *Whatsoever ye lbind on earth, shalbe bound in heaven: and *whatsoever ye loose on earth, shalbe loosed in heaven.
19.Again, verily I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree in earth upon any thing, whatsoever they shall desire, it shalbe ^given them of my Father which is in heaven.
20.For where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the middes of them.
21.Then came Peter to him, and said, Master, how oft shall my brother sin against me, & I shall forgive him? *unto seven times?
22.Jesus said unto him, I say not to thee, unto seven times, but unto mseventy times seven times.
23.Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain King, which would take a counts of his servants.
24.And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which ought him ten thousand ntalents.
25.And because he had nothing to pay, his master commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and his children, and all that he had, and the debt to be paid.
26.The servant therefore fell down, and besought him, saying, Master, appease thine anger toward me, and I will pay thee all.
27.Then that servant’s master had compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28.But when the servant was departed, he found one of his fellows, which ought him an hundred opence, and he laid hands on him, & took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29.Then his fellow fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Appease thine anger towards me, and I will pay thee all.
30.Yet he would not, but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31.And when his other fellows saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came, and declared unto their master all that was done.
32.Then his master called him, and said to him, O evil servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou prayedst me.
33.Oughtest not thou also to have had pity on thy fellow, even as I had pity on thee?
34.So his master was wroth, and delivered him to the jailors, till he should pay all that was due to him.
35.So likewise shall mine heavenly Father do unto you, except ye forgive pfrom your hearts, each one to his brother their trespasses.

Notes

1-*.
Mar. 9.33, Luk. 9.46.
1-a.
They strive for the reward before they have taken any pain: and where as they should have helped and reverenced one another, they were ambitious and despisers of their brethren.
3-*.
Chap. 19.24, 1 Cor. 14.20.
3-b.
Not in lack of discretion, but that they be not vain glorious, seeking to advance themselves to worldly honours.
5-c.
He calls them little children now, which humble themselves with all humility and subjection.
6-*.
Mar. 9.42, Luk. 17.1.
6-d.
The word signifies a great millstone which an ass turns, and it is spoken in respect of that which is turned with man’s hand, which is less.
7-e.
Christ warns his to take heed that they shrink not back from him for any evil example or offence that man can give.
8-*.
Chap. 5.30, Mar. 9.45.
10-*.
Psal. 34.7.
10-f.
Christ touches the cause of this offence, which is pride and disdain of our inferiors.
10-g.
Seeing God has commanded his Angels to take the charge of his children, the wicked may be assured that if they despise them, God will revenge their cause.
11-*.
Luk. 19.10.
11-h.
We may not lose by our offence that which God has so dearly bought.
12-*.
Luk. 15.4.
15-*.
Lev. 19.17, Eccle. 19.13, Luk. 17.13, Jam. 5.19.
15-^.
Or, reprove him.
15-i.
Wherewith you maybe offended: he speaks of secret or particular sins, and not of open or known to others.
16-*.
Deu. 19.15, John 8.17, 2 Cor. 13.1, Heb. 10.28.
17-k.
He means according to the order that was among the Jews, who had their council of ancient and expert men to reform manners, and execute discipline. This assemble represented the Church, which had appointed them to this charge.
18-*.
1 Cor. 5.9, 2 Thes. 3.14.
18-*-1.
John 20.23.
18-l.
In chap. 16.19 he meant this of doctrine, and here of ecclesiastical discipline, which depends on the doctrine.
19-^.
Or, done to.
21-*.
Luk. 17.4.
22-m.
We must be continually ready to forgive and be forgiven.
24-n.
A common talent was valued at three score pound: some also were greater and some less.
28-o.
Which amounts of our money to the sum of 25 shillings, or very near, and was nothing in respect of the former which his master forgave him.
35-p.
God esteems only the heart and affection.