The Strand Study Bible

MATTHEW 18:13

MATTHEW 18:33

1528

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? 13 And 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. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones 1 should perish. How to treat a backslidden Christian 15 Moreover 2 if thy brother shall trespass against thee, 3 go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, 4 thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in 5 the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established . 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect 6 to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, 7 Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, 8 it shall be done for 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 midst of them. Parable #15 - The unmerciful servant [ A lesson for the saved - Learn to forgive or face the tormentors - Mt 8:5-6; Rev 9:1-6; II Pet 2:6-8 ] 21 Then came Peter to him, and said,

Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? 9 till seven times? Forgiveness should never be an option; it should always be offered 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, 10 Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain 11 KING , which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him 12 ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an 13 hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest . 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then 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:

1. or, “should die and go to Hell” 2. Gal 6:1-2 & II Thess 3:15 & Jms 5:16,19 3. Lev 19:17 & Prov 25:9 & Lk 17:3-4 4. Jms 5:20 5. Quoted from the OT - Deut 19:15 6. that is, “allow God’s people to admonish them” -Rom 16:17 & I Thess 5:14 & II Thess 3:6,14-15 7. Mt 16:19 & Jn 20:23 8. I Jn 3:22 & 5:14 9. Lk 17:3-4 10. that is, “until we learn to forgive as God forgives” 11. or, “God the Father” - Mt 18:35 & 22:2 12. or, “c. 12 million dollars” 13. o r, “c. 44 dollars” ”

33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? Matthew 18:15 Subject Head There is a three-step progression concerning the treatment of a backslidden believer: 1. Confront him for the sake of restoration (Lk 17:3-4, Gal 6:1, Jms 5:19-20, I Thess 5:14 and Jn 13:14) 2. If he refuses, take some witnesses (I Tim 5:19) 3. If he still refuses, avoid him until he gets right (Rom 16:17-18, II Thess 3:6,14-15 and I Cor 5:9-13). As Christians, we are never to treat another brother or sister in Christ like an enemy (II Thess 3:15 and Gal 6:10). To do so could lead to utter discouragement on the part of the backslidden believer (II Cor 2:7). 18:17 a This word ( church ) is the Greek word HNNOKσLD ( ekklesia ). Ekklesia was used to describe one of five different assemblies ( Mt 16:18 d ). The “ assembly ” being referred to here is both the Jewish synagogue and future Jewish/Gentile Church. 18:17 b If a backslidden believer refuses to be admonished by another believer who has followed all three steps, then the local church in which the backslidden believer attends is to treat him as if he were “ an heathen man and a publican ” (unsaved). If a brother or sister in the Lord refuses to act like a believer, then we are to treat them as if they were unbelievers (unsaved). 18:22 These Jewish leaders despised Jesus because he taught that God was willing and ready to forgive every sinner ( but, Until seventy times seven – Mt 6:14-15, Mk 11:25-26 and Colo 3:12-13), not just the elect. Salvation is not limited to a few, but is freely offered to all (I Jn 2:1-2, I Tim 2:1-4-6 & 4:10, Titus 2:11, II Pet 3:9, II Cor 5:14-15,19, and Mt 14:20 ).