*Matthew 18:10-22
Jesus teaches that God cares for all people, just like a shepherd cares for a lost sheep.
- Parable of the Lost Sheep:
- Jesus instructs His followers not to despise any of the little ones:
- He emphasizes that their angels in heaven always see the face of the Father.
- Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep to illustrate God’s concern for the lost:
- A shepherd with a hundred sheep, if one goes astray, leaves the ninety-nine to find the one.
- Upon finding it, the shepherd rejoices more over the one found than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
- Jesus underscores that it is not the will of the Father that any of these little ones should perish.
- Jesus instructs His followers not to despise any of the little ones:
- Dealing with Sin in the Church:
- Jesus provides a process for addressing sin among believers:
- If a brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault just between the two of you. If they listen, you have won them over.
- If they do not listen, take one or two others along so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church. If they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
- Jesus provides a process for addressing sin among believers:
- Authority of Binding and Loosing:
- Jesus grants authority to His followers concerning binding and loosing:
- Whatever they bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever they loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
- He emphasizes the power of agreement in prayer:
- If two of them agree on earth about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by the Father in heaven.
- Jesus assures them that where two or three gather in His name, He is there with them.
- Jesus grants authority to His followers concerning binding and loosing:
- Parable of the Unmerciful Servant:
- Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother or sister who sins against him, suggesting up to seven times.
- Jesus answers not seven times, but seventy-seven times (or seventy times seven), indicating the boundless nature of forgiveness.
Matthew 18:10-22 teaches us about God’s deep love for each person and the importance of forgiveness. Jesus shares how God seeks out those who are lost, just like a shepherd who goes after one missing sheep. This reminds us that every person matters to God, and we should care for others the same way. He also tells us to forgive others—not just once, but over and over. We can apply this by treating people with kindness, valuing those who feel forgotten, and choosing to forgive instead of holding onto anger.
Matthew 18:10-22 (WEB)
18:10 See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.12 “What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? 13 If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.15 “If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. 16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector. 18 Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven. 19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”22 Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.