Matthew 18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:5

And whoso shall receive one such little child ,.... Which is to be understood, not literally but metaphorically; meaning not such an one in age, but one, as the Syriac renders it, איך טליא דנא , "that is as this child": like unto it for modesty and humility; one, that is as that, free from pride, ambition, and envy. Christ's sense is, that whoever receives his disciples, that are meek and lowly, into their houses, or into their hearts and affections; that receives their ministry and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:6

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones ,.... Not in age, but are little and mean in their own eyes, and contemptible in the esteem of the world; though otherwise men of great grace, gifts, and usefulness; who may be said to be offended, when they are not received; their persons despised, their ministry rejected, and they reproached and persecuted; and everything done to them to discourage, and cause them to stumble and fall, to drop their profession of Christ, to quit his service,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:7

Woe unto the world because of offences !.... By which are meant, not sins, as sometimes, but rather temptations to sin; and so the Ethiopic version renders this word by "temptation" in every clause, as the Arabic does in the next; and may design all the contempt and reproach cast upon the doctrines, ordinances, and people of Christ, and all those afflictions, distresses, and persecutions exercised on them, on purpose to cause them to stumble and fall; to tempt them to deny the truth, drop... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:8-9

Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot ,.... The same words are repeated here on occasion of offences, as are spoken by Christ, Matthew 5:29 on account of unchaste looks, desires and lusts: giving offence to Christ's disciples, or endeavouring, by any means whatever, to cause them to stumble and fall, is equally gratifying the flesh, and no more to be indulged, than the other, on pain of eternal damnation. See Gill on Matthew 5:29 , Matthew 5:30 read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:10

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones ,.... That is, one of those little ones that believed in Christ; for he is not speaking of infants in age, but of those who might be compared to such, for their humility and modesty; who were little in their own eyes, and mean and despicable in the eyes of the world, as well as appeared but little in the eyes of their fellow disciples and brethren; for our Lord returns and addresses himself to his disciples, who had been contending among... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:11

For the Son of man is come to seek that which was lost. This is another, and stronger reason, why these little ones should not be despised; because Christ, who is here meant by the Son of man, came into this world to save these persons; who were lost in Adam, and had destroyed themselves by their transgressions, and carries great force in it: for if God had so great a regard to these little ones, as to send his Son to obtain eternal salvation for them, when they were in a miserable and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:12

How think ye ,.... Or, as the Arabic, "what do you think?" what is your opinion of this matter? what is your sense of it? how does it appear to you? It is a Talmudic way of speaking, the same with מה א־תאם סבורין "what do you think?" what is your judgment? So the Rabbins, after they have discussed a point among themselves, ask F11 T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 88. 2. , מאי סבירא לן , "what is our opinion?" or what do we think upon the whole? Christ here appeals to his disciples,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:13

And if so be that he find it ,.... Which is a casual and uncertain thing with the shepherd, but not so with Christ, who certainly finds all those he goes after, and seeks: for, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep ; at the finding of it, whose loss greatly affected him, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray ; who seemed not to go astray, were outwardly righteous before men, and, in their own opinion, being the same with the ninety and nine just persons... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:14

Even so it is not the will of your father which is in heaven ,.... This is the accommodation, or application of the parable of the lost sheep to the present purpose, and is the top of the climax or gradation here made use of. First, Christ observes, in order to deter any from despising and offending any of his disciples, even the meanest, that they have angels to be their guardians, who are continually in the presence of God; and next, that he himself in human nature came to be the author of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:15

Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee ,.... This is said to show, that as on the one hand, if any of those that believe in Christ, should commit a trespass against his fellow Christian, his sin is not to be connived at, for fear of offending him; for what Christ has before said, is not to be taken in such sense, as to prevent private reproof, or public censures, when there is occasion for them; so on the other hand, he is not to be despised and ill used, and treated in the... read more

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