Matthew 18:1-28:20

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:1-4

The One Who Is Greatest In The Kingly Rule of Heaven Is The One Who Has Least Desire To Be So And Does Not Even Think About It (18:1-4). The ‘disciples’ here are the ones who have ‘gathered’ ready to go to Jerusalem with Jesus (Matthew 17:22) and included among them little children. But it would be the twelve and their close compatriots who would approach Jesus with their question (as Mark makes very clear). They were the ones most concerned about their own position. They were becoming more... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:1-35

Guidance For The New Congregation (18:1-19:2). This chapter has been compared with the Manual of Discipline found at Qumran which was intended to regulate a specific community, and has been seen as similarly giving instructions concerning the regulating of the new community of disciples. As a general comparison that may be seen as acceptable, but it is not strictly accurate. For it must be noted that this is not really a Manual of Discipline at all, nor is it set out as such, it is rather a... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:1-20

Matthew 18:1-Proverbs : . A Conversation with the Twelve.— For Matthew 18:1-Deuteronomy :, the question of precedence, cf. Mark 9:33-Haggai : *, also Matthew 20:26 f., Mark 10:43 f., Luke 9:48; Luke 22:26. Mt. makes the disciples begin the discussion, but characteristically omits the derogatory intimation that they had been disputing. In his account Jesus does not embrace the child ( cf. Matthew 19:15, Mark 10:16), and the saying of Mark 9:35 is omitted, or rather reserved till Matthew... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 18:1

Mark, who relates also the same history more largely, Mark 9:33, saith, that this discourse was in the house at Capernaum, and that our Saviour began with them, asking them what they had been discoursing of by the way. That they held their peace, for they had been in the way arguing one with another who should be the greatest; they might at the same time also ask Christ the question. Luke, in whom we find the same history, speaketh of it only as a question that had arisen among themselves, Luke... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Matthew 18:1-14

CRITICAL NOTESMatthew 18:5. One such little child.—Whether literally or only morally a little child. Our Saviour had reference, we doubt not, to both phases of childhood. That He refers to literal childhood may be inferred from Luke 9:48. But such a reference, though real, would be only bridging the way for His far more important reference to moral or spiritual childhood (Morison). In My name.—Literally, upon My name, upon the ground or footing of My name, i.e. in consideration of Me—out of... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:1-4

Matthew 18:1-4 Becoming like Little Children. I. The disciples had asked our Lord, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And the answer which our Lord made, though it did not give them any particular light as to the manner in which the coming of His kingdom should be realized, did yet give them a view of one leading feature of that kingdom, and impressed it upon them in such a manner that they could never forget it. He took a little child, and set it in the midst of them as a pattern... read more

Charles Simeon

Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae - Matthew 18:1-4

DISCOURSE: 1380A LITTLE CHILDMatthew 18:1-4. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.DISPUTES of any kind among the... read more

C.I. Scofield

Scofield's Reference Notes - Matthew 18:1

kingdom (See Scofield " :-") read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:1-35

Now at the same time there came disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ( Matthew 18:1 )Oh, boy how they longed for this. You're talking about motivation, and the disciples were not pure in their motivations. They were always wrangling about well, I am going to be bigger than you. I'll be better then you. I have a better place than you, and their motivations were not always the purest. And they, many times, were arguing about these things, the greatest. In... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 18:1-35

Matthew 18:1 . Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? The comparative μειζων greater, is put here for the superlative. By the kingdom of heaven, they meant the worldly glory of the church in the present life, as when they asked, “Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6. Our Saviour’s having promised the keys to Peter, though the power of remission was afterwards equally given to all, as in Matthew 18:18, might have suggested some idea of... read more

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