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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 18:7-14

Our Savior here speaks of offences, or scandals, I. In general, Matt. 18:7. Having mentioned the offending of little ones, he takes occasion to speak more generally of offences. That is an offence, 1. Which occasions guilt, which by enticement or affrightment tends to draw men from that which is good to that which is evil. 2. Which occasions grief, which makes the heart of the righteous sad. Now, concerning offences, Christ here tells them, (1.) That they were certain things; It must needs be,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 18:1-35

Matthew 18:1-35 is a most important chapter for Christian Ethics, because it deals with those qualities which should characterize the personal relationships of the Christian. We shall be dealing in detail with these relationships as we study the chapter section by section; but before we do so, it will be well to look at the chapter as a whole. It singles out seven qualities which should mark the personal relationships of the Christian. (i) First and foremost, there is the quality of... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:10

One of these little ones - One of my simple, loving, humble disciples. Their angels - always behold - Our Lord here not only alludes to, but, in my opinion, establishes the notion received by almost all nations, viz. That every person has a guardian angel; and that these have always access to God, to receive orders relative to the management of their charge. See Psalm 34:8 ; Hebrews 1:14 . Always behold the face - Hence, among the Jews, the angels were styled פנים מלכי , ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:11

For the Son of man, etc. - This is added as a second reason, why no injury should be done to his followers. "The Son of man has so loved them as to come into the world to lay down his life for them." That which was lost - Απολωλος . In Revelation 9:11 , Satan is called Απολλυων , Apolluon , the destroyer, or him who lays waste. This name bears a near relation to that state in which our Lord tells us he finds all mankind - lost, desolated, ruined. So it appears that Satan and men... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:12

Doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains - So our common translation reads the verse; others, Doth he not leave the ninety and nine Upon The Mountains, and go, etc. This latter reading appears to me to be the best; because, in Luke 15:4 , it is said, he leaveth the ninety and nine In The Desert. The allusion, therefore, is to a shepherd feeding his sheep on the mountains, in the desert; not seeking the lost one On the mountains. Leaving the ninety and nine, and... read more

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