Introduction
§ 79. CONTENTION OF DISCIPLES PEACE OF THE CHURCH, Matthew 18:1-35 .
This chapter forms a complete and beautiful discourse on the unity and peace of Christ’s Church, about to be formed. It is to be viewed as a whole, and each of the parts is to be construed in reference to the scope of the whole. The discourse itself, as uttered, must have stood in striking contrast with the ambitious visions and the emulous strife of the apostles, by the occurrence of which it was suggested.
A debate having arisen as to the primacy in the Messiah’s kingdom, our Lord, avoiding all harsh rebuke of their strife, commences his doctrine on the subject by introducing a symbol calculated to soothe their minds to gentler feeling. A child is called; old enough to walk, yet young enough to be taken in a seemly way into his arms. And as the child cheerfully accepts its docile place, and knows no desire of rule or lordship, so must the heirs of the kingdom come down to that temper which is best designated by the term childlike. 1-4 .
Passing then from the natural child to the child by grace, our Lord illustrates, in the most solemn language, the awful sin of offending; that is, of causing Christ’s true child to fall and perish. 5-9. The value of such a child is illustrated by the fact that for him angels watch, because Christ died for him, and in his mercy sought for him as for a lost sheep. 10-14. Next the kingdom is a family and the little ones are brethren. Our Lord, therefore, lays down to them the mode of dealing with the trespassing brother; and he assures all such as comply in temper and act with his law on the subject, that the decisions they make in the Church below are ratified in the Church above. 15-18. And this same divine sanction of the acts, so in spirit and in form done by a whole Church, is bestowed upon the action of the smallest plural number; for that smallest number of his true little ones, acting in the true spirit, is blessed with his true presence. He then lays down a law of unlimited forgiveness of all true penitence, which he illustrates by a parable of an unforgiving one. 21-35.
This chapter is a perfect programme for a peaceful Church.
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