Limitless Word

Matthew 18

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📖 Matthew introduction

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1At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ✦ 2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, ✦ 3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ✦ 4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ✦ 5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. ✦ 6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. ✦ 7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! ✦ 8Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. ✦ 9And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. ✦ 10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. ✦ 11For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? ✦ 13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. ✦ 14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. ✦ 15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. ✦ 16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. ✦ 17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. ✦ 18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ✦ 19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. ✦ 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. ✦ 21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? ✦ 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. ✦ 23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. ✦ 24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. ✦ 25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. ✦ 26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. ✦ 27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. ✦ 28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. ✦ 29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. ✦ 30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. ✦ 31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. ✦ 32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: ✦ 33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? ✦ 34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. ✦ 35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. ✦

Tap any verse for its study page. Underlined terms mark a concept, person, or place; ✦ marks verses with cross-references.

Where this chapter connects

Matt 6 ·12Matt 18 ·11Matt 5 ·11Matt 13 ·8Matt 25 ·8Mark 9 ·7Rom 14 ·7Luke 16 ·6

Christ at the center

Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'

How Matthew 18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Resources, by level

Lay

  • ★ Start hereDocumentaryFollowing the MessiahAppian Media · Free · evangelical

    A free, beautifully shot 10-part series walking the lands of Jesus' life — Bethlehem, Galilee, Jerusalem, and more.

  • ★ Start hereVideoBibleProject — video overviews & word studiesBibleProject · 5–10 min · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overviews of every book of the Bible, plus themes and Hebrew/Greek word studies — the best visual on-ramp to any book. (Biblical-theology, broadly evangelical, not distinctly Reformed.)

  • ★ Start hereAudioThrough the WordThrough the Word · ~10 min/chapter · Free · evangelical

    A clear ~10-minute audio teaching for every one of the Bible's 1,189 chapters — the most systematic free way to study chapter by chapter.

  • DocumentaryHolyLandSiteHolyLandSite · Free · evangelical

    Free on-location videos tying biblical events to the actual sites in Israel — the Temple Mount, Galilee, Capernaum, and more.

  • ApologeticsCold-Case Christianity (J. Warner Wallace)J. Warner Wallace · Free · evangelical

    A cold-case homicide detective examines the Gospels' reliability — forensic faith for skeptics and seekers.

Pastoral

  • SermonGrace to You — John MacArthurJohn MacArthur · Free · reformed

    Decades of careful verse-by-verse expository sermons, especially through the New Testament. (MacArthur, d. 2025; archive remains free.)

  • DocumentaryThat the World May KnowRay Vander Laan · Paid · evangelical

    Ray Vander Laan's on-location series immersing you in the Bible's historical and cultural world. (Mostly paid via Focus on the Family; some free clips.)

  • SermonChuck Smith — C2000 SeriesChuck Smith · Free · evangelical

    Free verse-by-verse audio through the entire Bible from the founder of Calvary Chapel.

Commentaries & study tools

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