matthew-18:1-9,-proverbs-22:3,-proverbs-22:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:2

Verse 2 2.And Jesus called a child to him. The general meaning is, that those who desire to obtain greatness by rising above their brethren, will be so far from gaining their object that they do not even deserve to occupy the lowest corner. He reasons from contraries, because it is humility alone that exalts us. As we are more powerfully affected by appearances presented to the eyes, he holds up to them a little child as an emblem of humility. When he enjoins his followers to become like a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:3

Verse 3 3.Unless you are converted. To the example of little children must be referred the conversion of which he now speaks. Hitherto they had been too much habituated to the ordinary customs of men; and if they would gain their object, they must pursue a totally different course. (499) Every one wished for himself the first or the second rank; but Christ does not allot even the lowest place to any man who does not lose sight of distinctions and humble himself On the contrary, he says, read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:4

Verse 4 4.Whosoever shall humble himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. This is intended to guard us against supposing that we degrade ourselves in any measure by freely surrendering every kind of distinction. And hence we may obtain a short definition (500) of humility. That man is truly humble who neither claims any personal merit in the sight of God, nor proudly despises brethren, or aims at being thought superior to them, but reckons it enough that he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:5

Verse 5 5.And he that shall receive such a child. The term children is now applied metaphorically by Christ to those who have laid aside lofty looks, and who conduct themselves with modesty and humility. This is added by way of consolation, that we may not account it troublesome or disagreeable to exercise humility, by means of which Christ not only receives us under his protection, but likewise recommends us to the favor of men. And thus believers are taught in what way they ought to esteem... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:6

Verse 6 Matthew 18:6.But whosoever shall offend one of those little ones. This appears to be added for the consolation of the godly, that they may not be rendered uneasy by their condition, if they are despised by the world. It is a powerful obstruction to the voluntary exercise of modesty, when they imagine, that by so doing they expose themselves to contempt; and it is hard to be not only treated disdainfully, but almost trodden under foot, by haughty men. Christ therefore encourages his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:7

Verse 7 7.Woe to the world on account of offenses! This passage may be explained in two ways. It may be taken actively, as meaning that Christ pronounces a curse on the authors of offenses; and then by the term world, we must understand all unbelievers. Or it may be taken passively, as meaning that Christ deplores the evils which he perceives to be rapidly coming on the world on account of offenses; as if he had said, that no plague will be more destructive, or attended by more fearful... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:1

At the same time ; literally, in that hour . The narrator connects the following important discourse with the circumstances just previously related. Peter had completed the business of the didrachma, and had rejoined the body of disciples. These, according to St. Mark, had disputed about precedency on the way to Capernaum. Fired with the notion that their Master would ere long publicly assert his Messianic claims, which, in their view, implied temporal sovereignty and secular power,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:1-3

The kingdom of type childlike. Jesus Christ not only resorted to parables in order to make his teaching vivid; sometimes he made use of object lessons. Thus he answered the question as to who was greatest in the kingdom of heaven by pointing to the little child whom he had called to himself, and set up in the midst of his disciples. The child himself was a visible embodiment of the reply our Lord wished his questioners to receive. I. THE TYPE OF THE KINGDOM . The kingdom of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:1-4

The greatest in the kingdom of heaven . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:1-5

Heavenly greatness. As they journeyed to Capernaum the disciples of Jesus, like their countrymen, ever disposed to regard the kingdom of Messiah as secular, reasoned and disputed together as to which of them should be the greater in that kingdom. The knowledge of this contention probably influenced the conduct of Jesus in the matter of the tribute, in which he astonished them with an exemplification of supreme greatness in submission (see Matthew 17:22-27 ). A similar lesson is embodied in... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:1-5

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