matthew-18:2-3-esv

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Matthew 18:1-35

What a sad state of heart prompted this question! How absolutely opposed to the whole genius of the Master's teaching and example! He replied by an act, and a statement growing out of that act. The child in the midst was a revelation of the truly great character. To rob a child of its child character is to make it stumble, and the words of Jesus leave no room for doubt how such an act is abhorred by God. The journey into the wilderness is a journey to restore childhood to a wanderer, for it is... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:3

A MISUNDERSTOOD TERM‘Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew 18:3 When we speak of being converted or a conversion we are using a word which creates a difficulty, and that it does so is largely due to the fact that it has been used in a loose and unguarded way. I. Conversion of two kinds.—There are two kinds of conversion. One sudden, striking, memorable, and all over in a few hours: such was the conversion of St. Paul.... read more

Peter Pett

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

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:2

‘And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them.’ So Jesus looked at His disciples as they gathered eagerly around Him, each hoping for a word of commendation, and then His eye wandered to someone who had not joined their group. It was a little child among the company, one who believed in Him and loved Him, and had no thoughts about greatness. This little child had not joined the seekers after glory. He had not even considered it. He knew that they were more important... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:3-4

‘And said, “Truly I say to you, Unless you have been turned (or ‘be turned’), and have become as (or ‘become as’) little children, you will in no way have entered (or ‘will in no way enter’) into the Kingly Rule of Heaven. Whoever therefore has humbled himself (or ‘humbles himself’) as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingly Rule of Heaven.” ’ Then He turned to His disciples and ‘strongly affirmed’ to them that the only way by which they could have entered into the Kingly Rule... 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 18:2-4

Mark saith, Mark 9:35-37, And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, &c. Luke saith only, that he took the child, and set him by him, Luke 9:47; and adds, Luke 9:48, he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. How easy a thing had it been for our Saviour, had the... 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

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Matthew 18:1-35

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 18:3

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

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

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:2

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 18:3-4

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

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 18:2-4

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

Sermon Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:1-4

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