Verse Discussion

Matthew 18:3

• The disciples' question reveals their pride; Jesus instructs them to be humble like a child.
• While the exact age of the child is uncertain, we suggest Jesus was referring to children younger than ~7 years old, as humility tends to diminish with age.
• Other childlike qualities relevant to the Kingdom of God include:
  • Helplessness: This trait reflects the humility we should embody. We are called to submit to God, who grants wisdom freely (James 1:5). Trust in God's strength, not our own (Proverbs 3:5). However, we are not to be lazy; we must actively shine God's light in the world.
• Tension is rising with Jewish leaders and the disciples. Jesus grows more blunt and frustrated, a pattern that began in chapter 12. As we approach the Passion, His teachings become clearer and more urgent.

Matthew 18:15-20

• We focused on understanding verses 18 and 19 for much of the discussion time.
• In verses 15-17, Jesus addresses church discipline, culminating in a decision by the Church. He then shifts to the concepts of binding and loosing among two or three believers.
• Our questions included:
  • "Who is the intended recipient?"
  • "What are the prerequisites for God's actions?"
  • "What is the scope of the kind of things that can be decided in this way?"

Summary of Interpretations:

• Spiritual Scope: The context refers primarily to spiritual matters, especially sins, which carry both physical and spiritual consequences. Non-spiritual matters are not the focus here, even though they have value in the believer's life.
• Accountability: Unity is crucial; agreement among two or more believers is a prerequisite.
• Church Authority: While not universally agreed upon in our discussion, some of us felt this section implies Church authority, as Jesus speaks to His disciples, the first Church authority,
  and it parallels the example seen in Acts 15.

How We Reached This Conclusion

• We referenced the first council in Acts 15, where the Apostles, the first Church authorities, made a binding decision on whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish laws (e.g., circumcision).
• Three observations from Acts 15:
  • Paul, though an apostle, sought counsel from the leaders in Jerusalem.
  • Acts 15:28 states, "...it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us..." illustrating the Church's divinely inspired agreement. The Holy Spirit's acceptance is implied by their acceptance as Holy Spirit filled leaders of the Church.
  • Acts 15:30-31 shows local congregations accepted the council's decision and rejoiced in its validity.
• This process in Acts 15 mirrors the decision-making seen in Matthew 18:15-19.

Other Discussions

On February 25, we will have a topical study on fasting, exploring its biblical usage and purpose.

We will begin our fast together on March 3. Please note that on March 4, we will NOT meet at our usual location; instead, we will break our fast at IHOP.

Consequently, we won't read Matthew for the next two weeks. We plan to resume our study with Matthew 19 on March 11. I encourage you all to engage wholeheartedly with fasting as a means to train your body for righteousness. Jesus anticipated His followers would fast, and it's a powerful tool for us. Let's embrace it!