Verse For Today

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Mt 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and he departed out of him. And the child was cured from that very hour.

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Observe here, With what facility and ease our Saviour cured this poor man, who was bodily possessed by satan:  with one word speaking, he delivered the distressed person from the malice and power of satan.
 
Thence learn, That how long soever, and how strong soever satan's possession has been in a person, Christ can eject and cast him out both easily and speedily.

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Mt 17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus apart, and said, Why could we not cast him out?

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Observe here, How ashamed the disciples were of this open rebuke given them by their Master; they privately ask him the case of their ill success,  Why they could not cast out Satan, according to the power promised them to work miracles?  Our Saviour tells them, that their power to work this miracle now failed them for a double reason.
 
1. For their unbelief, by which we are to understand the weakness of their faith, not the total want of faith.

2. Because they neglected the special means appointed by God, in order to that end, to wit, fasting and prayer:  that is a fervour of devotion, joined with faith and fasting.

Thence learn, That fasting and prayer are two especial means of Christ's appointment, for enabling us victoriously to overcome satan, and cast him out of ourselves and others.  We must set an edge upon our faith by prayer, and upon our prayer by fasting.

Question. But what are we to understand by faith as a grain of mustard-seed?

Matthew 17:19 Mt 17:19

 
Observe here, How ashamed the disciples were of this open rebuke given them by their Master; they privately ask him the case of their ill success,  Why they could not cast out Satan, according to the power promised them to work miracles?  Our Saviour tells them, that their power to work this miracle now failed them for a double reason.
 
1. For their unbelief, by which we are to understand the weakness of their faith, not the total want of faith.
 
2. Because they neglected the special means appointed by God, in order to that end, to wit, fasting and prayer:  that is a fervour of devotion, joined with faith and fasting.
 
Thence learn, That fasting and prayer are two especial means of Christ's appointment, for enabling us victoriously to overcome Satan, and cast him out of ourselves and others.  We must set an edge upon our faith by prayer, and upon our prayer by fasting.
 
Question. But what are we to understand by faith as a grain of mustard-seed?
 
Answer. 1. Some do thereby understand a faith that groweth and increaseth as a grain of mustard-seed, or a faith as strong and active in heart as mustard-seed is on the palate.  And by removing mountains, understand the performing things that are most difficult; as if Christ had said, Did your faith increase as a grain of mustard-seed grows, it would enable you to surmount all difficulties whatsoever.
 
2. Others by faith as a grain of mustard-seed, understand, the least degree of sincere faith on God, it being a proverbial speech among the Jews, used pro reminima, for the least thing; as if Christ had said, "Had you the least measure of that faith which cast out fear and doubting of success in the discharge of your office, you might perform things most difficult, and even this faith in its effects would be mighty."  Dr.  Whitby.


My own observation; all born again Christians are given "the measure of faith" it is up to each of us to increase our measure of faith by reading, studying, meditating and His Word daily. Also by praying daily and incessantly to The Father, asking Him for Wisdom and letting our lives be led by His Holy Spirit, asking Him daily for forgiveness of sins, sins of commision as well as sins of ommision. Keeping our thoughts and mind stayed on Him. Believing and not doubting.

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Mt 17:22 And while they stayed in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men.

Mt 17:23 And they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised again. And they grieved exceedingly.

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Observable it is, how frequently our Saviour forewarned his disciples of his approaching sufferings.  All was little enough to arm them against the scandal of the cross, and to reconcile them to the thought of what he was to suffer for them, and they were to suffer with him.
 
Learn, That we can never hear too much of the doctrine of the cross; nor can we be too often instructed in our duty to prepare for a suffering condition.  As Christ went by his cross to his crown, from a state of abasement to a state of exultation, so must all his disciples and followers likewise.

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Mt 17:24 And when they had come to Capernaum, those who received the didrachmas came to Peter and said, Does your master not pay the didrachmas?

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Observe here, 1. The question put to Peter;  Doth your master pay tribute?  This tribute-money originally was a tax paid yearly by every Jew to the service of the temple, to the value of fifteen-pence a head.  But when the Jews were brought under the power of the Romans, this tribute-money was paid to the emperor, and was changed from a homage-penny to God, to a tribute-penny to the conqueror.  The collectors of this tribute-money asked Peter, whether his master would pay it or not.

Observe, 2. The answer returned, positively and suddenly.  He does pay.  Peter consults not first with our Saviour, whether he would pay it; but knowing his readiness to render to all their due, he says, Yes.  There was no truer paymaster of the king's dues, than he that was King of Kings.  He preached it, and he practised it:  Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's.

Yet Observe, 3. Our Saviour insinuates his own exemption, privilege, and freedom form paying this tribute-money, as he was the Son of God, the Universal King; subjects pay tribute, but king's children are free. Though Christ was free from paying tribute by a natural right, yet he would not be free by a voluntary dispensation.

Therefore Observe, To prevent all scandal and offence, he works a miracle, rather than the tribute money should go unpaid.  Whether Christ by his almighty word created this piece of money in the mouth of the fish, (which was half a-crown for himself and St. Peter, who had a house in Capernaum, and was there to pay his poll) or whether Christ caused the fish to take up this piece of money at the bottom of the sea, is not necessary to enquire, nor possible to determine.  Our duty is, reverentially to adore that Omnipotent Power, whcih could command the fish to be both his treasurer to keep his silver, and his purveyor to bring it to him.
 

2. Industriously to imitate his example, in shunning all occasions of offence, especially towards those whom God has place in sovereign authority over us.

Observe lastly, The poverty of our holy Lord, and his contempt of all worldly wealth and riches:  he had not so much as fifteen pence by him to pay his poll.  Christ would not honour the world so far as to have any part of it in his own possession.  The best man that ever lived in the world had not a penny in his purse, nor a house to hide his head in, which he could call his own.

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Mt 18:1 At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven?

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Notwithstanding our blessed Saviour had so often told his disciples that his kingdom was not of this world, yet they still dreamt of a temporal and earthly kingdom, which he, as the Messias, should shew forth the glory of; in which there should be distinct places of honour and offices, one above another; and accordingly, at this time, the ambition of the disciples led them to enquire of our Saviour, who should have the chief place of honour and dignity under him in that his kingdom, who should be the principal officers of state; concluding it must be some of them, though they could not agree who were fittest for those high posts of honour and service.
 
Learn hence, that the best and holiest of men are too subject to pride and ambition, to court worldy dignity and greatness, to affect a precedency before, and a superiority above, others:  the disciples themselves were tainted with the itch of ambition, which prompted them to enquire of their Master,  Who should be the greatest in his kingdom of the church?

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Mt 18:2 And Jesus called a little child to Him and set him in their midst,

Mt 18:3 and said, Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

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Our Saviour intending to cure this pride and ambition in his disciples, first preaches to them the doctrine  of humility, and to enforce his doctrine he sets before them,  a little child, the proper emblem of humility; assuring them, that unless they be converted, or turned from this sin of pride and ambition, and become as a little child in lowliness of mind, and contempt of worldly greatness, they cannot be saved.
 
Learn hence, 1. That no sins are more odious and abominable in the sight of God, than pride and ambition; especially amongst the ministers of the gospel.
 
Learn, 2. That persons already converted, do stand in need of farther conversion:  they that are converted from a state of sin, may want to be converted from a particular act of sin:  this was the disciples case here; they were turned from a course of sin, but they wanted conversion from a particular act of sin; to wit, from ambition.
 
Learn, 3. That conversion, though sincere, may be very imperfect. Converts still have remains of corruption,  some lust often breaking forth, which they must take special care to resist and subdue.

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Mt 18:4 Therefore whoever shall humble himself like this little child, this one is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven.

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As if our Lord had said, "That the apostle, or that minister, who thinks as meanly of himself as a little child, and is humble and lowly in his own esteem, he deserves the highest place of dignity and honour in my church."
 
Note, That the truly humble person, who is freest from affecting pre-eminency, is most worthy of the highest dignity and eminency in the church of God:  and in the account of Christ, the way to be honourable is to be humble.  "Before honour is humility."

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Mt 18:5 And whoever shall receive one such little child in My name receives Me.

Mt 18:6 But whoever shall offend one of these little ones who believes in Me, it would be better for him that an ass's millstone were hung around his neck, and he be sunk in the depth of the sea.

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Our Saviour having declared, that the humblest persons should be always highest in his esteem; he next declares how exceeding dear and precious such christians are to him, who resemble little children in humility of heart, and innocency of life:  assuring the world, that whatever kindness and respect is shewn to such for his sake, he reckons shewn to himself; and all the disrespect and unkindness which is offered to them, be accounts as done unto himself:  so near is the union, and so dear the relation, betwixt Christ and his members, that whatever good or evil is done unto them, he reckons as done unto himself.

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Mt 18:7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For it is necessary that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

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Matthew 18:7 Mt 18:7

 
Two things are here observable:
 
1. The necessity of scandalous offences:   It must needs be that offences come:
 
2. The misery and mischief that comes by them:  Woe unto the world because of offences:  Woe unto such as give offence; this is va indignantis, the woe of one denouncing; and woe to such as stumble at offence given, this is va dolentis, the woe of one lamenting.
 
From the whole, Note, 1. That scandals, or offensive actions in the church of Chrsit, will certainly fall out among those that profess religion, and the name of Christ.  Offences will come;  Their necessity is partly from the malice of Satan, partly from the wickedness and deceitfulness of men's own hearts and natures, God permitting those to have their natural effects.
 
2. That scandalous and offensive actions from such as profess religion and the name of Christ, are baneful and fatal stumbling-blocks to wicked and worldy men.
 
3.  That the offence which wicked men take at the falls of the professors of religion, to the hardening of themselves in their wicked practices, is matter of just and great lamentation; Woe unto the world because of offences!

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Mt 18:8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to offend, cut them off and throw them from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Mt 18:9 And if your eye offends you, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.

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This command of Christ is not to be understood literally, as if it were our duty to maim our bodily members; but the exhortation is to cut off all occasions that may betray us into sin; and to mortify our darling and beloved lust, though as dear to us as our right eye.
 
Learn, 1. That sin may be avoided.  It is our duty to avoid whatever leads unto it, or may be the instrument or occasion of it.
 
2. That the best way to be kept from the outward acts of sin, is to mortify our inward affection and love to sin.  If our love and affection to sin be mortified, our bodily members may be preserved, for they will no longer be weapons of sin, but instruments of holiness.

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Mt 18:10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that in Heaven their angels always behold the face of My Father in Heaven.

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Observe here, 1. A cautionary direction given by Christ to the men of the world concerning his members;  Take heed that ye do not offend one of my little ones; that is, that ye do not undervalue and neglect, much less injure and afflict, them.
 
2. A reason assigned, Because their angels being constantly and immediately in the presence of God, are perpetually ready to execute his will, by revenging any wrongs and injuries done unto his friends and children.
 
Learn, 1. What is the office and employment of the glorious angels; namely, to be the immediate attendants upon the royal person of the supreme King and Sovereign of the world.
 
Learn hence, 2. In what esteem good men are with God, and what a mighty regard he has for the meanest of his children, that he commits the care and preservation of them to the holy angels, who are nearest to him, and in highest favour and honour with him.
 
It is St. Jerome's note upon this place, That great is the dignity of these little ones, seeing every one of them from his birth hath an angel delegated to preserve him.  But though others think that the opinion of a tutelary angel, or of one particular angel's having the custody of one particular saint, as his continual charge, has not a sufficient foundation in the holy scriptures! yet all the angels in heaven are ministering spirits unto them; and though they do not always attend upon their person (for they stand before the face of God) yet it is to to receive his commands, either to help them in their exigencies, or punish those that injure them.

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Mt 18:11 For the Son of man has come to save that which was lost.

Mt 18:12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, does he not leave the ninety and nine and go into the mountains and seek the straying one?

Mt 18:13 And if it happens that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety and nine which did not stray.

Mt 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

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How our Saviour continues his argument against giving offence to his children and members; he came into the world to redeem and save them; therefore none ought to scandalize and offend them.  And to illustrate this, he compares himself to a good shepherd, who regards every one of his sheep; and if any wander or go astray, he seeks to recover it with desire and joy.
 
Learn, 1. That the natural condition of mankind is like to that of wandering sheep; they err and go astray from God their chief good, and the object of their complete happiness.
 
2. That it was the work and business, the care and concern, of Jesus Christ, to seek and recover lost souls, as the shepherd doth his lost sheep.
 
3. That the love and care of Christ towards his sheep, in seeking to save and to preserve them, is a forcible argument unto all, not to scandalize and offend them, much less to persecute and destroy them.

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Mt 18:15 But if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Mt 18:16 But if he will not hear you, take one or two more with you, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established

Mt 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he neglects to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax-collector.


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In these words our Saviour gives us an excellent rule for the duty of fraternal correction, or brotherly admonition.
 
Where note, 1. That brotherly reproof and admonition is a duty incumbent upon church members.
 
2. That it may be administered successfully, it must must be administered privately and prudently.
 
3.  When private admonition prevails not, Christ has appointed church-governors, to execute church-censures on the obstinate and irreclaimable.
 
4. Persons justly falling under the censures of the church, and rightly excommunicated, are to be looked upon as obstinate and contumacious offenders, and the members of the church to shun society and conversation with them:   If he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and as a publican was among Jews; wholly neglected, and not thought fit to be conversed with.

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Mt 18:18 Truly I say to you, Whatever you shall bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven; and whatever you shall loose on earth shall occur, having been loosed in Heaven.

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That is, whomsoever the officers of my church shall justly excommunicate upon earth, shall, without repentance be shut out of heaven; and whosoever upon their true repentance, shall be absolved on earth, shall be absolved in heaven.
 
Learn, That Christ will ratify in heaven whatsoever the church assembled doth in his name upon earth; whether to the censuring of the guilty, or the absolving of the penitent.  This power of binding and loosing is by Christ committed to his church.

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Mt 18:19 Again I say to you that if two of you shall agree on earth as regarding anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by My Father in Heaven.

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Here we have a gracious promise made by Christ of his presence with all his members in general, and with is ministers in special; whenever they meet  together in his name, that is by his authority, in obedience to his command, and with an eye to his glory.  Whenever they celebrate any sacred institution of his, or execute any church-censures, he will be in the midst of them, to quicken their prayers, to guide their councils, to ratify their sentence, to accept their endeavours.
 
Learn, 1. That Christ will be graciously present with and amongst his people, whenever they assemble and meet together in his name, be it ever so small a number.
 
2. That Christ will, in a special manner, be present with the guides and officers of his church, to direct their censures, and to confirm the sentence passed in his name, and pronounced by his authority upon obstinate offenders.