Then Peter came to [Jesus] and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” —Matthew 18:21-22 NLT Key Thought Like so many of us do, Peter wants to know the limits of the Lord’s demand for radical forgiveness. While …
[Talking about being forgiving, Jesus continued,] “Then the angry king sent the man [who had been forgiven a great debt but hadn’t forgiven a much smaller owed to him] to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive …
‘The Necessity of Forgiveness’ – Matthew 18:34-35 Read More »
[Jesus continued,] “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For …
[Jesus continued,] “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two …
[Jesus continued,] “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.” —Matthew 18:15 NLT Key Thought It’s one thing to reach out to the fallen brother or sister who has lost sight of the way. It’s quite …
[Jesus continued,] “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more …
[Jesus continued,] “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.” —Matthew 18:10 NLT Key Thought This is one of those very interesting passages that we are tempted to make too much of. First, …
[Jesus continued,] “So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge …
[Jesus continued,] “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations …
[Jesus continued,] “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.” —Matthew 18:5 NLT Key Thought There are two key thoughts here: Jesus was talking about actual children. His rebuke of the disciples when they didn’t welcome children, but pushed them away, was clearly an example of that. He …