Matthew Chapter 18

Matthew 18 — “The Little Ones of the Kingdom and the Mercy That Saves”

Matthew 17 revealed Christ’s glory on the mountain.
Matthew 18 now reveals His heart in the community.

After showing divine splendor, Christ teaches divine humility.
After revealing heaven’s light, He teaches how life must be lived on earth.

This chapter teaches one central truth:

The Kingdom belongs to the humble, and it is preserved by mercy.

1. The Question of Greatness

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’” (Matt 18:1)

The question reveals their lingering earthly expectations.
They imagine rank, privilege, and visible authority.

St John Chrysostom observes:

“They were still thinking in human ways, for they had not yet learned the glory of humility.”
(Homilies on Matthew)

Christ does not rebuke their desire for greatness —
He transforms its meaning.

The Kingdom has greatness, but not as the world defines it.

2. The Child in the Midst

“And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them.” (v. 2)

Christ answers not with argument, but with an image.

The child represents:

• weakness
• dependence
• trust
• absence of ambition

St Hilary of Poitiers writes:

“The child is placed before the wise so that pride may be healed by simplicity.”
(On Matthew)

Children possess no claim to status.
They live by receiving.

Thus Christ declares:

“Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (v. 3)

Conversion is not merely moral change —
it is a change of posture before God.

3. True Greatness

“Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (v. 4)

Greatness is not ascent — but descent.

St Augustine writes:

“The higher one wishes to rise, the deeper he must lay the foundation of humility.”
(Sermons)

In the Kingdom:

• humility is exaltation
• service is authority
• littleness is glory

Christ Himself is the model —
the Son who empties Himself.

4. Receiving the Little Ones

“Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me.” (v. 5)

Christ identifies Himself with the lowly.

This anticipates His later words:

“Whatever you did to the least of these, you did to Me.” (Matt 25:40)

St Bede comments:

“He who honors the humble honors Christ, for Christ chose humility as His garment.”
(Commentary on Matthew)

The Church is measured not by strength,
but by how she treats the weak.

5. The Scandal of the Little Ones

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin…” (v. 6)

Christ’s tone changes to severity.

The “little ones” are not only children,
but all who are weak in faith.

St Jerome explains:

“Little ones are those who are young in Christ, easily wounded by example.”
(Commentary on Matthew)

To lead them into sin is a grave crime,
because it wounds Christ Himself.

The millstone image shows the horror of spiritual murder.

6. Radical Warfare Against Sin

“If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off…” (vv. 8–9)

Christ does not command mutilation,
but decisive conversion.

St Gregory the Great teaches:

“The hand is a friend, the foot is a habit; if either draws you from God, they must be severed.”
(Moralia)

Nothing is worth losing the soul.

The Kingdom demands total allegiance.

7. The Angels of the Little Ones

“Their angels always see the face of My Father.” (v. 10)

Christ reveals the dignity of the weak.

Each believer is guarded by heaven.

St Basil the Great writes:

“Beside each faithful soul stands an angel as shepherd and guardian.”
(Homilies)

Those despised on earth
are honored in heaven.

Thus the Church must never despise the small.

8. The Lost Sheep

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep…” (vv. 12–14)

God is revealed as Shepherd.

He seeks not the ninety-nine only,
but the one who strays.

St Ambrose says:

“He left the angels and came to men; He left the many and sought the lost.”
(On Repentance)

The parable reveals:

• divine initiative
• patient mercy
• joy in repentance

Salvation is not arithmetic.
It is personal.

9. The Dignity of Each Soul

“It is not the will of My Father that one of these little ones should perish.” (v. 14)

The value of one soul
outweighs the world.

St Augustine teaches:

“God loves each as if there were only one to love.”
(Sermons)

The Church exists for rescue,
not for display.

10. Correction Within the Brotherhood

“If your brother sins against you…” (v. 15)

Christ now teaches discipline.

Not public shame —
but private restoration.

St John Chrysostom explains:

“He commands secrecy, so that correction may heal and not humiliate.”
(Homilies on Matthew)

The steps reveal divine wisdom:

• personal appeal
• witness
• Church judgment

Justice is ordered to mercy.

11. Authority to Bind and Loose

“Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven…” (v. 18)

The authority given to Peter in Matthew 16
is now shared with the apostolic Church.

St Cyprian writes:

“The Church judges in God’s name, not her own.”
(On the Unity of the Church)

Discipline is not tyranny —
it is medicinal.

The aim is salvation, not exclusion.

12. Christ Present in the Church

“Where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there among them.” (v. 20)

Christ dwells in His Church
not only in heaven,
but in her decisions, prayers, and gatherings.

St Gregory the Great writes:

“He is present where charity unites and truth governs.”
(Homilies)

The Church is not a crowd —
she is a living body with Christ as head.

13. Peter’s Question on Forgiveness

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?” (v. 21)

Peter thinks generously: seven times.

Christ answers:

“Seventy times seven.”

Forgiveness must be limitless
because mercy is divine.

St Jerome comments:

“He sets no measure, for God sets none to His mercy.”
(Commentary on Matthew)

14. The Unforgiving Servant

The parable reveals:

• a debt forgiven
• mercy refused
• judgment restored

St Augustine explains:

“He who will not forgive closes the door by which he himself entered.”
(Sermons)

God’s mercy is free,
but not fruitless.

Grace must become charity.

15. The Measure of Judgment

“So My heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive…” (v. 35)

This is not cruelty —
it is truth.

Mercy rejected
becomes judgment.

St Ambrose writes:

“He loses pardon who despises pardon.”
(On Repentance)

Christ in Matthew 18

Jesus is:

• the Teacher of humility
• the Protector of the weak
• the Shepherd of the lost
• the Judge of sin
• the Healer of sinners
• the Presence in His Church
• the Fountain of mercy

Spiritual Application

Become small before God.

Guard the weak.

Hate sin, not sinners.

Seek the lost.

Correct with charity.

Forgive without counting.

Trust Christ in His Church.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
meek and humble of heart,
who set a child in the midst of the disciples
and revealed the mercy of the Father,

make us little in pride
and great in love.

Teach us to seek the lost,
to protect the weak,
to forgive without measure,
and to walk in humility before You,

until the day when all Your scattered sheep
are gathered into one fold
and we behold Your mercy face to face
in the Kingdom of heaven.

Amen.