Matthew 18: Others First (7)
Pray Psalm 146.1, 2.
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the LORD;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Sing Psalm 146.1, 2, 10.
Hallelujah! What a Savior: Man of Sorrows
Praise the LORD, my soul, give praise! While I live, His Name I’ll raise!
And exalt Him all my days—God forever reigns in Zion!
Read and meditate on Matthew 18.1-35.
Prepare.
1. What kind of relationships should we pursue in the Kingdom of God?
2. What should the Christian’s attitude be toward sin?
Meditate.
We do not live the Christian life alone, or even merely for ourselves. We are fellow-citizens with other believers, and we have a responsibility for one another, to help each other live as citizens of the Kingdom not of this world.
That means humility, honesty, consideration of others, caring and compassion, and a readiness to teach, encourage, and forgive. The more we cultivate and practice these attitudes and duties, the more the Spirit works within us to transform us into the image of Jesus, and to flow living waters of grace to others (Jn. 7.37-39).
It’s natural for us to think about ourselves first—our interests, needs, convenience, and desires. But in the Kingdom, where grace is the currency by which we spend and are spent for one another, we must be constantly thinking about others, so that we do not cause them to stumble, or wander around in sin and lostness, or fail to gain the binding and loosing benefits of the Word of God.
This is why the writer of Hebrews tells us to “consider” how to encourage one another to love and good works (Heb. 10.24). We have to think about one another, pray for one another, look for opportunities to serve and teach one another, and bear one another’s burdens. The mindset we need is the mindset of Jesus, Who did not look on His own interests, but took up our concerns and needs, and brought us to the glory and joy of eternal life (Phil. 2.1-11).
Such relationships are part of what makes the Kingdom of God Good News.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The Kingdom of God is Good News for so many reasons!
Forgiveness frees us from judgment: from God; and upon others.
Peter, before being fully part of the Kingdom of God—before he was filled with the Holy Spirit—was troubled by a judgmental spirit towards others. He wanted to keep tabs on the forgiveness quota he was required to expend.
“Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?
Up to seven times?’” (Matt. 18.21). Quite generous—that seven—considering his attitude.
But what he was not understanding was the heavy weight of his own sin.
Those sins that made Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection necessary.
Peter must’ve begun to understand its gravity when he denied knowing Jesus. Three times.
“I do not know what you are saying.”
“I do not know the Man!”
“I do not know the Man!” (Matt. 26.70, 72, 74)
But Jesus graciously gave him the opportunity to be forgiven three times.
“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” (Jn. 21.15, 16, 17)
In forgiveness, Jesus said to him,
“Feed My lambs.”
“Tend My sheep.”
“Feed My sheep” (Jn. 21.15, 16, 17).
And Jesus finished with this forgiving inclusion: “Follow Me” (Jn. 21.19).
We know that we have sinned against God.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3.23).
We know that we have been promised forgiveness.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1.9).
And we know that we must forgive others.
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt. 6.12).
“So My heavenly Father also will do to you [Matt. 18.34]
if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses” (Matt. 18.35).
Without God’s forgiveness we are lost eternally.
With His forgiveness we are found and saved eternally.
Thus, we treat others in the same way we are treated by God.
It is the way of Kingdom life and work.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for the shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 6.7, 9).
Forgiveness is Good News in the Kingdom of God—seventy times seven (Matt. 18.22).
Reflect.
1. Why is forgiveness such an important part of Christian faith?
2. What can keep us from granting forgiveness to others? How can we overcome that?
3. What else in this chapter (18) spoke to you about the kind of character we should be seeking?
We do not forgive our offending brother aright, if we do not forgive from the heart. Yet this is not enough; we must seek the welfare even of those who offend us. How justly will those be condemned, who, though they bear the Christian name, persist in unmerciful treatment of their brethren! Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 18.21-35
Pray Psalm 146.3-10.
Pray that the Lord will use you today to extend His grace to others, to encourage, assist, edify, or instruct them in His lovingkindness.
Sing Psalm 146.3-10.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!: Man of Sorrows
Trust we not in prince or man, no salvation’s in their hand;
death shall take them, breath and plans—God forever reigns in Zion!
Blessed are they whose hope resides in the LORD, Christ at His side.
By Him heav’n and earth abide—God forever reigns in Zion!
He is faithful evermore; He gives justice to the poor,
feeds the hungry from His store—God forever reigns in Zion!
Jesus sets the pris’ner free, heals blind eyes that they may see,
lifts those burdened painfully—God forever reigns in Zion!
He the righteous loves the best; wand’rers in His grace are blessed;
needy ones in Him find rest—God forever reigns in Zion!
But the wicked who defame His eternal blessèd Name,
them He brings to ruin and shame—God forever reigns in Zion!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues our readings from the book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is working through a study of the role of reason in the life of faith. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
