(no subject)
Joe Huffman
New Testament
3/7/06
Jesus’ Laws for the Church
I believe that one of the main points in Matthew chapter 18 is that Jesus is trying to show that we need to be humbled to enter the kingdom of heaven. For us to have greatness in heaven we need to have humility in our life in the presence of God. Jesus tells his disciples that we must act as little children, humbling ourselves to God to enter the kingdom of heaven. Humility goes together with pride, myself I try not to show much pride I try to show appreciation and give God all the glory in my life, which I believe is what the first part of Matthew chapter 18 is saying.
Jesus then says that anyone who causes a child who believes in Him to sin it would be better if that person killed himself or herself. Jesus says if a part of your body causes you to sin that you should cut it off, that it would be better if that one body part were in hell than your whole body. This meaning that if someone who is a believer in Jesus Christ that is having problems with sin should get rid of that problem even if it means going to that level. Also if it’s a body part that is causing you to sin you should get rid of that body part.
Jesus then tells them to not to despise the little kids or believers, He mentions little kids but He also meant believers in Him; Jesus implies that the angels watch over and serve His followers on earth. Jesus tells them that the Son of Man has come to save the nonbelievers and give them a chance to be with Him in heaven. Jesus then tells them about a story with a guy who has a hundred sheep. He tells them that one sheep goes astray and if the guy goes to seek out that one sheep and leave the other ninety nine behind, that he will rejoice when he finds that one sheep more than having the other ninety nine. The Lord watches over the little ones referring to children and believers in Him and that God cares for them even if they aren’t serving Him.
Jesus then tells his disciples them about if your brother sins against you, you should go tell him about it between you and him alone. And if he does not hear you for you to tell two to three other fellow believers and have them be there as witnesses. And if he still does not hear to tell the church and if he does not listen to the church than he is to be cut off from fellowship. He also tells them if two or more in a church ask from the Lord about their erring brother it shall be granted. He also says for where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them Matthew 18:20.
The last of what Jesus tells his disciples in this chapter deals with how many times should one forgive his brother for sinning. Jesus gives them a number but what He was implying that we should always be willing to forgive them. Jesus tells them a story about a king who had fellow servants and one owed him a large sum of money the king was going to have the servant and his family sold, but the servant begged to the king that he would pay him to have patience and the king forgave his debt. Later that servant found a fellow servant who owed him money and that servant who was forgiven took the fellow servant by the throat and ordered him to pay the debt. The fellow servant begged just as the forgiven servant did yet the forgiven servant threw him in prison. Other servants found out and told the king the king was angry and yelled at the forgiven servant saying why could you not forgive your fellow servant when I forgave you. The point of this is that God will do the same to you if you don’t forgive your fellow brother; for God forgives him you should too.
New Testament
3/7/06
Jesus’ Laws for the Church
I believe that one of the main points in Matthew chapter 18 is that Jesus is trying to show that we need to be humbled to enter the kingdom of heaven. For us to have greatness in heaven we need to have humility in our life in the presence of God. Jesus tells his disciples that we must act as little children, humbling ourselves to God to enter the kingdom of heaven. Humility goes together with pride, myself I try not to show much pride I try to show appreciation and give God all the glory in my life, which I believe is what the first part of Matthew chapter 18 is saying.
Jesus then says that anyone who causes a child who believes in Him to sin it would be better if that person killed himself or herself. Jesus says if a part of your body causes you to sin that you should cut it off, that it would be better if that one body part were in hell than your whole body. This meaning that if someone who is a believer in Jesus Christ that is having problems with sin should get rid of that problem even if it means going to that level. Also if it’s a body part that is causing you to sin you should get rid of that body part.
Jesus then tells them to not to despise the little kids or believers, He mentions little kids but He also meant believers in Him; Jesus implies that the angels watch over and serve His followers on earth. Jesus tells them that the Son of Man has come to save the nonbelievers and give them a chance to be with Him in heaven. Jesus then tells them about a story with a guy who has a hundred sheep. He tells them that one sheep goes astray and if the guy goes to seek out that one sheep and leave the other ninety nine behind, that he will rejoice when he finds that one sheep more than having the other ninety nine. The Lord watches over the little ones referring to children and believers in Him and that God cares for them even if they aren’t serving Him.
Jesus then tells his disciples them about if your brother sins against you, you should go tell him about it between you and him alone. And if he does not hear you for you to tell two to three other fellow believers and have them be there as witnesses. And if he still does not hear to tell the church and if he does not listen to the church than he is to be cut off from fellowship. He also tells them if two or more in a church ask from the Lord about their erring brother it shall be granted. He also says for where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them Matthew 18:20.
The last of what Jesus tells his disciples in this chapter deals with how many times should one forgive his brother for sinning. Jesus gives them a number but what He was implying that we should always be willing to forgive them. Jesus tells them a story about a king who had fellow servants and one owed him a large sum of money the king was going to have the servant and his family sold, but the servant begged to the king that he would pay him to have patience and the king forgave his debt. Later that servant found a fellow servant who owed him money and that servant who was forgiven took the fellow servant by the throat and ordered him to pay the debt. The fellow servant begged just as the forgiven servant did yet the forgiven servant threw him in prison. Other servants found out and told the king the king was angry and yelled at the forgiven servant saying why could you not forgive your fellow servant when I forgave you. The point of this is that God will do the same to you if you don’t forgive your fellow brother; for God forgives him you should too.