The Community Of The King | Matthew 18

Practical Application:

The Gospel Of Matthew:

An Excellent Introduction To The Core Teachings Of Christianity.

The Logical Outline Style:

Makes It Easy To Locate Discussions Of Various Topics.

Matthew Is Especially Useful For Understanding:

MAIN QUESTION ANSWERED IN MATTHEW:

WERE THE O.T. PROPHECIES ABOUT THE MESSIAH ANSWERED IN JESUS?

Matthew’s Intended Audience Was His Fellow Jews,

Many Of Whom, Especially The Pharisees And Sadducees,

Stubbornly Refused To Accept Jesus As Their Messiah.

In Spite Of Centuries Of Reading And Studying The Old Testament:

Their Eyes Were Blinded To The Truth Of Who Jesus Was.

Jesus Rebuked Them For Their Hard Hearts.

Jesus Rebuked Them For Their Refusal To Recognize Him.

They Wanted A Messiah On Their Own Terms.

One Who Would Fulfill Their Own Desires.

One Who Would Do What They Wanted Him To Do.

CONTEXT:

IDENTITY OF THE KING: Chapter 16-17

COMMUNITY OF THE KING: Chapter 18

PERSPECTIVE OF THE KING: Chapter 19

EXAMPLE OF THE KING: Chapter 20

The Identity Of Jesus: Matthew 16 And 17.

Religious Leaders Wanted Jesus To Do Signs But Not Be A Leader.

The Disciples Wrestled With Who Jesus Was.

Peter, Inspired By The Holy Spirit, Confessed Jesus Was Christ.

Jesus Told Him Not To Tell Anyone.

And Then, The Transfiguration Demonstrated The Glory Of Jesus.

It Helped Reveal His Role As Prophet, King, And Suffering Servant.

The Disciples Initially Did Not Understand BUT Then A Voice.

A Voice From Heaven Verified The Identity Of Jesus.

Jesus Told Them To Say Nothing.

The Identity Of Jesus Was Being Revealed;

At This Point The Story Was Not To Its Climax.

Jesus Told Them To Keep It To Themselves (FOR NOW).

The People In The Community Of The King. Matthew 18.

The People In The Community Of Jesus.

The Type Of People In His Kingdom.

The Life Of People In His Kingdom.

They Are Humble, Repentant, And Forgiving.

ISSUES DEALT WITH IN THIS CHAPTER:

THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

DEALING WITH CAUSING CHILDREN TO STUMBLE.

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST WANDERING SHEEP.

DEALING WITH SIN IN THE CHURCH.

DEALING WITH FORGIVENESS IN THE CHURCH.

THE PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.

ONE POSSIBLE OUTLINE:

THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: THE LEAST IS GREATEST:

A. GREATNESS WITHIN THE CHURCH COMMUNITY:

(MATTHEW 18:1–6):

WHO IS THE GREATEST IN GOD'S KINGDOM?

WHAT IS CHILDLIKE FAITH?

B. PROTECTION WITHIN THE CHURCH COMMUNITY:

(MATTHEW 18:7–14):

STUMBLING BLOCKS: VERSES 7-11:

THE LOST SHEEP: VERSES 12-14:

WHY WOULD GOD LEAVE THE 99 TO FIND 1?

C. DISCIPLINE WITHIN THE CHURCH COMMUNITY:

(MATTHEW 18:15–20):

HOW TO HANDLE SIN IN THE CHURCH:

D. FORGIVENESS WITHIN THE CHURCH COMMUNITY:

(MATTHEW 18:21–35):

WHAT DOES FORGIVENESS LOOK LIKE IN THE CHURCH?

1. GREATNESS WITHIN THE CHURCH COMMUNITY:

MATTHEW 18:1–6:

WHO IS THE GREATEST IN GOD'S KINGDOM?

ANSWE THE GREATEST PERSON IN THE KINGDOM: JESUS OF COURSE.

AFTER THAT, RANKING THE GREATEST IS FULL OF SURPRISES.

The Disciples Came To Jesus And Asked,

Who, Then, Is The Greatest In The Kingdom Of Heaven?’

[Jesus] Called A Little Child To Him, And Placed The Child Among Them.

Unless You Change And Become Like Little Children,

You Will Never Enter The Kingdom Of Heaven.

Whoever Takes The Lowly Position Of This Child

Is The Greatest In The Kingdom Of Heaven.

WELCOME ONE SUCH CHILD IN MY NAME WELCOMES ME.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE CHILDLIKENESS FAITH?

SHOULD WE HAVE CHILDLIKE FAITH?

NOTE: CHILDLIKE FAITH NOT CHILDISH FAITH !!

Faith is The Essence Of The Christian Life.

Faith Is Presented As An Absolute Necessity.

Without Faith It Is Impossible To Please God.

Faith Is A Gift From God.

Jesus Healed A Demon-Possessed Boy.

His Disciples Were Unable To Heal.

Jesus’ Power Was Evident.

The Disciples Recognized Him As Messiah And King.

The Disciples Wanted To Know Their Roles In The Kingdom.

RATHER THAN PROVIDE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GREATEST.

HE SAID BECOME HUMBLE LIKE CHILDREN TO BE GREATEST.

John Said Others Who Were Casting Out Demons In Jesus’ Name.

Jesus Explained:

WHAT MATTERED WAS NOT WHO WAS DOING THE WORKS.

WHAT MATTERED WAS THE NAME IN WHICH THE WORKS WERE BEING DONE.

IT IS GOD WHO DESERVES THE GLORY.

IT IS NOT AN ELITE GROUP OF HIS FOLLOWERS.

JOHN AND JAMES ASKED TO SIT WITH JESUS IN HIS KINGDOM.

Jesus Replied: Are You Able To Suffer As He Was Going To Suffer.

To Sit At My Right Or Left Is Not For Me To Grant.

Jesus Replied: God The Father Decides Those Things.

GREATEST IN GOD’S KINGDOM:

IS NOT ABOUT PRESTIGE OR PRIVILEGE.

RATHER, IT INVOLVES RESPONSIBILITY AND SACRIFICE.

Whoever Wants To Be My Disciple Must:

Deny Themselves.

Take Up Their Cross.

Follow Me.

For Whoever Wants To Save Their Life Will Lose It,

But Whoever Loses Their Life For Me Will Find It.

What Good Will It Be For Someone To Gain The Whole World,

Yet Forfeit Their Soul?

TO BE GREAT IS TO SERVE SELF-SACRIFICIALLY.

Giving Oneself For The Sake Of God’s Glory.

Giving Oneself For The Benefit Of Others.

Consistent In Jesus’ Teaching:

His Kingdom Is Not Like The Kingdoms Of This World.

His Kingdom Is Not According To How We RANK Things:

With Social Status, Political Clout, And Pecking Order.

Human Judgment Will Give Way To God’s Some Day.

MANY WHO ARE FIRST WILL BE LAST,

MANY WHO ARE LAST WILL BE FIRST.

Rather Than Strive To Be The Greatest In This World,

We Should Simply Trust In Jesus And Serve Others.

Positions Of Power Are Meant To Be Positions Of Service.

Positions Of Influence Are Meant To Serve Others.

WHAT IS VALUED IN GOD’S KINGDOM ?

LOVING OTHERS THE WAY HE LOVED US—SELFLESSLY.

2. PROTECTION IN THE CHURCH COMMUNITY:

MATTHEW 18:7–14:

STUMBLING BLOCKS: VERSES 7-11:

FROM GOD'S PERSPECTIVE:

EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED BELIEVERS ARE STILL LIKE CHILDREN.

JESUS WARNS OF JUDGMENT ON THOSE WHO LEAD HIS LITTLE CHILDREN INTO SIN.

THE LOST WANDERING SHEEP: VERSES 12-14:

The Pharisees Were Disturbed How Jesus Met With Sinners.

CORRUPT JUDIASM EXALTS THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS.

Anyone Who Did Not Live Up To Their Often Arbitrary Standards Would Be Excluded From Their Fellowship.

Many Rules And Regulations Were Added To God’s Law.

No One Could Keep Them All Including Themselves.

When Jesus Came Along They Were Confused.

He Seemed To Be From God, Yet He Rebuked The Outwardly Righteous And Welcomed The Wicked.

HOW COULD THIS MAN KNOW GOD?

JESUS SPOKE A PARABLE TO EXPLAIN A SPIRITUAL TRUTH.

A Man Owns A Hundred Sheep, One Of Them Wanders Away,

Will He Not Leave The Ninety-Nine On The Hills And Go To Look For The One That Wandered Off?

One Sheep VS The Ninety-Nine That Did Not Wander Off.

In The Same Way Your Heavenly Father Is Not Willing That Any Of These Little Ones Should Perish.

GOD IS A FATHER:

He Counts His Kids.

He Rejoices That Some Are Safely IN CHRIST Prepared For Eternity.

But Some Are Missing.

The Father Sent Jesus On A Rescue Mission “To Seek And To Save The Lost”.

God Does Not Abandon The 99. They Are Already Safely In His Kingdom,

His Heart Aches For Those Not Yet In The Fold.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD:

Pursues The Lost Sheep, Woos Them, Calls To Them,

Allows Circumstances Designed To Make Them Look Up.

Allows Circumstances Causing Surrender Of Our Demands.

Causing Surrender That Carries Us Back To The Fold.

Jesus Again Refers To Himself As The Good Shepherd.

THIS IS TALKING ABOUT SALVATION:

I Have Other Sheep That Are Not Of This Sheep Pen (GENTILES).

I Must Bring Them Also. They Too Will Listen To My Voice,

And There Shall Be One Flock And One Shepherd.

My Sheep Listen To My Voice; I Know Them, And They Follow Me.

I Give Them Eternal Life, And They Shall Never Perish;

No One Will Snatch Them Out Of My Hand.

My Father, Who Has Given Them To Me, Is Greater Than All;

No One Can Snatch Them Out Of My Father’s Hand.

The 99 Are Still Important To Him.

But He Knows The Flock Is Not Complete Without The Lost Sheep.

JESUS’ MAIN POINT: THE VALUE OF INDIVIDUALS.

The Parables: The Lost Coin, The Lost Prodigal Son And The Lost Sheep.

The Theme Of God As A Pursuer Of Lost People.

We Were All Lost At One Time.

The Lord Came After Us.

If He Had Not Taken The Initiative No One Could Be Saved.

3. DISCIPLINE WITHIN THE CHURCH COMMUNITY:

MATTHEW 18:15–20:

SIN IN THE CHURCH COMMUNITY:

Principles Of Matthew 18 Provides Guidance In Handling Disputes.

Jesus Says,

If Your Brother Or Sister Sins, Go And Point Out Their Fault, Just Between The Two Of You.

If They Listen To You, You Have Won Them Over.

But If They Will Not Listen, Take One Or Two Others Along,

Every Matter May Be Established By The Testimony Of Two Or Three Witnesses.

If They Still Refuse To Listen, Tell It To The Church;

If They Refuse To Listen Even To The Church, Treat Them As You Would A Pagan Or A Tax Collector.

RESOLVING CONFLICTS BETWEEN CHRISTIANS.

First, Address The Matter With The Other Person Personally.

When Matters Are Handled Privately, Misunderstanding Can Be Addressed.

There Is Great Potential For The Other Person To Respond Positively.

A Private Meeting Helps To Avoid The Problem Of Gossip.

That Can Occur When A Matter Is Taken To Others Instead Of The Person Involved.

Second, If No Resolution After This Point.

Take One Or Two Other Believers And Meet With The Person.

So That Every Matter May Be Established By The Testimony Of Two Or Three Witnesses.

Refers To The Old Testament Law To Validate Discussion.

This Allows Others To Observe The Matter Firsthand.

This Helps Determine The Proper Course Of Action.

Third, If No Resolution After Steps One And Two.

The Matter Is To Be Taken Before The Local Church.

This Almost Guarantees Resolution When The Entire Congregation Is Involved.

Finally, If No Resolution At This Point.

Then That Person Is To Be Considered As A Pagan Or A Tax Collector.

This Simply Means To Excommunicate The Person From The Congregation.

EXAMPLE IN CORINTHIANS:

The Apostle Paul Speaks Of A Believer Who Had Been Sexually Immoral, Apparently With His Stepmother.

Rather Than Condemning The Act, The Corinthian Christians Had Tolerated The Behavior.

Paul Taught They Should Remove This Person From Their Church Family.

LATER THIS SAME PERSON TURNED FROM THIS LIFESTYLE.

Paul Advised The Corinthian Believers To Accept Him Again.

The Goal Of Discipline Is Not To Be Mean Or Cold-Hearted.

But To Condemn Sinful Behavior And Issue A Call To Change.

Paul Writes: I Beg You To Reaffirm Your Love For Him.

HANDLE DISPUTES IN LOVE WITH A GOAL OF RESTORATION.

This Style Of Conflict Resolution:

Based On A Desire For Holy Living.

Based On Love For The Person Who Has Committed Wrong.

4. FORGIVENESS IN THE CHURCH COMMUNITY:

MATTHEW 18:21–35:

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAID THAT WE SHOULD FORGIVE OTHERS SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN?

Jesus Is Speaking About Forgiving Each Other And About Character Both IN and OUT Of The Church.

Obviously This Is Just After Jesus Taught The Disciples About Church Discipline.

FIRST DISCIPLINE THEN FORGIVENESS IN THE CHURCH FAMILY.

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING AND UNMERCIFUL SERVANT?

The Bible Has Quite A Bit To Say About Forgiveness And Unforgiveness.

Well-Known Teaching On Unforgiveness Is Jesus’ Parable Of The Unmerciful Servant,

A King Forgives An Enormously Large Debt Of One Of His Servants.

BASICALLY ONE THAT COULD NEVER BE REPAID.

That Same Servant Refuses To Forgive The Small Debt Of Another Man.

The King Hears About This And Rescinds His Prior Forgiveness.

JESUS CONCLUDES BY SAYING,

This Is How My Heavenly Father Will Treat Each Of You.

Unless You Forgive Your Brother Or Sister From Your Heart.

We Will Be Forgiven As We Forgive.

FALLEN CONDITION AND GOSPEL RESPONSE

Fallen Condition Focus

By Nature, We Want To Be Seen As Better Than Others. We Want To Be Great And We Want To Be Recognized For It.

Gospel Response

The Gospel Says That Only One Is Great, And In His Kingdom Everyone Is Valued. So, We Should Value Everyone Too.

Matthew 18 Is A Mix Of Teaching And Parable.

The Teaching And Parable May Seem Inconsistent,

Yet Points To The Character And Behavior Of True Believers.