Matthew 18

Jesus uses a child to show the disciples that only a childlike (trustful) approach will allow them to see the great things God is doing right in front of their noses. The Kingdom of Heaven is not a place but life as God intends, life that God will usher in through faithful, trusting people. Jesus uses hyperbole (over statement for emphasis) to say that we should let nothing get in the way of a trustful relationship with God.

 

The Parable of the Lost Sheep shows that God cares about numbers. Every person is important to him.

 

Jesus then points out how to deal with tensions and struggles. Christians should work it out between themselves. Only after trying that, can we seek out others. How often do we take our case immediately to a third party and never face the person we are having trouble with? Again, Jesus repeats that we (the Church) has the power to bind up people and to free them. Which will we choose?

 

Peter shows off that he is "getting it." Typically, a Jew would forgive 3 times and the write off the person. Peter more than doubles his willingness to forgive and tells Jesus that he would forgive seven times. To Peter's surprise, Jesus basically tells him that you can never stop forgiving. He then tells a story about how everyone needs to be forgiving because we all have debts to each other. No one is clean. And God does not like it when we are unforgiving.