Matthew 17b-18

A Boy Is Healed (17:14-21)

A. After Jesus went down from the Mount of Transfiguration, He was greeted by a multitude with a father asking for a cure for his demoniac
son. The terrible effects of the demon to the son were epilepsy, insanity as he went to fire and water. The 9 other apostles who were left on
the foot of the mountain had already tried to cure the demoniac but were unable.
1. Jesus first rebuked the disciples because of their lack of faith. Our Lord could not tolerate the lack of faith because faith is the
ingredient for the apostles to work miracles.
2. Then Jesus turned to the demon and at once was casted out.
B. The reason why the disciples failed to cast out the demon from the child was the weakness of faith. So our Lord encouraged the apostles
that if they have faith as a mustard seed they would be able to perform miracles. He added that this kind of demon would be cast out only
by prayer and fasting because these two acts intensify one’s faith.

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection (17:22-23)

A. A second time our Lord predicted His coming agony. He added another detail to what will happen at that time—that He would be betrayed.
It seems that Jesus was conditioning His apostles for this coming event. But the apostles, as their natural affection declared, became
sorrowful of that prediction.

Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes (17:24-27)

A. This story about paying the temple tax is only recorded by Matthew the tax collector and not in any other
gospel accounts.
1. The Law of Moses required from every male of 20 years and upward the payment of a tax of half a
shekel for the support of the temple and its worship expenses (Exo. 30:11-16). This tax was collected
St. Peter’s Fish or
annually. Half shekel at that time was equal to 2 days wage of an ordinary worker. Tilapia Galilea
2. Jesus told Peter that He do not have the responsibility to pay temple tax. If the sons of kings are free from
the payment of tax, Jesus, the Son of God, was free from God’s tax.
a. He had the right not to pay the tax but—but lest they be misunderstood, and be accused that He
was teaching people not to pay tax to God He still pay.
b. Furthermore, Peter needed to learn that a disciple does not insist on his rights, if by doing so, he
hurts his Master’s cause. For the Lord’s cause, one should forgo his rights (Rom. 14:21; 1 Cor. 8:9).

Jerusalem Shekel
Who Is the Greatest? (18:1-5)
A. The disciples of our Lord had a wrong idea about the kingdom. They thought that it would be a physical kingdom where great people would
be recognized. It could be that this question was brought because of Jesus’ promise to Peter (Matt. 16:19) or by taking only Peter, James
and John up on the mountain with Him (Matt. 7:1)
B. To answer the question, Jesus used a living visual aid—a little child. The little child was used as their model because of its freedom from
self-seeking ambition. Jesus pointed that the humblest shall be the greatest because they will be the most like Jesus.
1. It exposes the error of the doctrine Total Hereditary Depravity. It means that a baby is born “totally depraved” because of Adam’s sin.
Jesus says that a child is ready for the kingdom and requires no ceremony to make him so.

Jesus Warns of Offenses (18:6-9)

A. Offense or stumble means to lead one to sin, to place in his path temptations to do wrong. It is a serious sin
to cause the feeblest Christian will be regarded as a serious sin. It is better for him to have a millstone hung
and to be cast into the sea than to be cast into the eternal fire.
B. And if our own hand or foot causes us to sin, the advice is to have a spiritual surgery. Hand and foot
represents that which is very dear to us but causes us to sin. Man should give up the most cherished
relationship, indulgence, business, if such hinders spiritual life. It is better to suffer the greatest loss than to
be eternally lost.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep (18:10-14) Millstone rolled by donkey

A. One reason why we should take care not to cause offense to other followers of Jesus is because of their angels. The idea of guardian angel
is taken from v.10.
1. The angels are “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14).
2. The general ministration of the angels includes ministration to certain individuals. Beyond this truths are speculations.
B. V.11 is an example of interpolation. The best manuscripts do not have this particular passage. It is evident that copied only from Lk 19:10.
C. The main point of the Parable of the Lost Sheep is God’s concern to win back those who have left the church.

Dealing with a Sinning Brother (18:15-20)

A. On the Sermon on the Mount our Lord declared that the offender should go to the offended (Matt. 5:23-24) and this time the offended
should go the offender (v.15). Jesus shows us steps in dealing with a sinning brother:
1. Step 1, tell him his faults between you and him alone.
a. It means that one should not maximize or publicize the sin of a brother but rather he should minimize and localize it.
b. A person who would do this must do it in the spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6:1).
2. Step 2, if step 1 fails bring two or three witnesses.
a. The need for two or three witnesses is emphasized both in the O.T. and in the N.T.
b. The others may add insights and to facilitate reconciliation and not just to listen only.
3. Step 3, if step 2 still fails tell it to the church.
a. Jesus did not specify how we are to “tell it to the church.” Elders or leaders of the congregation will determine ways to handle it.
4. Step 4, if step 3 fails resort to disfellowship.
B. The idea of binding and loosing in v.18 shows that whatever the church will do to the sinful brother would be accepted in heaven, that is, if
they will follow the N.T. law regarding disfellowship.
C. The two or three who is gathered in Jesus’ name are the people who came together in agreement of what must be done to a sinning
brother. They are to take this matter to God, and He will answer them.

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (18:21-35)

A. Peter wanted to know how often he must forgive someone. The rabbis taught that a person must forgive another up to 3 times that if he
sins the fourth time, one do not need to forgive him. Peter went beyond this oral law by stating up to 7 times. But Jesus answer is 70 x 7.
It is a play of words which means that forgiveness should have no limits.
B. Then our Lord related a parable which deals about forgiveness.
1. Some analogies of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.
a. The king is God.
b. The settling of accounts is God’s call through the gospel.
c. The servant with large debt is the sinner.
d. The king’s forgiveness shows God’s grace.
e. The fellow servant with small debt is the one who sinned against his brother.
f. The torturers represent hell.
2. It shows that the forgiveness of man must be analogous to the forgiveness of God.
Denarius