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  2. Sat: Job 20-23
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Monday · Week 7
The Gospels & Acts

Matthew 18-19

Week 7 · about 8 min
  1. Tue: Isaiah 17-19
  2. Wed: Judges 5-8
  3. Thu: 1 Corinthians 1-4

Jesus teaches about humility, lost sheep, and forgiveness. Then he talks with a rich young man who walks away sad.

Seventy Times Seven

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:21-22 (KJV)

Peter thought forgiving someone seven times was generous. Jesus multiplies it until counting stops making sense. Then he tells a story. A servant owes his king ten thousand talents, more than he could earn in many lifetimes, and the king cancels the whole debt. The same servant goes out, finds a man who owes him “an hundred pence,” about a hundred days’ wages, and chokes him. The point is the size of what we’ve been forgiven. Compared to that, what others owe us is small. In chapter 19 the disciples try to shoo away children, and Jesus welcomes them. A rich man asks how to have eternal life, and he leaves sad because he has great possessions.

Reflect: Who are you still keeping count with?

Matthew 18

1In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,

3and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me:

6But whoso shall cause one of these little ones which believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.

7Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!

8And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.

9And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.

10See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

12How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?

13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.

14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

15And if thy brother sin against thee, go, shew him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.

17And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.

18Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21Then came Peter, and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?

22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.

23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would make a reckoning with his servants.

24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25But forasmuch as he had not wherewith to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

28But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.

29So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.

30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.

31So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me:

33shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?

34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due.

35So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.

Matthew 19

1And it came to pass when Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judaea beyond Jordan;

2and great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

3And there came unto him Pharisees, tempting him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he which made them from the beginning made them male and female,

5and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the twain shall become one flesh?

6So that they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away?

8He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so.

9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.

10The disciples say unto him, If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.

11But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, but they to whom it is given.

12For there are eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are eunuchs, which were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, which made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should lay his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

14But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

15And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

16And behold, one came to him and said, Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments.

18He saith unto him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I observed: what lack I yet?

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

22But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions.

23And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25And when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly, saying, Who then can be saved?

26And Jesus looking upon them said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee; what then shall we have?

28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29And every one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.

30But many shall be last that are first; and first that are last.

Revised Version (RV). Revised Version (RV), 1885, public domain.