Matthew 18
One of our Union college profs had a message for us today at workers meeting from Matthew 18. It was basically a relational message that he offered. He tied the whole chapter together, something I've been toying with for a while now. In the English translations, it seems a bit of a challenge to see the story about causing a child to stumble and then dealing with a brother or sister as related passages. He reminded us that the Greek is not paragraphed like the English versions and that the key word was scandalous. Scandalous meaning, hurting or destroying another persons faith. And the finish had to do with how many times should we forgive a person who has been scandalous.
I think Matthew 18 is a gold mine and we have just begun to see how brilliant it truly is. Read it some more, slowly and with an eye toward redemption and reconciliation. See if it doesn't affect you deeply and help to improve your relationships.
I think Matthew 18 is a gold mine and we have just begun to see how brilliant it truly is. Read it some more, slowly and with an eye toward redemption and reconciliation. See if it doesn't affect you deeply and help to improve your relationships.
Thanks for this, Marty. I have also been convinced for some time we need to read Matt 18 as a unit.
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There seems to a fair amount of debate as to the sections in this piece of scripture. My commentaries lean toward three pericopes. Of course, some of those commentaries are more comfortable with various forms of literary criticism than I might be.
Either Jesus placed these texts in alignment as He conducted His ministry, or Matthew collated them for a reason(s)which he experienced while following Christ, or as some commentators declare, later redactors put them together for whatever reason(s).
I tend to think that Matthew knew that these texts belonged together because he had a deep experience of relational theology with Christ. In some ways, Matthew was the lowest class person in Christ's discipleship class. High class tax collector made him about as hated as any of the disciples, if not the worst of them. So his relationship with Christ was extraordinary and perhaps more meaningful than the other disciples for that reason.
All that to say that Matthew 18, which is largely unique to Matthew's Gospel is among other things a key set of stories and scriptures focusing on relational health. I find it very cohesive, not disjointed or disconnected at all. But the argument continues on, doesn't it.
Regardless, the chapter is filled with wisdom and power and reveals a deep window into God's character on several levels as well as a guide to our character and relationships.
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