MATTHEW (2)

Matthew 18:1-20

In Matthew 17, Jesus revealed His divine glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. But immediately after, He descended into a world obsessed with power, status, and winning. Today’s culture mirrors this obsession—we’re constantly climbing social media hierarchies, competing for influence, protecting our reputations, and keeping score of who owes us what. We live in an age of viral outrage, canceled relationships, and grudges that last lifetimes.

Jesus now shifts His focus from displaying His own majesty to teaching His disciples how to live together as His kingdom community. He asks a question that cuts against everything our culture celebrates: Who is truly great? The answer shocks them then and shocks us now. Kingdom greatness has nothing to do with followers, titles, or winning arguments—it has everything to do with humility, protecting the vulnerable, and radical forgiveness. Matthew 18 is Jesus’ direct challenge to the competitive, status-driven, unforgiving spirit of the world.

Who Is The Greatest Matthew 18:1-9

Matthew 18:1–9 CSB

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a small child and had him stand among them. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offense comes. 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire.

1 Peter 5:5–6 CSB

5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time,

Proverbs 22:3 CSB

3 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover, but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.

Galatians 6:1 CSB

1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.

STOP competing for status! Greatness in God’s kingdom means becoming; Like a little child Humbling yourself Protecting the vulnerable Rid the trash

Examine your leadership: Are you serving those beneath you, or seeking recognition?

Stop climbing the ladder of status and influence.

Measure your success by how you treat the least, not by your title or position.

Examine your influence on others—are you causing anyone to stumble in their faith?

Take radical action to remove sin from your own life that might harm the community.

Your responsibility extends beyond yourself to protecting those vulnerable to your influence.

The Parable Of The Lost Sheep

Matthew 18:10–14 CSB

10 “See to it that you don’t despise one of these little ones, because I tell you that in heaven their angels continually view the face of my Father in heaven. 12 What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

Ezekiel 34:11–16 CSB

11 “ ‘For this is what the Lord God says: See, I myself will search for my flock and look for them. 12 As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and total darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own soil. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will tend them in good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will tend my flock and let them lie down. This is the declaration of the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak, but I will destroy the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice.

James 5:19–20 CSB

19 My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let that person know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

GOD pursues the wandering! So SHOULD WE No one is too lost for GOD

Don’t write people off as beyond recovery.

Invest time and effort in pursuing those who have drifted away from faith or community.

Reflect the Father’s relentless love for the strayed.

Restoring A Brother

Matthew 18:15–20 CSB

15 “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. 17 If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

Galatians 6:1–2 CSB

1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

James 5:19–20 CSB

19 My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let that person know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Colossians 3:12–14 CSB

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Confront sin privately 1st Win your brother back Not win an argument

When someone wrongs you, go to them privately—not to shame them, but to restore them.

Follow Christ’s process: private conversation, then witnesses if needed, then church involvement only as a last resort.

Your goal is always to win your brother or sister back

Pursue Restore Humble Never Cancel

Does your church prioritize the vulnerable or mirror the world’s status-seeking?

When someone sins, do you seek to restore them or condemn them?

Are you becoming a stumbling block or a restorer?