விரிவுரை தற்போது ஆங்கிலத்தில் மட்டுமே கிடைக்கிறது. தமிழ் மொழிபெயர்ப்பு நடைபெறுகிறது.
Matthew 18 — Forgive Until Seventy Times Seven
Who is greatest? Jesus sets a child in their midst — whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Woe to offenses; better a millstone. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine. Sin between brothers — go and tell him his fault alone; then two or three witnesses; then the church. Where two or three are gathered. Peter — how oft shall I forgive? Until seventy times seven. The unmerciful servant — forgiven much, refusing to forgive little, delivered to the tormentors.
“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
- v.1-6 The child and the kingdom's greatness
- v.7-14 Woes to offenses; the shepherd seeks the lost
- v.15-20 Brotherly correction; gathered in His name
- v.21-35 Forgive seventy times seven; the unmerciful servant
In my name. The qualifier matters. Gatherings in His name — for His honor, by His authority, under His Word — have His presence. Casual meetings labeled Christian do not automatically qualify.
There am I. The most encouraging promise for small groups. The two or three who gather rightly are not less endowed than the multitude; the same Christ is present.
A number meant to defeat counting. Forgiveness is not to be calibrated. The Christian does not keep score, because the One who forgave him does not.
Peter's seven was already generous by rabbinic standards; Christ's answer dwarfs it. The math is meant to give up on the math.
The unmerciful servant has been forgiven millions; he refuses to forgive a few dollars. The parable's sting is in the disproportion. Whatever your brother owes you, it is small compared to what you owed God.
Even as I had pity on thee. The pattern is grace received producing grace given. Where forgiveness flows in but not out, something has not been understood.
Verse 22 ends Christian score-keeping. If you have been tallying offenses against you, you have already lost the spirit of the kingdom. Pick the relationship where the count is highest and burn the ledger. The grace you have received from God is too large for the bookkeeping you have been doing on your neighbor.
Matthew 18 is the Lord shaping His community — humble, watchful for the lost, careful in correction, lavish in forgiveness, sure of His presence. The pattern flows from Him. He humbled Himself; He sought the lost; He carries the church in His midst; He forgave a debt no servant could pay. The chapter is the family He builds in His own image.
Conversion is required for entry; child-likeness is the form it takes. Adults must be brought to a posture they outgrew — small, dependent, teachable.
Christianity does not reward the climb to maturity in the world's sense. It reverses it. The kingdom's entry is downward — toward simplicity and trust.