Lectionary Calendar

Saturday, December 2nd, 2023
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34

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Bible Commentaries
Matthew 18

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Verses 1-6

The disciples argue about who would be the greatest

Matthew 18:1-6	Mark 9:33-41	Luke 9:46-50
Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?	Mark 9:33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?	Luke 9:46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

Mark 9:34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who [should be] the greatest. Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, [the same] shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Matthew 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

Mark 9:36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Luke 9:47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,

Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Mark 9:37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

Luke 9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

The disciples forbid another to use Jesus’ name

Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.	Luke 9:49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
Mark 9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.	Luke 9:50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not:
Mark 9:40 For he that is not against us is on our part.	for he that is not against us is for us.
	End Luke’s Account

Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of [these] little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

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Verses 7-9

Jesus warns against temptation

Matthew 18:7-9

Mark 9:43-50

Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Matthew 18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast [them] from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.		Mark 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

	Mark 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
	Mark 9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
	Mark 9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Matthew 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.	Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
	Mark 9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Parable of the salt	Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?	Mark 9:50 Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it?	Luke 14:34 Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.	Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.	Luke 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; [but] men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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Bibliographical Information
"Commentary on Matthew 18". "The Gospels Compared". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/tgc/matthew-18.html. 2014.

Bible CommentariesMatthew 18

The Gospels ComparedGospels Compared

Verses 1-6

Verses 7-9

Bible Commentaries
Matthew 18