54 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus,.... When the receivers of the half shekel had spoke to Peter about his master's paying it, and Christ and he had conversed about it, by whose orders he had taken up a fish out of the sea, and from it a piece of money, which he had paid for them both; just at this time came the other eleven disciples...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The gospels are, in short, a record of what Jesus began both to do and to teach. In the foregoing chapter, we had an account of his doings, in this, of his teachings; probably, not all at the same time, in a continued discourse, but at several times, upon divers occasions, here put together, as near akin. We have here, I. Instructions concerning...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? The question we have sometimes heard asked in other forms, “Which is the highest office; which form of service shall have the greatest honour?” As if we were courtiers and were to take our positions according to precedent.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Jesus called a little child unto him,.... One, very likely, that was in the house, and might belong to the master of it, and which was big enough to come to him at his call. Some have thought that this was Ignatius the martyr, but without any foundation. His own words, in his epistle to the church at Smyrna (y), can give no countenance to it;...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them. They all wondered what he was going to do. The little child was no doubt pleased to find itself in such happy company.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And said, verily I say unto you,.... You may take it for a certain truth, and what may be depended upon, that except ye be converted or turned; from that gross notion of a temporal kingdom, and of enjoying great grandeur, and outward felicity in this world; and from all your vain views of honour, wealth, and riches, and become as little children:...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And said, Verily I say unto you, “And said Verily I say unto you” — to you, men or women, who think no small things of yourselves, and are wanting to know which is greatest, implying that you, each one, think yourself pretty good as it is. Mat_18:3. Except ye converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven....
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself,.... Whoever shall entertain mean thoughts of himself, and prefer others to himself, shall behave in a modest humble manner, not affecting dominion over others, or treating his brethren and Christians in a haughty and supercilious manner, with scorn and contempt; but condescend to those of the lowest state,...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The lower down, the higher up. In a certain sense the way to heaven is downward in our own esteem certainly. “He must increase; I must decrease.” And when that straight-backed letter “I,” which often becomes so prominent, vanishes...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And whoso shall receive one such little child,.... Which is to be understood, not literally but metaphorically; meaning not such an one in age, but one, as the Syriac renders it, איך טליא דנא, "that is as this child": like unto it for modesty and humility; one, that is as that, free from pride, ambition, and envy. Christ's sense is, that whoever...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. The humblest and the least in the family of divine love, if received brings with that reception the same blessing as the reception of Christ.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones,.... Not in age, but are little and mean in their own eyes, and contemptible in the esteem of the world; though otherwise men of great grace, gifts, and usefulness; who may be said to be offended, when they are not received; their persons despised, their ministry rejected, and they reproached and...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, It does not mean put him out of temper by his taking his silly offence but shall cause him to sin, shall make him stumble, shall scandalize him —whosoever shall do that. Mat_18:6. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Woe unto the world because of offences!.... By which are meant, not sins, as sometimes, but rather temptations to sin; and so the Ethiopic version renders this word by "temptation" in every clause, as the Arabic does in the next; and may design all the contempt and reproach cast upon the doctrines, ordinances, and people of Christ, and all those...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
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! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: Get rid of that which is most useful to you, most necessary to you, rather than be led astray by it, and made to sin — for
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Ver. 8, 9. Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot,.... The same words are repeated here on occasion of offences, as are spoken by Christ, Matthew 5:29 on account of unchaste looks, desires and lusts: giving offence to Christ's disciples, or endeavouring, by any means whatever, to cause them to stumble and fall, is equally gratifying the flesh, and no...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
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. Remember that is the word of Jesus — “everlasting fire” — not the word of some of those coarse, cruel theologians that you hear a great deal about now-a-days, but the word of Jesus Christ, the Master himself. You...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
[See comments on Matthew 18:8].
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And if thine eye offend thee, So needful to thy pleasure, and to thy knowledge, and to thy guidance yet if it make thee sin, Mat_18:9. 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 hellfire. Better to be but a maimed believer than to be an accomplished...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones,.... That is, one of those little ones that believed in Christ; for he is not speaking of infants in age, but of those who might be compared to such, for their humility and modesty; who were little in their own eyes, and mean and despicable in the eyes of the world, as well as appeared but...