Matthew 18 reminds me of one of my closest friends. Over the years he has reminded me many times, “The first time I got drunk I was with you”. That reminder is one of the reasons that I do not drink at all today. Good or bad, we can have a long-term influence on others. Today’s chapter is a bit of an instruction manual on attitude. It begins with a recurring argument among the disciples, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Every family has had the debate about being mom’s favorite. The disciples surely thought they would rule along with Messiah; making His answer even more perplexing to them. Jesus responded, “Whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”. These men desired authority and in that society a child had no power and no rights. He continues the lesson with a warning, “If anyone causes one of these little ones— those who believe in Me— to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned”. Don’t misunderstand, He is talking about a continuing pattern of behavior, all of us have regrets. What are “the things that cause people to stumble”? It may be different for each of us. Do you know your own temptations? More importantly, do you know “the person through whom they come”? The instigators use our hot points to manipulate us. Jesus said to identify your triggers, and deal with them. He uses the expression “cut it off and throw it away” not that we should harm ourselves, but that we should be radical in dealing with the things and people that are stumbling blocks to us. What are you tripping over today?
Next we see God’s perspective on those of us that have lost our way. After we mess up, we tend to feel isolated and maybe unforgivable. Jesus taught, “If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine… to look for the one that wandered off?” He describes the delight of finding the lost lamb, concluding, “your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish”. Some of us do not immediately respond to the call. We feel like we must first “get right” before going to church. Being forgiven involves a change in attitude; we willingly give up our “freedoms” if they cause others to stumble. Jesus made a promise that when we meet together the very Spirit of God is present, “For where two or three gather in My Name, there am I with them”.
The chapter closes with a lesson on forgiveness and mercy. Peter asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?” Peter hinted that he could keep a tally, and then kick them to the curb after “Seven times?” Jesus told him, “Seventy times seven”, meaning don’t’ worry about keeping track. Instead, He told a parable of a very rich man that owed the king a large sum of money. When he could not pay, he fell on his knees and begged for patience and the king took pity on him, “canceled the debt and let him go”. This rich man then went to a servant that owed him a small sum, but when the servant begged for mercy, the rich man “had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt”. The king, hearing of this recalled the rich man, “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” Holding onto grudges will only harm us. Friend, are you struggling with forgiveness? Maybe it is time you stop focusing on those that have harmed you, and seek mercy from the King? That is when God begins to remove the stumbling blocks. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).