Ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ προσῆλθον οἱ μαθηταὶ τῷ Ἰησοῦ λέγοντες· Τίς ἄρα μείζων ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν;
Matthew 18:2
καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος παιδίον ἔστησεν αὐτὸ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν
Matthew 18:3
καὶ εἶπεν· Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐὰν μὴ στραφῆτε καὶ γένησθε ὡς τὰ παιδία, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.
Matthew 18:4
ὅστις οὖν ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ὡς τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ μείζων ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν·
Matthew 18:5
καὶ ὃς ἐὰν δέξηται ἓν παιδίον τοιοῦτο ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου, ἐμὲ δέχεται.
Matthew 18:6
Ὃς δ’ ἂν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ, συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικὸς εἰς τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης.
Matthew 18:7
οὐαὶ τῷ κόσμῳ ἀπὸ τῶν σκανδάλων· ἀνάγκη γὰρ ἐλθεῖν τὰ σκάνδαλα, πλὴν οὐαὶ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ δι’ οὗ τὸ σκάνδαλον ἔρχεται.
Matthew 18:8
Εἰ δὲ ἡ χείρ σου ἢ ὁ πούς σου σκανδαλίζει σε, ἔκκοψον αὐτὸν καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ· καλόν σοί ἐστιν εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ζωὴν κυλλὸν ἢ χωλόν, ἢ δύο χεῖρας ἢ δύο πόδας ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον.
Matthew 18:9
καὶ εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζει σε, ἔξελε αὐτὸν καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ· καλόν σοί ἐστιν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν, ἢ δύο ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τὴν γέενναν τοῦ πυρός.
Matthew 18:10
Ὁρᾶτε μὴ καταφρονήσητε ἑνὸς τῶν μικρῶν τούτων, λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτῶν ἐν οὐρανοῖς διὰ παντὸς βλέπουσι τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς.
Matthew 18:11 —
Matthew 18:12
τί ὑμῖν δοκεῖ; ἐὰν γένηταί τινι ἀνθρώπῳ ἑκατὸν πρόβατα καὶ πλανηθῇ ἓν ἐξ αὐτῶν, οὐχὶ ἀφήσει τὰ ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη καὶ πορευθεὶς ζητεῖ τὸ πλανώμενον;
Matthew 18:13
καὶ ἐὰν γένηται εὑρεῖν αὐτό, ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι χαίρει ἐπ’ αὐτῷ μᾶλλον ἢ ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα τοῖς μὴ πεπλανημένοις.
Matthew 18:14
οὕτως οὐκ ἔστιν θέλημα ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἵνα ἀπόληται ἓν τῶν μικρῶν τούτων.
Matthew 18:15
Ἐὰν δὲ ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σὲ ὁ ἀδελφός σου, ὕπαγε ἔλεγξον αὐτὸν μεταξὺ σοῦ καὶ αὐτοῦ μόνου. ἐάν σου ἀκούσῃ, ἐκέρδησας τὸν ἀδελφόν σου·
Now if your brother might sin against you, go and correct him between you and him alone. If he might hear you, you have gained your brother.
Paraphrase: Another issue that Jesus taught us about is conflict resolution. He said to us on several occasions; if one of your fellow-believers sins against you or offends you in some way, take the time to go and speak with him directly about what happened. Do all you can to lovingly and humbly convince him of his error. (Romans 12:18) Be sure that you do this alone, and whatever you do, don’t spread around all kinds of rumors and gossip about what this man has done; keep it between the two of you. Just think; if you should succeed and your brother reconciles with you, you will have regained his friendship and both of you will be the better for it. This kind of reconciliation should be your goal all along. You’re not trying to gain a victory over your brother; you’re trying to restore the friendship that once existed.
Comments:
Both ἐάνs introduce third class conditions, giving the nuance that it is uncertain if the brother will hear you and repent.
Matthew 18:16
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀκούσῃ, παράλαβε μετὰ σοῦ ἔτι ἕνα ἢ δύο, ἵνα ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων ἢ τριῶν σταθῇ πᾶν ῥῆμα·
But if he might not hear, take with you again one or two, in order that by the mouth of two witnesses or three, every word might be confirmed.
Paraphrase: But if sadly your brother refuses to work with you and has no interest in reconciliation, then you must move to the next step of fraternal correction. You should find one or two reliable, faithful people who can serve as witnesses. The next time you meet with your brother, take these witnesses with you so that every word which is spoken back and forth can be confirmed by these witnesses. (2 Corinthians 13:1–2; 1 Timothy 5:19–20) Now it will no longer be your word against his; the witnesses can confirm the truth of what you claim happened at this meeting.
Comments:
Matthew 18:17
ἐὰν δὲ παρακούσῃ αὐτῶν, εἰπὸν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ τῆς ἐκκλησίας παρακούσῃ, ἔστω σοι ὥσπερ ὁ ἐθνικὸς καὶ ὁ τελώνης.
But if he might not pay any attention to them, speak to the church, and if he will not pay any attention even to the church, let him be to you as a gentile and a tax-collector
Paraphrase: You will need the testimony of these witnesses if you have to proceed to the third step. If after all this, your brother still refuses to work for reconciliation, then you have no other option but to lay it before the elders of the church. The witnesses can confirm that what you allege is true. If the offending brother refuses to listen even to the elders, then they must proceed to excommunication and deliver him over to Satan. (1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:20) From this point forward, you should no longer receive him into your circle of friends or have the kind of familiarity with him as you did previously. He must now be treated as an unbeliever and as an object for your prayer and evangelism.
Comments:
Matthew 18:18
ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὅσα ἐὰν δήσητε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔσται δεδεμένα ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ὅσα ἐὰν λύσητε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔσται λελυμένα ἐν οὐρανῷ.
Verily I say to you, whatever you might bind on earth, it will have been bound in heaven and whatever you might loose on earth, it will have been loosed in heaven.
Paraphrase: Be sure of this; whatever decision your assembly makes regarding the removal of an unrepentant sinner from your midst and giving him over to Satan, that decision will be ratified in heaven. You can consider it already done. This person is separated from Christ, excluded from citizenship in the kingdom of God, is no participant in the covenant of promise, and is without hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2:12) However, should this person repent and (God be praised!) desire to return to the church and you release him from Satan’s grasp (1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:20), then know for certain that also this decision is seconded in heaven. I will surely forgive this person all his wickedness and cleanse him in the purifying waters of the Holy Spirit. (1 John 1:9)
Comments:
Note the periphrastic.
Matthew 18:19
Πάλιν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐὰν δύο συμφωνήσωσιν ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς περὶ παντὸς πράγματος οὗ ἐὰν αἰτήσωνται, γενήσεται αὐτοῖς παρὰ τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς.
Matthew 18:20
οὗ γάρ εἰσιν δύο ἢ τρεῖς συνηγμένοι εἰς τὸ ἐμὸν ὄνομα, ἐκεῖ εἰμι ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν.
Matthew 18:21
Τότε προσελθὼν αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν· Κύριε, ποσάκις ἁμαρτήσει εἰς ἐμὲ ὁ ἀδελφός μου καὶ ἀφήσω αὐτῷ; ἕως ἑπτάκις;
Then, Peter, coming to him, said, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?
Paraphrase: Peter was puzzled at this teaching. “Rabbi,” he said, “You have been teaching us how to resolve the conflicts that might arise between the citizens of Your kingdom. I think I understand your teaching here, and I do remember what You taught us previously on this subject. (Matthew 6:12-15; Luke 7:41-42) Certainly, we should cultivate a spirit of love and forgiveness towards our fellow brothers and sisters. I am still wondering, however, just how far You think we should take this. How many times should we forgive a brother before we give up on him as impossible? We were always taught in the synagogue that three times was enough. Perhaps you would want us to forgive seven times before giving up?
Comments:
See the footnote on p430.
Matthew 18:22
λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Οὐ λέγω σοι ἕως ἑπτάκις ἀλλὰ ἕως ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτά.
Jesus says to him, “I do not say to you until seven times but until seventy sevens.
Paraphrase: “I am glad, Peter, that you recall My previous teaching on this subject.” said Jesus. “However, I don’t think you have grasped it in its full extent. In My kingdom, you are not to put a set number to those times you are willing to extend forgiveness to a brother. There should be no end of your willingness to forgive a brother who has wronged you. When such a brother comes to you and asks forgiveness, you are to extend such forgiveness without any delay or questioning of his motives. It is completely out of character for a citizen of My kingdom to nurse a grudge against a fellow brother or sister.
Comments:
Matthew 18:23
Διὰ τοῦτο ὡμοιώθη ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ ὃς ἠθέλησεν συνᾶραι λόγον μετὰ τῶν δούλων αὐτοῦ·
On account of this, the kingdom of the heavens is like a man, a king, who desired to take up the account of his slaves.
Paraphrase: Now because you asked this question, listen to this story which I think will help you grasp My full meaning. Imagine with me a king who summons all his court officials so that he can settle the accounts.
Comments:
Matthew 18:24
ἀρξαμένου δὲ αὐτοῦ συναίρειν προσηνέχθη αὐτῷ εἷς ὀφειλέτης μυρίων ταλάντων.
When he begins to take up, one of his debtors was brought to him of numerous talents.
Paraphrase: As he takes up one account after another, he comes to one account which causes him to pause. This account is thousands of talents in arrears. The king asks for this man. At this, the others go and find the man whose account this is and bring him to the king.
Comments:
Matthew 18:25
μὴ ἔχοντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος πραθῆναι καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ τὰ τέκνα καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἔχει καὶ ἀποδοθῆναι.
and he did not have to pay, the lord ordered him to be sold and his wife and children and all what he has and to repay.
Paraphrase: The official, whose name Judas, hung his head in shame and confessed that he was not able to make any payment on the debt. At this, the king ordered his guards to arrest him, to bring him to the market, and to sell him, his wife, and his children into slavery until the debt should be paid. (Exodus 22:3; Leviticus 25:35-43) Furthermore, he ordered his other officials to liquidate the man’s assets and to put it towards the debt.
Comments:
Matthew 18:26
πεσὼν οὖν ὁ δοῦλος προσεκύνει αὐτῷ λέγων· Μακροθύμησον ἐπ’ ἐμοί, καὶ πάντα ἀποδώσω σοι.
Then, the slave, falling, bowed before him saying, “Be patient with me and all I will repay you.”
Paraphrase: When Judas heard these orders, he collapsed to his knees before the king and begged, “Don’t do this! Give me some time and I will surely repay the entire debt! Please have compassion on my poor wife and children. How will they survive? I swear by the Name of God Himself that I will work to repay this debt; please just give me one more chance!”
Comments:
Matthew 18:27
σπλαγχνισθεὶς δὲ ὁ κύριος τοῦ δούλου ἐκείνου ἀπέλυσεν αὐτόν, καὶ τὸ δάνειον ἀφῆκεν αὐτῷ.
Being touched with compassion, the lord of that slave released him and dismissed the loan for him.
Paraphrase: The king looked at this pitiful sight and was moved to compassion. The man’s heartbreaking cries had their effect, and the king revoked the order, lifted the man to his feet, freely forgave him the debt, and sent him on his way.
Comments:
Matthew 18:28
ἐξελθὼν δὲ ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος εὗρεν ἕνα τῶν συνδούλων αὐτοῦ ὃς ὤφειλεν αὐτῷ ἑκατὸν δηνάρια, καὶ κρατήσας αὐτὸν ἔπνιγεν λέγων· Ἀπόδος εἴ τι ὀφείλεις.
Now departing, that slave found one of his fellow-slaves who owed him one hundred denarii and grasping him, he choked [him] saying, “Pay what you owe!“
Paraphrase: Overflowing with joy and gratitude, Judas left the king’s court and proceeded to his home. He could hardly believe what had just happened, and he couldn’t stop thinking about it. As he neared his home, however, he noticed one of his colleagues who was walking on this street. His name was Justus, and he too was an official in the king’s court. Judas recognized him and was preparing to greet him when he remembered something. He remembered that he had lent Justus some money some time ago and still had not been repaid. Exasperated at his delinquency, Judas quickened his pace, caught up with Justus , and grabbed him by the collar. “Listen here, you loser!” he shouted at Justus, “You borrowed money from me and still haven’t paid it back!” Then, he picked Justus up and slammed him up against a nearby wall. Judas held Justus there and barked at him: “You can pay that money back right now! Let’s have it! You’ve put me off long enough!“
Comments:
Matthew 18:29
πεσὼν οὖν ὁ σύνδουλος αὐτοῦ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν λέγων· Μακροθύμησον ἐπ’ ἐμοί, καὶ ἀποδώσω σοι.
Then the fellow-slave, falling, cried out to him saying, “Be patient with me and I will repay you.”
Paraphrase: Justus was astonished at this rough treatment and fell on his knees before his colleague. “Don’t worry!” he cried out in distress, “I will pay you what I owe. I don’t have the money on me right now, but I will have it soon. I am just waiting to get paid; and as soon as I get my check, I’ll get you your money.”
Comments:
Matthew 18:30
ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἤθελεν, ἀλλὰ ἀπελθὼν ἔβαλεν αὐτὸν εἰς φυλακὴν ἕως οὗ ἀποδῷ τὸ ὀφειλόμενον.
But he would not but departing, he cast him into prison until which he might repay what he owed.
Paraphrase: But no matter how much he begged and pleaded, Judas refused to budge. “A debt is a debt!” he yelled in his face. “You owe me the money; and if you aren’t able to pay right now, then I will have you arrested! You can be my slave until the debt is paid.” Justus protested that he did not have the money just then but hoped to have it soon. “Enough!” yelled Judas, “I’ll hear no more of your lame excuses!” Immediately, he went to the police station and demanded that Justus be arrested and imprisoned for his unpaid debts. Once Justus was securely locked away in debtor’s prison, Judas went home satisfied.
Comments:
Note the imperfective aspect of ἤθελεν.
Matthew 18:31
ἰδόντες οὖν οἱ σύνδουλοι αὐτοῦ τὰ γενόμενα ἐλυπήθησαν σφόδρα, καὶ ἐλθόντες διεσάφησαν τῷ κυρίῳ ἑαυτῶν πάντα τὰ γενόμενα.
Then, when his fellow-slaves were seeing what had happened, they were very grieved and coming, they explained fully to their lord all what had happened.
Paraphrase: After some time, the other members of the palace court heard the story. They were outraged since they remembered very distinctly how the king had forgiven Judas an enormous debt. “You’re not going to believe what happened,” they said to the king. “Do you remember that man who owed you such an enormous debt and how you forgave him the entire debt?”
“Yes,” said the king, “I believe his name was Judas. How is he getting on?”
“Getting on!” the other officials said. “You wouldn’t believe what he did to Justus. Justus, who also is an official of your court, had borrowed some money from him last month; but when it came time to repay the debt, he had fallen on hard times and wasn’t able to repay the money. Judas then threw him up against a wall and demanded immediate repayment. When Justus couldn’t pay, he had him thrown into debtor’s prison.”
Comments:
Matthew 18:32
τότε προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ λέγει αὐτῷ· Δοῦλε πονηρέ, πᾶσαν τὴν ὀφειλὴν ἐκείνην ἀφῆκά σοι, ἐπεὶ παρεκάλεσάς με·
Matthew 18:33
οὐκ ἔδει καὶ σὲ ἐλεῆσαι τὸν σύνδουλόν σου, ὡς κἀγὼ σὲ ἠλέησα;
Matthew 18:34
καὶ ὀργισθεὶς ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ παρέδωκεν αὐτὸν τοῖς βασανισταῖς ἕως οὗ ἀποδῷ πᾶν τὸ ὀφειλόμενον.
Matthew 18:35
Οὕτως καὶ ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ οὐράνιος ποιήσει ὑμῖν ἐὰν μὴ ἀφῆτε ἕκαστος τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν καρδιῶν ὑμῶν.