Todays DB Matthew 18

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

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Matthew18:1-35

The Greatest in the Kingdom
1About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Which of us is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"
2Jesus called a small child over to him and put the child among them. 3Then he said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck.
7"How terrible it will be for anyone who causes others to sin. Temptation to do wrong is inevitable, but how terrible it will be for the person who does the tempting. 8So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to enter heaven F91 crippled or lame than to be thrown into the unquenchable fire with both of your hands and feet. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better to enter heaven half blind than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.
10"Beware that you don't despise a single one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. F92
Story of the Lost Sheep
12"If a shepherd has one hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one? 13And if he finds it, he will surely rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away! 14In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish.
Correcting a Fellow Believer
15"If another believer F93 sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. 18I tell you this: Whatever you prohibit on earth is prohibited in heaven, and whatever you allow on earth is allowed in heaven.
19"I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20For where two or three gather together because they are mine, F94 I am there among them."
Story of the Unforgiving Debtor
21Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone F95 who sins against me? Seven times?"
22"No!" Jesus replied, "seventy times seven! F96
23"For this reason, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. F97 25He couldn't pay, so the king ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. 26But the man fell down before the king and begged him, 'Oh, sir, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.' 27Then the king was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
28"But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. F98 He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. 29His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. 'Be patient and I will pay it,' he pleaded. 30But his creditor wouldn't wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt could be paid in full.
31"When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him what had happened. 32Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?' 34Then the angry king sent the man to prison until he had paid every penny.
35"That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters F99 in your heart."
FOOTNOTES:F91: Greek enter life; also in 18:9. F92: Some manuscripts add verse 11, And I, the Son of Man, have come to save the lost. F93: Greek your brother. F94: Greek gather together in my name. F95: Greek my brother. F96: Or 77 times. F97: Greek 10,000 talents. F98: Greek 100 denarii. A denarius was the equivalent of a full day's wage. F99: Greek your brother.


Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living TranslationCopyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

~ Lena’s Journalin’ Today~
A little child shall lead them, out of the mouths of babes and infants You ordain praise, be as a little child, have faith as a child….These are all significant scriptural words. Is he speaking of literal infants or children? Or the innocence of a child? Childlikeness? Does He not want us to grow and mature? Should we stay as children? In purity, yes. In the blind trust of God, yes. In innocence of thought, yes.
Children say yes or no, they don’t even know what maybe means. It either is or it isn’t, we have to teach them by experiences what maybe means.
They love whoever, no matter what, even to their own hurt. They forgive no matter what, because of an innate love and trust, no matter what. They were born without a conditional eye. Their hearts are pure, their responses are reciprocal in nature, giving because of receiving and giving anyway.
About offenses, we are not talking about when someone doesn’t think our way or do it as we would do it, we are talking about violation of faith and trust in God. We’re not speaking about irritations and impatience; we’re talking about painting an erroneous picture of our Father God, leading one away from His word. Have you ever thought of how if we do not forgive people, we are leading them in error? If we do not bless, but we curse, we are living a wrong example?
I’ve been thinking of sheep and shepherds a lot lately. This shepherd was concerned even of the error of one sheep out of 100. He was a man who was given a job, by God to tend those who would be led to sacrifice their lives for the sins of people. He was a watchman over their safety and well being and their purity so that they’d be brought to the sacrifice without blame, so they could take the blame of another! It is interesting that he tends their lives to lead them to die for others. Why would it be a big deal if one died anyway, right? Why would it be a big deal if they went astray? He was to make sure they fulfilled their purpose, their destiny for God’s kingdom on earth. He led them towards sacrifice. He cared for His “Boss” so much, he risked His own life to make sure 100 others (100% of those he was responsible for) would give theirs up to of for others.
He made sure even one did not go astray, or leave the fold, or get killed prematurely, or was not around to become purpose in the hands of God, on the altar of God. He had to love the people they’d die for in order to take His time to do this. He would even carry one, stay up in the night, use weapons to protect etc, for sacrifice. He lived sacrifice, so they could and would die for it.
Jesus said, I am the shepherd of the sheep, my sheep hear my voice and do not give their ear and obedience to others. Do we live to sacrifice our lives so others may be forgiven and live life eternally?
Who are the sheep He’s the shepherd of? Of whom is the sacrifice of this life to be made for? Another sheep? Or a sinner? One who needs another to die so they won’t.
When I say die, I mean lay down ones’ life, give for others, do what doesn’t just come naturally by natural desire for what might benefit another. Let someone else have their way of doing something, lay down my personal opinions for the greater good and for unity of purpose. Live for someone else and not just me. Allow Christ to live in and through me.

Daily Repetitive Verses:

Proverbs 27:17-19
17 You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another. 18 If you care for your orchard, you'll enjoy its fruit; if you honor your boss, you'll be honored.
19 Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart.
Psalm 122:1
1 When they said, "Let's go to the house of God," my heart leaped for joy.