Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue , the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 49, Feb 18)

Passage Matthew Chapter Eighteen

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

This chapter, though, I will use the New Living Translation for clearing up some of the translations.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

• Matthew 18
  • Mt 18:1-6 Who is the Greatest in Heaven?
    • a little child
      •  ³ Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. ⁴ So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
    • Don’t cause one to suffer – to fall into sin
      • ⁶ But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
  • Mt 18:7-9 the sorrows of temptation
    • ⁷ “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.
      • cut off hand, gouge out eye
    • God holds children dear
      • ¹⁰ “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.^[c]
  • Mt 18:11- 14 The 99 vs the 1 – promise for wayward children
    • Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?
    • rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away!
    •  ¹⁴ In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.
  • Mt 18:15-17 Conflict Negotiation for the church
    • one-to-one
      • ¹⁵ “If another believer^[d] sins against you,^[e] go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.
    • bring one or two
      • ¹⁶ But 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.
    • whole church
      • ¹⁷ If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. 
    • If no change –
      • Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
      • make every attempt possible, but do not poison the body.
  • Mt 18:18- 20 in light of church matters – PRAYER POWER
    • ¹⁸ “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid^[f] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit^[g] on earth will be permitted in heaven.
    • ¹⁹ “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. ²⁰ For where two or three gather together as my followers,^[h] I am there among them.”
  • Mt 18:21 – 22 How often to forgive
    • ²² “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!^[j]
  • Mt 18: 23-35 Forgive to be forgiven Parable
    • ³⁵ “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters^[m] from your heart.”

Mindful Meditating

1. choose a verse,
2.  set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
3.  example: Matt 18:3
4. repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

•  ³ Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
• UNLESS you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven
• unless  YOU turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven
• unless you TURN from your sins and become like little children, you will never get int the Kingdom of Heaven.

…and so on.  This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Lost Sheep coloring pages by ColoringHome.

Unforgiving Servant Coloring page

Quick Questions – if  you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

1. What qualities do children have that we, as adults, could grow back into?
   1. Your answer
2. Why is the 99 and 1 verse about wayward children? does it just pertain to God’s children?
   1. Your Answer
3. Read the Parable of the ruler and the servants – and think of something you’ve been forgiven of, and someone you are in need of forgiving. Could God put the consequences of sin back on us like this parable suggests? What color are the words of this parable in your Bible?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

• Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
• Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

• Naomi’s Heart Ministries
• Obed’s House Ministries
• The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.