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Matthew 18
1. Matthew 18
2. Matthew 18 related content
3. General theme
The general theme of the entire discourse in Matthew 18 is that of the church as a gathering of believers and how to interact between those members.
It appears that all are at the same level in the kingdom of heaven, neither greatest or least.
In using an analogy of a child, the child appears to represent the believer at that common level in the kingdom of heaven.
As a practical manner, in this world some will rise to higher levels in the church and human hierarchy.
Those are warned to be careful about tempting or taking advantage of those at a lower level in this earthly human hierarchy.
4. End of the discourse
Jesus ends the discourse with the following, with a few following verses (omitted for the present discussion).
5. Matthew 18:18
KJV: Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Greek: αμην λεγω υμιν οσα εαν δησητε επι της γης εσται δεδεμενα εν τω ουρανω και οσα εαν λυσητε επι της γης εσται λελυμενα εν τω ουρανω
6. Context
7. The key to the keys to an open and shut heavenly gate
Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [kjv]
δωσω σοι τας κλειδας της βασιλειας των ουρανων και ο εαν δησης επι της γης εσται δεδεμενον εν τοις ουρανοις και ο εαν λυσης επι της γης εσται λελυμενον εν τοις ουρανοις [gnt]
What is the meaning of this verse? The last part is repeated in Matthew 18 without the
"keys" and appears to connect these discourses.
18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [kjv]
αμην λεγω υμιν οσα εαν δησητε επι της γης εσται δεδεμενα εν ουρανω και οσα εαν λυσητε επι της γης εσται λελυμενα εν ουρανω [gnt]
The topic here is
"keys". It appears that
"keys" can be taken literally, figuratively, and/or abstractly. Another page deals with binding and loosing on earth and in heaven.
8. Connection
The connection appears to be that the discussion in Matthew 18 has to do with the church and the members of the church and how members in the church interact and relate.
9. Matthew 18:15-17 Conflicting and faulty resolutions
Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [kjv]
18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [kjv]
18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. [kjv]
Jesus presents a fault tolerant conflict resolution protocol for groups of believers. The world has taken the opposite approach to conflict resolution within organizations.
The
"against thee" and
"his fault" are
not in some Greek manuscripts.
Omitting them puts what Jesus says in line with the Lord's Prayer and the following verses on church conflict.
Including them creates some logical continuity issues.
10. Matthew 18:19 Things
Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. [kjv]
παλιν αμην λεγω υμιν οτι εαν δυο συμφωνησωσιν εξ υμων επι της γης περι παντος πραγματος ου εαν αιτησωνται γενησεται αυτοις παρα του πατρος μου του εν ουρανοις [gnt]
Sometimes the
KJV (King James Version) adds the word
"things" where does not appear in the Greek. In the Greek, it is usually just an adjective with an implied connection to something (i.e., a real or abstract thing or entity).
There is a Greek word for
"thing" or
"things" as used in Matthew 18:19. The ancient Greek word
"πρᾶγμα" ≈ "deed, act, fact" or a thing in a concrete reality is from the ancient Greek word
"πράσσω" ≈ "to do" and is the source of the English "
practical".
The modern Greek word
"πράγμα" (PRA-gma) ≈ "thing, entity, object". The ancient Greek word
"πραγματικός" ≈ "active, versed in affairs" is the source of the English
"pragmatic".
A physical
"thing" is different from something "
abstract" such as a meta-wish. That is, a "
wish" or "
prayer" should be about a
"thing" and not, say, a "
wish for a wish".
11. Things
There is a difference between a thing and talking about a thing. Kurt Gödel (Austrian logician, mathematician, philosopher)
12. Matthew 18:19
KJV: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Greek: παλιν αμην λεγω υμιν οτι εαν δυο υμων συμφωνησωσιν εξ υμων επι της γης περι παντος πραγματος ου εαν αιτησωνται γενησεται αυτοις παρα του πατρος μου του εν ουρανοις
13. Strongs - thing
- *G4229 *11 πρᾶγμα (prag'-mah) : from G4238; a deed; by implication, an affair; by extension, an object (material):--business, matter, thing, work.
- πραγματων *4
- Luke 1:1 ... to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
- Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible ...
- Hebrews 10:1 ... the very image of the things, can never with ...
- Hebrews 11:1 ... the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
- πραγμα *3
- Acts 5:4 ... why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? ...
- 1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law ...
- James 3:16 ... and every evil work.
- πραγματι *3
- Romans 16:2 ... her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for ...
- 2 Corinthians 7:11 ... to be clear in this matter.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6 ... his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger ...
- πραγματος
- Matthew 18:19 ... earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done ...
14. Usage - thing
*G4229 *11 πρᾶγμα (prag'-mah) : from G4238; a deed; by implication, an affair; by extension, an object (material):--business, matter, thing, work.
 |
Words: πραγμα=3 πραγματι=3 πραγματος πραγματων=4
|
15. Discourse summary
... more to be added ...
16. End of page
