14 “And when they were come to the multitude, there came to Him a man, kneeling to Him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously: for oftentimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 15 And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him. And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to Me. And Jesus rebuked him; and the devil went out from him; and the boy was cured from that hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out? And He saith unto them, Because of your little faith; for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
“And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men; and they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be raised up. And they were exceeding sorry.”
“And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your Master pay the half-shekel? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive custom or tribute? from their own children, or from strangers? And when he said, From strangers, Jesus said unto him, Therefore the children are free. But, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a shekel: that take, and give unto them for Me and thee.”
“And they came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house He asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.”
1 “In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And He called to Him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, and said, 2 Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in nowise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 3 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me; 4 but whoso shall cause one of these little ones which believe on Me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea. 5 Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh! 6 And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee; it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the hell of fire. 9 And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire. See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man came to save that which was lost. How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 15 “And if thy brother sin against thee, go, shew him his fault between thee and him alone; if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he hear thee not, then take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. 17 And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church; and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them. 21 “Then came Peter, and said to Him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would make a reckoning11with his servants.”
24 “And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not wherewith to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him a hundred pence; and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest. 29 So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due. 31 So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: 33 shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. 35 So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother.”
NOTE.—The texts enclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further.
2. What did Jesus say and do in response to the father's petition? Verses 17, 18. (Mark 9:23-27.)
3. Inasmuch as power had been conferred upon the disciples to cast out demons, what was the secret of their failure in this case? Verses 19-21. (Mark 11:23.)
4. Passing through Galilee, what particular truth did the Saviour try for the second time to impress upon His disciples' minds? Verses 22, 23. (Luke 9:44, 45; Mark 9:31, 32.)
5. What was the evident reason for the disciples not being more deeply impressed with this important matter? Luke 9:46. Note 1. (Mark 9:28.)
6. On their arrival at Capernaum, what question was put to Peter by the tribute collector? Matt. 17:24. Note 2.
7. Knowing what Peter had said, with what question did the Lord meet him immediately upon his entering the house? V. 25.
8. Receiving the only answer possible, what conclusion did Jesus draw? What did He instruct Peter to do? Verses 26, 27; Note 3.
9. To what was the Saviour's attention next directed? Mark 9:33, 34.
10. Not being able to agree among themselves, how did they undertake to settle the controversy? Matt. 18:1.
11. How did Jesus answer this question? Verses 2-6. (1 Cor. 14:20.)
12. What did He then say of those who in any way led others to do wrong? Verse 7. Note 4. (Luke 17:1, 2.)
13. In what way does He apply this principle to our members which lead us to do wrong? Verses 8, 9. (Matt. 5:29; James 3:6.)
14. What warning does He give us regarding those who become like children for Christ's sake? Verse 10. Note 5. (Heb. 1:13, 14.)
15. How far will the Lord go to save one such? Verses 12-14. (Matt. 18:35.)
16. What counsel does the Lord give regarding differences between brethren? Verses 15-18. Note 6. (Gal. 6:1-3.)
17. In perfect agreement, what may two persons expect concerning their petitions? Verse 19. (Matt. 5:23, 24.)
18. Why is this sure to be so? Verse 20.
19. When Peter desired to know how many times this agreement was to be reached by forgiveness, what did the Lord tell him? Verses 21, 22. (Col. 3:13.)
20. Relate the parable by which the Lord further illustrates this subject. Verses 23-35. Note 7.
Side Lights.—“Desire of Ages,” chapters 47, 48.
NOTES.
1. Which should be greatest.—The disciples were still clinging to the idea that the Saviour's kingdom was to be an earthly, tangible one, with His throne in Jerusalem, and that at the proper time He would there assume the reins of government. So on the journey toward Capernaum they fell to discussing the question of their relative fitness for positions of trust in the new commonwealth. This material view of the Lord's kingdom so barred the door of their hearts that the spiritual truths their Master wished to impress upon them could not find entrance.
2. The half-shekel.—Not “tribute,” as in Common Version. It was not a civil tax, but the half-shekel (Greek, didrachma) of Ex. 30:11-16, which was required of every Israelite above twenty years old, for the current expenses of the tabernacle, and afterwards the temple. It was a piece of silver, in value about thirty-two cents, or one shilling and fourpence of English money.
3. From Strangers.—Strangers being those only who were subject to tribute, the temple could not exact means from Him who was the Son of God, the great King, to whose temple service the money was to be applied. Priests and prophets were exempt from this tax. But the Son of God in that instance gives a beautiful example of waiving personal rights, in order to prevent wrong impressions, which would produce unnecessary friction. The money necessary to meet the demand was not on His person, but was to be found in the mouth of a fish. The stater, thus miraculously produced, was just enough to pay the needed amount not only for Christ, but also for Peter, His follower, who likewise was counted a resident of Capernaum.
4. Occasions of stumbling.—The Greek word usually rendered “offense” in the Common Version, means cause, occasion of wrong, or an inducement to sin.
5. Despise not.—Ancient kings shut themselves away from the gaze of men, but their counselors were privileged to behold their faces. See side text. The angels are thus said to behold the face of God, which is hid from mortals. Ex. 33:20. These same angels being ministering spirits to the humble saints (Heb. 1:14), the latter have counsel with God through their ministering spirits, and so are the subject of heavenly counsel, regarding their difficulties and dangers.
6. As an heathen.—While a man may be regarded as a heathen, or a publican, and so unfit for church-fellowship, yet the Spirit of Christ teaches us to labor earnestly for the conversion of all such. This can not be accomplished by harsh treatment, or hateful words, or by abandonment. The only way to win any one, in whatever state or condition, is by kindness.
7. Ten thousand talents.—An expression conveying the idea of a hopelessly large debt. Literally it would be $8,000,000 to $15,000,000. The smaller debt was about $15. In other words, sinful man is owed $15, but is not willing to forgive the debt, tho he owed God $15,000,000, who freely forgave all. How many will allow an unforgiven sin to destroy them?