In Matthew 18, Jesus shares two parables. Between these parables, He shares instructions for what to do if another believer wrongs you. The first parable (The Parable of the Lost Sheep) expands our understanding of Jesus’ instruction on how to respond to another believer who sins against you. Too commonly, that instruction is viewed as an impersonal policy to prove our point or to deal with difficult people. It’s easy to look at what Jesus says to achieve our own ends, prove our point, or dismiss difficult people.

But Jesus would never tell us to do something selfish. He wants us to understand that the goal is not to win the argument. The goal is to win the person. The goal is to find the person who is straying, who's prone to wander, and to invite them back. Jesus invites us to this ministry of reconciliation.

This passage calls us to humility and a broken heart for those who wander, not confrontation or escalation. True love motivates us to call others back to the right path and to partner with them discreetly in restoration. Even if they refuse, we continue to pray, always seeking their return. The main message is clear: pursue reconciliation with humility and love.

​In the middle of Matthew 18, Jesus gives us instructions on how to handle situations when another believer sins against us. When read in isolation, it may appear like it’s an impersonal policy to prove your point or a procedure to win an argument. Some might see it as a step-by-step guide to remove difficult people from their lives or church.

But is that the heart of this passage? Is that what Jesus intended us to put into practice? 

When we consider this passage in the context of the whole chapter, things begin to make more sense. On Sunday, we studied the entirety of Matthew 18 in the context of dealing with another believer who has sinned against us. Watch our study as we learn from Jesus about what to do when another believer has wronged us.

In the seemingly odd passage of Matthew 17:24-27, Peter is questioned by the religious leadership about whether Jesus pays the temple tax. Knowing this had happened, Jesus talks with Peter about it, and in this conversation, we see four characteristics of the Son of God:

The freedom of the Son – He was under no obligation to pay the tax.

The voluntary submission of the Son – Nevertheless, to not cause offense, He consented to pay.

The majesty of the Son – His command to Peter (a professional fisherman) to drop a line into the lake was peculiar, but he obeyed.

The miraculous personal provision of the Son – The coin found in the fish that was caught was sufficient for both Peter and Jesus.

This was not just a story about a fish and a coin. It was personal and powerful—especially for Peter. In his letter, Peter would later write to the church, “For you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

The life of Jesus was paid on your behalf so that you could enjoy fellowship with God forever! That can start today! Simply confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead. The Bible says that if you do this, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Repent (turn away from) your sin and ask God for forgiveness. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him to life. Trust Him as your Savior and follow Him as the Lord of your life.

Over and over, God has proven Himself faithful to give insight and understanding as we simply commit to wrestling with Him. Like Jacob in his actual wrestling match with the Lord, we can say, “I’m not going to let you go until You bless me” as we wrestle with Him through His word. We can say, “I’m not letting this passage go, Lord, until you bless me and give me insight and understanding.” And then, it can be our glory to search those things out as we wrestle with Him (see Proverbs 25:2).

Watch our study of Matthew 17:24-27 as we wrestled with the Lord about the topics of death and…taxes?

As they walked with Jesus, the apostles argued about which of them was the greatest. Jesus was out of earshot yet still knew what they were discussing. When they arrived, Jesus patiently and graciously called them to Himself to teach them about what makes someone great.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus taught by example. True greatness is found in being a servant and serving others, especially those who have no ability to serve you back or can benefit you in any way. 

To illustrate His point, Jesus places a child before them. In those days, children were considered just above property (they were to be seen and not heard). Yet even today, children are needy and need constant attention. They have no ability to bless you back. They can’t make you important. They were the “least of these”.

Jesus taught that true greatness is found in serving the “least of these.” It’s making others like this feel as though they are the most important person. Because they truly are. True greatness is not found in power or position. It’s found in looking into the eyes of those who can do nothing for you and serving them as if you were serving Jesus Himself.

​What does it mean to be greatly used of God? How does Jesus view and define greatness? How does one become great in His Kingdom? These are the questions we asked as we considered the stark and serious statement Jesus made to the Apostles, who promptly argued afterward.

After the transfiguration, Jesus came down the mountain to find his disciples arguing with others instead of ministering to the man who was looking for help. One of the most often made mistakes servants of Jesus make is wasting time arguing. It’s such an effective trap that saps our energy, grieves the Holy Spirit, and robs those around us who need help.

Wasting time arguing when people are hurting and need help is something that believers are to avoid (see 2 Timothy 2:23, Titus 3:9, and Ephesians 4:29-32). When the Lord returns, may He find us serving and ministering, rather than fighting and arguing.

One of the most effective ways to serve others is to bring them to Jesus. Instead of wasting time arguing, we can bring those who need help to Jesus through prayer and fasting. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days (Ephesians 5:16).

The only hope for lasting change in our country and communities is not found in our own intellect, abilities, or strategies, but only in Jesus. Our only aim is to bring people to Him and watch Him pour out His power in love by His Holy Spirit.

This might seem irrelevant in light of the section of scripture we considered this past Sunday. But as we work our way through it, we see the importance of looking up instead of within—of looking to Jesus instead of anything else as we bring people to Him.

Watch our study of Matthew 17:9-21 and the parallel passage in Mark 9:14-21 as we consider Jesus—our only hope!

“…and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.”
Matthew 17:2

For Peter, James, and John, witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus was an intense and glorious mountaintop experience. It would be difficult for them to want to leave that mountain with that company—Moses, Elijah, Jesus, and God the Father. Just imagine the glory, the clarity, and the intensity of that encounter!

But mountaintop experiences are intended to be temporary. They bring clarity so that we can come down the mountain. Like Peter, we can recognize that it is good for us to be in those places, but it’s not good for us to stay in isolation from the world. We seek Jesus on the mountain in solitude so that we can descend and serve those who are still suffering and struggling in the valley. 

So seek out times of solitude with the Lord and spend regular time with Him on the mountaintop. But also realize that He wants you to go down the mountain too. That’s where God has sent you to be, as salt and light for the world that is suffering because of darkness.