In Matthew 18, Jesus addresses the question – who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. He taught his disciples how to avoid sin, how to respond when someone wanders away from God, how to confront people who sin, and the importance of forgiveness.
You can download the Bible Study Worksheets here.
Becoming Like Little Children (Matthew 18:1-5)
- How can we change and become like little children?
- What does the Bible say about humility? (See, for example — 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 149:4; Proverbs 11:2, 22:4; Isaiah 66:2; Zephaniah 2:3; Matthew 11:29; Philippians 2:3,8; Colossians 2:23; James 3:13, 4:6,10; 1 Peter 5:5-6)
- How important is your status to you?
- Ask God to show you how to value and serve the lowliest people in your community.
Cutting Out Sin (Matthew 18:6-9)
- What lesson did Jesus want his disciples to learn from this parable? Why did he use such vivid metaphors?
- What else does the Bible say about discipline and pruning? (See, for example — John 15:1-8; Hebrews 12:4-11)
- What stumbling blocks cause us to sin?
- Is there something in your life that God wants to remove?
Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:10-14)
- In Matthew’s Gospel, what is the context of this parable? To whom does it refer?
- What similarities and differences can you find between Matthew 18:10-14 and Ezekiel 34:1-16?
- How can we restore those who have wandered away from God?
- Ask God to reveal to you anyone you can help lead back to Him.
Godly Confrontation (Matthew 18:15-20)
- What does this passage refer to? What does it mean to loose or bind something on earth?
- Deuteronomy 19:15 talks about listening to the testimony of two or three witnesses. Why is this important?
- How should we react when another Christian has sinned against us or hurt us?
- Do you need to confront someone about their behaviour? Make a plan and decide how you can do this in a godly way.
Unforgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35)
- What can we learn about forgiveness through this parable?
- What does the Bible say about mercy? (See, for example — Exodus 33:19; 1 Chronicles 21:13; Nehemiah 9:30-31; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:7; Luke 6:35-36; James 2:12-13)
- Have you ever struggled to forgive someone?
- Ask God to help you forgive those you have not forgiven, including yourself. Ask him to set you free and heal you.
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