Matthew 17, 18

January 8, 2011

Matthew 17, 18

Overview:  The Transfiguration.  The disciples fall short in attempts at healing and Jesus instructs then on the power of faith.  Jesus answers a question about who is the greatest in the kingdom of God with talk about the faith of children.  Chapter 18 finishes with Jesus teaching about forgiveness.

The theme of community is evident in Matthew 18.  Jesus talks about the faith of children in an extended bit of teaching.  In v.6 he speaks about the imporance of not being "stumbling blocks" to any of "these little ones who belive in me".  He speaks of God's love for all by citing the way a shepherd looks diligently for the one hundredth sheep even if the other ninety-nine are all prsent.  He goes on to give fairly specific instruction about how to approach a member of the community of faith who wronged another member of the community.  The cumalative effect is to lift up the importance of relationships and the value that Jesus places on them.  Jesus teaches that faith is not lived in a solitary manner, but rather is lived out in our relationships be they between young and old, or between peers.  God love me enough to die for me.  God love you enough to die for you.  We, who love God, ought to love one another, to begin with, because God so values each one of us. 
The relationships and community continues in the parable about forgtiveness.  The one who experiences forgiveness has an obligation to try to be forgiving themselves.  We, in other words, to love one another as God has loved us.