2025.07.20. Sermon Notes. KINGDOM LIVING - HUMBLE, HOLY, AND FORGIVING - MATTHEW 18
William Akehurst, HSWC
Scriptures: Matthew 18:1-35, 1 Corinthians 13:5, Psalm 103:12, John 6:35,
1 Corinthians 11:24, Mark 11:25-26, Luke 6:36
Living out Christlike humility, holiness, and forgiveness in community.
Big Idea: Jesus teaches that greatness in the Kingdom is marked by humility, holiness, compassion, and continual forgiveness. As God's children, we must reflect the heart of our King.
INTRODUCTION: In Matthew 18, Jesus gives one of the clearest teachings on how to live as His disciples in community with one another. This chapter is about the daily walk of discipleship: humility, accountability, restoration, and forgiveness.
TEXT: Matthew 18:1-35
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I. KINGDOM GREATNESS STARTS WITH HUMILITY (Matthew 18:1–5)
Who Is the Greatest?
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
KEY VERSE: “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (v. 4)
• The disciples ask: “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
• Jesus places a child in their midst and says: “Unless you are converted and become as little children…”
Children are: Trusting, Teachable, Dependent, Not self-promoting
• Greatness is not about power, but posture. It is about humble dependence and childlike faith.
LESSON: True greatness is found in humility, like that of a child.
APPLICATION:
Do I pursue status, or do I pursue servanthood?
Where in my life do I need to return to childlike faith?
Are you approaching God like a child - trusting, humble, teachable?
POINT: We must come to God in childlike faith - dependent, teachable, and humble.
The Way Up is Down - Humility Like a Child (vv. 1–5)
• The disciples argue about status; Jesus redefines greatness.
• The child represents humility, trust, and dependence.
• Application: Greatness in the Kingdom is not about power or prominence, but humility and surrender.
ILLUSTRATION: A child climbing into a parent’s lap, trusting and without pretense.
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II. TAKE SIN SERIOUSLY – Live Set Apart (Matthew 18:6–9)
Jesus Warns of Offenses
6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
Jesus issues a sobering warning:
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin...” (v. 6)
Then He uses strong radical language:
“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off...” (v. 8)
“Pluck out” the eye if it causes sin.
Of course, He’s not speaking literally. He’s saying: Deal radically with your sin. Don’t entertain it. Don’t manage it. Kill it.
ILLUSTRATION: Like a surgeon removing cancer, we must not hesitate to cut off what contaminates our soul.
Woe to the Stumbling Block - A Call to Holiness (vv. 6–9)
• Jesus warns about causing others to stumble.
• Sin is serious; we must take radical steps to eliminate it.
LESSON: Sin is serious. Causing others to fall into sin brings God’s judgment.
Be aware of how your life impacts others. Cut off sin before it spreads.
APPLICATION:
Am I leading others to Christ or away from Him?
• Don’t be the reason someone else stumbles.
• Guard your influence, your example.
What sin am I tolerating that Jesus says must be cut off?
• Cut out anything that’s pulling you away from Christ.
Deal radically with your own sin (cut off, pluck out = strong language about repentance and self-discipline).
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III. THE FATHER'S HEART FOR THE ONE (Matthew 18:10–14)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
The Shepherd’s Heart – Seek the Lost and Straying
Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep.
“If a man has a hundred sheep, and one goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” (v. 12)
The parable of the lost sheep: God rejoices over the one who is restored.
This is God's heart - to pursue and restore. Not to discard the lost but to reclaim them.
APPLICATION:
Who is the “one” in your life that God is calling you to pursue in love?
Do we ignore the straying or pursue them with grace?
Are you willing to leave your comfort zone to rescue a straying soul?
Are we more like the Shepherd or more like the crowd who says, “They’re gone, forget them”?
POINT: Every person matters to God - even the one who wanders.
“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” (v. 11, note: some modern translations omit this verse)
LESSON: Every soul is precious to God.
APPLICATION: We should pursue restoration, not rejection, of the lost or straying believer.
The Shepherd’s Heart - Rescue and Restoration (vv. 10–14)
• The parable of the lost sheep reveals God’s relentless love.
• One soul matters to God; so should it matter to us.
APPLICATION: Seek the wandering, don’t write them off.
POINT: God doesn’t give up on people - we shouldn't either.
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IV. HANDLE WITH CARE – Correct with Compassion (Matthew 18:15–20)
Dealing with a Sinning Brother
15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Biblical Conflict Resolution (vv. 15–20)
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone...” (v. 15)
POINT: The goal of correction is restoration, not humiliation or revenge.
• The biblical process of restoration: private rebuke ? witnesses ? church.
Jesus lays out a clear process for handling conflict and sin in the community:
1. Go privately – not for public shame, but private restoration.
2. Take witnesses – for accountability and clarity.
3. Tell it to the church – only if previous steps fail.
4. Treat them as a “Gentile or tax collector” – not with contempt, but with a heart to bring them back.
Then Jesus says something remarkable in verse 18:
Matthew 18:18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
What does this mean in context?
Jesus is affirming that when the church walks in unity with God's Word, heaven backs the decisions made on earth. This is not about personal preference or power - this is about spiritual authority given to Christ’s followers when acting in alignment with His will.
"Bind" and "loose" were common rabbinic terms:
• To bind = means to forbid and prohibit or declare sinful or unlawful.
• To loose = means to permit or declare forgiven or lawful.
It refers to heaven-backed authority when believers:
• Act under God’s Word
• Seek restoration and righteousness
• Are in agreement with heaven’s purposes (as confirmed in verses 19–20).
Parallel Verse: Matthew 16:19
19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Jesus is saying something similar to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…”
In Matthew 18:18, when JESUS says, “Assuredly, I say to you,” - this authority is extended to all the disciples, not just Peter.
LESSON:
The church (BELIEVER) has a responsibility and authority to deal with sin and truth within its fellowship.
We must be:
• Discerning in judgment. Exercise spiritual authority carefully, prayerfully, and scripturally.
• Prayerful in decisions. Don’t take this authority lightly. Don't avoid it either.
• Humble in our approach. It's not for controlling people, but for restoring souls.
• Biblically faithful in our actions. Heaven honors godly confrontation that seeks to bring people back into fellowship with Christ and His body.
When the church acts in accordance with God's will, heaven affirms its decisions.
When restoration happens through biblical confrontation, and if needed, church involvement, those actions carry spiritual weight - because they reflect heaven’s truth and God’s righteousness.
REFLECTIVE PRAYER:
LORD JESUS, help us to walk in YOUR truth and carry out YOUR will with humility, wisdom, and unity. May everything we bind and loose be in harmony with YOUR Word and YOUR heart.
KEY VERSE: “Where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (v. 20) – This verse is often quoted in prayer meetings, (Personally, I use it often when in prayer with others) - but in context, it’s about church discipline and spiritual agreement.
This verse strengthens the spiritual seriousness of church conflict resolution, grounding it in divine authority. It also connects the church's earthly actions to heaven’s agreement, elevating the importance of obedience, prayer, and humility.
APPLICATION: Approach others in love, truth, and humility.
• Are you willing to lovingly confront sin with grace and truth when necessary?
• Am I participating in a community that pursues restoration over gossip?
• Are you open to correction when you are in the wrong?
LESSON: Follow Christ’s steps for conflict resolution - privately, then with witnesses, then church involvement if necessary.
ADDITIONAL POINT: This is not permission to gossip - it’s a map for reconciliation and peace.
And now, Jesus takes it even deeper… what do we do when the person repents? What happens when a brother asks for forgiveness-again and again?
Let’s look at the fifth movement of Kingdom living…
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V. FORGIVENESS WITHOUT LIMITS - The 70 x 7 Principle
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (vv. 21–35)
PART 1 - ABOUT FORGIVENESS (vv. 21-22)
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Forgive as You’ve Been Forgiven – No Limits
Peter asks, “How many times shall I forgive? Seven times?” vs 21
Jesus answers: “Seventy times seven.” vs. 22
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SIDE THOUGHTS: What Is the Biblical Significance of 490?
Not a Literal Limit, But a Heart Posture
Jesus wasn't saying, “Keep track until you hit 490, then stop forgiving.”
He was using hyperbole (intentional exaggeration) to say:
“Forgiveness must be unlimited, unconditional, and continual.”
Peter thought 7 was generous (Jewish tradition typically suggested 3 times).
Jesus multiplied that tenfold to underscore the limitless mercy of the Kingdom.
The Fullness of Forgiveness — 70 x 7 and the Bread of Life
Jesus doesn’t randomly pick 70×7 = 490. This number is:
• Prophetic – Found in Daniel 9, referring to 490 years until Messiah comes to “finish transgression, put an end to sin, and atone for iniquity.”
• Complete – Symbolizing divine, unending forgiveness.
490 in Prophecy – Daniel 9:24
In the Old Testament, the number 490 is highly significant prophetically.
Daniel 9:24 - “Seventy weeks are determined for your people...”
Here, "seventy weeks" = 70 × 7 years = 490 years
God revealed to Daniel a prophetic period of mercy and restoration for Israel to finish transgression, bring in everlasting righteousness, and anoint the Most Holy (i.e., pointing to the coming of Christ).
CONNECT THE DOTS
In both Daniel 9 and Matthew 18, the number 490 represents a time of grace, patience, and mercy before judgment.
Symbol of Complete Forgiveness and Restoration
In biblical numerology:
• 7 is the number of completion/perfection (God’s rest on the 7th day).
• 70 amplifies the idea of totality or full measure.
• So 70 × 7 (490) = complete forgiveness to the fullest extent.
SPIRITUAL INSIGHT
By saying “seventy times seven,” Jesus is saying:
“Let your forgiveness reflect the nature of God Himself - abundant, merciful, and not keeping count of wrongs.”
Compare with:
• 1 Corinthians 13:5 – Love “keeps no record of wrongs.”
• Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
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HEBREW WORD STUDY: BETH LECHEM
Jesus, the Messiah foretold in Daniel’s prophecy, was born in Bethlehem —
????? ?????? (Beth-Lechem) = “House of Bread” = 490 in Hebrew gematria.
HE is THE BREAD of LIFE, broken for us.
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
At Passover, Jesus took matzah - unleavened, pierced, striped, broken - and said:
“This is My body… broken for you.”
1 Corinthians 11:24 "and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Matzah: (The Bread)
Unleavened = sinless
Striped & pierced = Isaiah 53:5 – “By His stripes we are healed”
Broken = His sacrificial death
Jesus fulfilled the 490 by becoming the very Bread of Forgiveness.
LESSON: When you forgive others, you are offering the same bread Christ gave to you.
APPLICATION:
Forgiveness isn’t about math (70x7=490) - it’s about Mercy.
• Keep forgiving.
• Don’t tally offenses.
• Let your forgiveness flow from how God has forgiven you.
POINT: If God gave you 490 chances, shouldn't you give your brother the same?
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BACK ON TRACK:
Peter’s question leads to Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant.
V. FORGIVENESS WITHOUT LIMITS - CONTINUED
PART 2 - FORGIVE AS YOU’VE BEEN FORGIVEN - UNLIMITED MERCY
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant vv. 23–35
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
Then Jesus tells the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant:
• A servant owes his king an impossible debt - he’s forgiven.
• That same forgiven servant refuses to forgive someone who owes him a tiny debt.
• The king is furious: “Should you not also have had compassion... as I had pity on you?” (v. 33)
POINT: God expects us to extend the forgiveness we have received.
Mark 11:25-26 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Luke 6:36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
LESSON:
• Unforgiveness chains us to the past.
• Forgiveness sets us free and reflects the heart of our Father.
• We must forgive because we have been forgiven much.
POINT: Unforgiveness imprisons us. Forgiveness releases us. Forgive from the heart. God's forgiveness is immeasurable, and so must ours be.
• We are to forgive from the heart, because we ourselves have been forgiven much by God.
• We can’t withhold forgiveness when God has forgiven us fully.
APPLICATION:
• Who do I need to forgive today?
• Am I holding others hostage while living free by grace?
C.S. LEWIS - “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
KINGDOM LIVING IS:
1. Humility is the mark of greatness in the Kingdom.
Humbling yourself like a child.
2. Don’t cause others to stumble - especially the vulnerable.
Dealing seriously with sin, Live set apart.
3. Pursue the lost with compassion and care.
Seeking and restoring the wandering, Pursue the one.
4. Rebuke and restore your brother/sister in love.
Resolving conflict God’s way, with love.
5. Forgive without limits – Forgive extravagantly as God has forgiven you.
POINT: JESUS is calling HIS CHURCH to a Higher standard of Love, Mercy, and Holiness.
PERSONAL PRAYER POINTS:
• For humility in your heart and relationships. – Humble like a child
• For boldness to confront and forgive others lovingly.
• For discernment in protecting others from stumbling.
• For a restoration mindset like the Good Shepherd.
OUR RESPONSE:
Let’s Pray,
FATHER GOD, We thank YOU for YOUR Word
LORD, give me a humble heart like a child.
Help me deal seriously with my sin or unforgiveness and not cause others to stumble.
Give me a shepherd’s heart to restore those who are wandering and astray.
I ask for wisdom to confront sin in love and to help restore the fallen.
Teach me to handle conflict with grace and truth.
Help me forgive others just as YOU have forgiven me.
(Collectively)
LORD JESUS, YOU are the Bread of Life, born in the House of Bread, broken for our sins. YOU forgive endlessly, and YOU call us to do the same. Help us to live in YOUR Kingdom with humility, holiness, compassion, and grace. Let us never forget the price YOU paid — the Bread broken, that we might be made whole.
In JESUS Name, Amen.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Pastor Bill
Hymns:
#490 “Jesus Loves Me” (simple childlike trust)
#59 “Jesus Paid It All”
#500 “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”
