Matthew 18

“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine…” The number nine makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.” The line’s distinctive content terms include compassion, debt, forgave. Its relationship to verses 26 and 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” Naming Have keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.” The line’s distinctive content terms include debt, prison, till. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt…” The line’s distinctive content terms include debt, desiredst, forgave. Its relationship to verses 31 and 33 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include delivered, lord, till. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.

“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.