Matthew 18 | Devotional - Bible Reading and Prayer - One Chapter a Day

Matthew Chapter 18 | Best devotional materials, including: introduction, background, main content, Bible reading and prayer video, Scripture, and post-reading prayer to help you gain a deeper understanding of biblical truth.

Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to our One Chapter per day Bible reading time. 

By God’s grace, today we will read Matthew chapter 18.

In this chapter, Jesus teaches profound lessons about humility, forgiveness, and care for one another within God’s kingdom. He reminds the disciples that greatness in the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who humble themselves like little children. Jesus warns against causing others to stumble and speaks about the Father’s heart for every lost sheep. Finally, He gives a powerful parable about the unforgiving servant, showing that we must forgive others just as God has forgiven us.

This passage reminds us that true greatness comes from humility, that every soul is precious to God, and that forgiveness is at the very center of the Christian life. Let us listen with reverence and an open heart to God’s Word together.

Matthew Chapter 18 Introduction:

Matthew chapter 18 centers on life within the community of believers—teaching humility, forgiveness, and reconciliation as the heart of God’s kingdom. In this chapter, Jesus instructs His disciples on how to live together as His followers, emphasizing that greatness in the kingdom of heaven comes through childlike humility, that every believer is precious to God, and that forgiveness should have no limit. Matthew 18 provides profound lessons about relationships, correction, mercy, and love among God’s people.

Main Content of Matthew Chapter 18:

1. True Greatness in the Kingdom (verses 1–5)
The disciples asked Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. In response, Jesus placed a little child among them and said that unless they turn and become like little children, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. True greatness, Jesus explained, is found in humility, purity of heart, and simple faith—qualities that reflect dependence on God rather than pride or status.

2. Warning Against Causing Others to Stumble (verses 6–9)
Jesus issued a stern warning against causing others—especially “these little ones who believe in Me”—to fall into sin. He used strong imagery, saying it would be better to have a millstone hung around one’s neck than to lead another into sin. Jesus urged His followers to deal drastically with anything that causes them to stumble, showing how seriously God views sin and its destructive effects.

3. The Parable of the Lost Sheep (verses 10–14)
Jesus illustrated God’s compassion through the parable of the lost sheep. Just as a shepherd leaves ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that strayed, God rejoices over one sinner who repents. This parable reveals the tender heart of the Father, who values every single soul and pursues each one with relentless love.

4. Restoring a Brother or Sister (verses 15–20)
Jesus gave practical steps for resolving conflict within the community. If a believer sins, one should first address the issue privately; if that fails, bring one or two others, and finally involve the church if needed. The goal is always restoration, not punishment. Jesus also reaffirmed the power of unity in prayer and the authority given to His followers when they gather in His name.

5. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (verses 21–35)
When Peter asked how many times he should forgive someone—up to seven times—Jesus replied, “seventy-seven times,” meaning limitless forgiveness. He then told the parable of the unforgiving servant: a man forgiven of an enormous debt refused to forgive a small debt owed to him. The parable warns believers that those who receive God’s mercy must also extend mercy to others.

Spiritual Significance of Matthew Chapter 18:

Matthew 18 reveals that life in God’s kingdom is marked by humility, compassion, and forgiveness. It reminds us that God deeply values every soul and calls His children to live in harmony, restoring one another in love. True greatness is not found in power but in service; true holiness is shown not by judgment but by grace. Through this chapter, we are invited to reflect the heart of our Heavenly Father—one who seeks the lost, forgives the guilty, and teaches His people to walk together in unity.

As we read Matthew chapter 18, may our hearts be softened to love humbly, forgive freely, and value every soul as God does. Let this chapter remind us that the kingdom of heaven begins not with pride or position, but with a humble heart that mirrors Christ’s own.

Matthew Chapter 18 YouTube Bible Reading and Prayer Video:

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Causing to Stumble

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

The Parable of the Wandering Sheep

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11] 

12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Dealing With Sin in the Church

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”