Humility and Forgiveness: We come now to the fourth major discourse of Matthew. It ends with the usual formula in 19:1–2 (cf. 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 26:1). Chapter 18 reads very much like an early church manual and deals with subjects such as humility (vv. 1–4), responsibility (vv. 5–7), self-renunciation (vv. 8–10), individual care (vv. 11–14), discipline (vv. 15–20), fellowship (vv. 19–20), and forgiveness (vv. 23–35; cf. Barclay, vol. 2, pp. 173–74).

18:10–14 Matthew continues with further instructions about these little ones (childlike believers). It is important that no one treats them with disdain because their angels are in heaven and have unrestricted access to the presence of God. The thought is that, since God is constantly informed by angelic beings of the welfare of his flock (both …