Matthew 18:2-6
Called to him ( προσκαλεσαμενος ). Indirect middle voice aorist participle. It may even be Peter's "little child" ( παιδιον ) as it was probably in Peter's house (Mr 9:33).Set him ( εστησεν ). Transitive first aorist active indicative, not intransitive second aorist, εστη.
In the midst of them ( εν μεσω αυτων ). Luke adds (Lu 9:47) "by his side" ( παρ' εαυτω ). Both are true.
Except ye turn and become ( εαν μη στραφητε κα γενησθε ). Third-class condition, undetermined but with prospect of determination. Στραφητε is second aorist passive subjunctive and γενησθε second aorist middle subjunctive. They were headed in the wrong direction with their selfish ambition. "His tone at this time is markedly severe, as much as when He denounces the Pharisaism in the bud He had to deal with" (Bruce). The strong double negative ου μη εισελθητε means that they will otherwise not get into the kingdom of heaven at all, let alone have big places in it.
This little child ( το παιδιον τουτο ). This saying about humbling oneself Jesus repeated a number of times as for instance in Mt 23:12. Probably Jesus pointed to the child by his side. The ninth-century story that the child was Ignatius is worthless. It is not that the child humbled himself, but that the child is humble from the nature of the case in relation to older persons. That is true, however "bumptious" the child himself may be. Bruce observes that to humble oneself is "the most difficult thing in the world for saint as for sinner."
In my name ( επ τω ονοματ μου ). For "one such little child" ( ανψ βελιεςερ ιν Χριστ ) Luke (Lu 9:48) has "this little child" as a representative or symbol. "On the basis or ground of my name," "for my sake." Very much like εις ονομα in 10:41 which does not differ greatly from εν ονοματ (Ac 10:48).
These little ones ( των μικρων τουτων ). In the same sense as "one such little one" above. The child is the type of believers.
A great millstone ( μυλος ονικος ), literally, "a millstone turned by an ass." The upper millstone was turned by an ass ( ονος ). There were no examples of the adjective ονικος (turned by an ass) outside the N.T. until the papyri revealed several for loads requiring an ass to carry them, stones requiring an ass to move them, etc. Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East, p. 81) notes it also in papyri examples about the sale of an ass and tax for an ass's burden of goods.
The depth of the sea ( τω πελαγε της θαλασσης ). "The sea of the sea." Πελαγος probably from πλησσο, to beat, and so the beating, splashing waves of the sea. "Far out into the open sea, a vivid substitute for εις την θαλασσαν " (McNeile).
Copyright information for
RWP