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Time after Pentecost · Year A

Proper 18

September 6, 2026

Jesus and the Little Child, James Tissot
Jesus and the Little Child, James Tissot, 1886-1896Brooklyn Museum, New York
Jesus sits on the steps holding a small child close, while the disciples who argued about greatness stand watching.Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? He called a child, whom he put among them … Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.James TissotA French painter who spent ten years illustrating the life of Christ.Brooklyn Museum, New YorkBrooklyn Museum, New York.Brooklyn Museum, New York
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 18:1-20Mt 18:1-20
EpistleRom. 13:1-10Rom 13:1-10
Old TestamentEzek. 33:7-9Ez 33:7-9
PsalterPs. 32:1-7Ps 32:1-7

Overview & Insights

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

In the community discourse Jesus calls his followers to humble themselves like little children and warns sternly against causing one of these little ones to stumble. He tells the parable of the lost sheep and gives a pattern for confronting sin and reconciling with a fellow believer.

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Take it further: Matthew 18:1-20

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 18:15-20Commentary on Mt 18:15-20 Working Preacher

The Lutheran home commentary on the reconciliation core of this reading by a seminary scholar.

Matthew 18 - Reconciliation and ForgivenessMt 18 - Reconciliation and Forgiveness Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical study of the little ones, the lost sheep, and confronting sin.

Matthew 18:15-20 CommentaryMt 18:15-20 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary on discipline and reconciliation in the community.

Matthew 18:1 CommentariesMt 18:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse from the question about the greatest.

Matthew 18:1 Verse-by-Verse CommentaryMt 18:1 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight

A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further preaching voice.

Matthew 18 CommentaryMt 18 Commentary Precept Austin

An inductive study page collecting word studies and cross references on the chapter.

Background & Word Study

Matthew 18 (Matthew Henry Complete)Mt 18 (Mt Henry Complete) Bible Study Tools

Matthew Henry's full exposition of the chapter for a classic devotional reading.

Matthew 18:1 InterlinearMt 18:1 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, including binding and loosing.

Overview: Matthew 14-28Overview: Mt 14-28 BibleProject

An animated overview of Matthew that frames its teaching on life together.

The Church Fathers

Matthew 18 (Catena)Mt 18 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on the little ones, correction, and Christ among the gathered.

Podcast

#920: 15th Sunday after Pentecost (Ord. 23A) – Sept. 10, 2023 Working Preacher (Sermon Brainwave)

Luther Seminary’s homiletics roundtable on this Sunday’s appointed texts, including Matthew 18:1-20.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

A curated index of images for this reading across the history of Christian art.

Study Hub

The Text This Week: Proper 18A Textweek

The Textweek hub aggregating commentary, art, and sermon links across every reading for the day.

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