Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:1
Verse 1. At the same time] Or hour; but wra is frequently used to signify some particular time: however, instead of wra, three MSS., all the Itala but four, and Origen, read hmera, day. Origen says both readings were extant in MSS. in his time. Who is the greatest] Could these disciples have viewed the kingdom of Christ in any other light than that of a temporal one? Hence they wished to know whom he would make his prime minister-whom his general-whom his chief chancellor-whom supreme judge, &c., &c. Is it he who first became thy disciple, or he who is thy nearest relative, or he who has most frequently entertained thee, or he who is the oldest, merely as to years? Could this inquiry have proceeded from any but the nine disciples who had not witnessed our Lord's transfiguration? Peter, James, and John, were surely more spiritual in their views! And yet how soon did even these forget that his kingdom was not of this world! See Mark x. 35, &c.; John xviii. 10, &c. The disciples having lately seen the keys delivered to Peter, and found that he, with James and John, had been privileged with being present at the transfiguration, it is no wonder if a measure of jealousy and suspicion began to work in their minds. From this inquiry we may also learn, that the disciples had no notion of Peter's supremacy; nor did they understand, as the Roman Catholics will have it, that Christ had constituted him their head, either by the conversation mentioned chap. xvi. 18, 19, or by the act mentioned in the conclusion of the preceding chapter. Had they thought that any such superiority had been designed, their present question must have been extremely impertinent. Let this be observed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus , etc.] When the receivers of the half shekel had spoke to Peter about his masters paying it, and Christ and he had conversed about it, by whose orders he had taken up a fish out of the sea, and from it a piece of money, which he had paid for them both; just at this time came the other eleven disciples to the house where Christ and Peter were: saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven ? Mark says, that the disciples disputed this point in the way; and that when they came to Jesus, he put the question to them, what they had been disputing about: and Luke takes no notice of any question put by one or another; but observes, that Christ perceiving the thoughts of their hearts, in order to rebuke, and convince them, took the method hereafter mentioned. All which is reconcilable, and of a piece: the sum is this; that as they were in the way to Capernaum they fell upon this question, which, being known to Christ, the omniscient God; when they came to Capernaum, and to the house where he was, and knowing that the same thought was in them, he asked them what they had been talking of by the way; upon which they were silent; but calling them nearer to him, and they finding that the matter was known, took courage to put the question to him, and desired to have his sense of it. The Vulgate Latin reads, who dost thou think; and the Arabic version, who in thy opinion, etc. The occasion of this could not be the respect shown to Peter, in paying the half shekel for him; for this conversation was begun in the way, and before this was done, or, at least, before they knew it: rather it might be occasioned by his promise of giving the keys of the kingdom of heaven to him; or by his taking him, and James, and John, so lately to the mountain with him, where he was transfigured before them; though it seems best to ascribe it to the mention Christ had made of his resurrection from the dead: for as Dr. Lightfoot, Hammond, and others, have observed, something of this kind generally followed any account Christ gave of his death and resurrection, as ( Mark 9:31,34 Matthew 20:19,20 Luke 22:24) and this thought of an earthly kingdom still continued, when they saw him risen, ( Acts 1:6) for they had been taught, that the resurrection, and the kingdom of the Messiah, would be at the same time f985 . And, by the kingdom of heaven, they meant, not the kingdom of glory in another world, but the kingdom of the Messiah in this; and which they looked upon to be a temporal one, though they call it the kingdom of heaven; not only because Christ often used this phrase, but because the times of the Messiah, and his reign, were frequently so called by the Jews; See Gill Matthew 3:2 . Now, what they wanted to be satisfied in was, who should be advanced to the post highest in that kingdom next to the Messiah; and, as they doubted not but it would fall on one of them, to have the most honourable post, and the place of the greatest trust, they were desirous of knowing who it should be.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Christ spoke many words of his sufferings, but only one of his glory yet the disciples fasten upon that, and overlook the others. Many love to hear and speak of privileges and glory, who are willing to pass by the thoughts of work and trouble. Our Lord set a little child befor them, solemnly assuring them, that unless they were converted and mad like little children, they could not enter his kingdom. Children, when very young, do not desire authority, do not regard outwar distinctions, are free from malice, are teachable, and willingl dependent on their parents. It is true that they soon begin to sho other dispositions, and other ideas are taught them at an early age but these are marks of childhood, and render them proper emblems of the lowly minds of true Christians. Surely we need to be daily renewed in the spirit of our minds, that we may become simple and humble, a little children, and willing to be the least of all. Let us daily stud this subject, and examine our own spirits.
Greek Textus Receptus
εν 1722 PREP εκεινη 1565 D-DSF τη 3588 T-DSF ωρα 5610 N-DSF προσηλθον 4334 5656 V-AAI-3P οι 3588 T-NPM μαθηται 3101 N-NPM τω 3588 T-DSM ιησου 2424 N-DSM λεγοντες 3004 5723 V-PAP-NPM τις 5101 I-NSM αρα 687 PRT-I μειζων 3187 A-NSM-C εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF βασιλεια 932 N-DSF των 3588 T-GPM ουρανων 3772 N-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. The Rev. inserts then after who, thus restoring the Greek ara, which the A.V. overlooks. Who then? Who, as things stand. Since one of our number has been doubly honored in being called "the rock," and in being appointed to take part in a special miracle, who then is greatest?
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:1 {Who qen is greatest} (tis ara meizwn estin). The Ara seems to point back to the tax-collection incident when Jesus had claimed exemption for them all as "sons" of the Father. But it was not a new dispute, for jealousy had been growing in their hearts. The wonderful words of Jesus to Peter on Mount Hermon (#Mt 16:17-19) had evidently made Peter feel a fresh sense of leadership on the basis of which he had dared even to rebuke Jesus for speaking of his death (#16:22). And qen Peter was one of the three (James and John also) taken with the Master up on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter on that occasion had spoken up promptly. And just now the tax-collectors had singled out Peter as the one who seemed to represent the group. Mark (#Mr 9:33) represents Jesus as asking them about their dispute on the way into the house, perhaps just after their question in #Mt 18:1. Jesus had noticed the wrangling. It will break out again and again (#Mt 20:20-28; Lu 22:24). Plainly the primacy of Peter was not yet admitted by the others. The use of the comparative meizwn (so ho meizwn in verse #4) rather than the superlative megistos is quite in accord with the _Koin_ idiom where the comparative is displacing the superlative (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 667ff.). But it is a sad discovery to find the disciples chiefly concerned about their own places (offices) in the political kingdom which they were expecting.
