one or two: that in the mouth of Deu. 19, 15.* two or three witnesses every word may stand. 17And if he wil not heare them, [1] tel the Church. And if he wil not heare the Church, let him be to thee as ″ the heathen and Publican. 18Amen I say to you, whatsoever you ″ shal bind upon earth, shal be bound also in Heaven: and whatsoever you ″ shal loose upon earth, shal be loosed also in Heaven. 19Againe I say to you, that if two of you shal [2] consent upon earth, concerning every thing whatsoever they shal aske, it shal be done to them of my Father which is in Heaven. 20For where there be two or three gathered in my name, there am I ″ in the middes of them.
21Then came Peter unto him and said: Lu. 17, 4.* Lord, how often shal my brother offend against me, & I forgive him? until seaven times? 22Jesus said to him: I say not to thee Lu. 17, 4.* until seaven times but until ″ seaventie times seaven times. ✠ The Ghospel upon the 21 Sunday after Pentecost.23Therfore is the Kingdom of Heaven likened to a man being a King, that would make an account with his servants. 24And when he began to make the account, there was one presented unto him that owed him ten thousand talents. 25And having not whence to repay it, his Lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children, and al that he had, and it to be repayed. 26But that servant falling downe, besought him, saying: Have patience toward me, and I wil repay thee all. 27And the Lord of that servant moved with pitie, dimissed him, and the debt he forgave him. 28And when that servant was gone forth, he found one of his felow-servants that did owe him an hundred pence: and laying hands upon him thratled him, saying: Repay that thou owest. 29And his felow servant falling downe, besought him, saying: Have patience toward me, and I wil repay thee all. 30And he would not: but went his way, and cast him into prison, til he repayed the debt. 31And his felow-servants seeing what was done, were very sorie, and they came, and told their Lord al that was done. 32Then his Lord called him; and he said unto him: Thou ungratious servant, I forgave thee al the debt because thou besoughtest me: oughtest not thou therfore also to have mercie upon thy felowe-servant, even as I had mercie upon thee? 33And his Lord being angrie delivered him to the tormenters, until he repayed al the debt. 34So also shal my Heavenly Father doe to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your harts.✠
ANNOTATIONS
Chap. XVIII.
1. Who is the greater.) The occasion of this question, & of their contention for Superioritie among the rest of their infirmities, which they had before the comming of the Holy Ghost, was (as certaine holy Doctours write) upon emulation toward Peter, whom only they saw preferred before the rest, in the payment of the tribute, by these wordes of our Saviour: c. 17, v. 27.Give it them for me and thee. Chrys. ho. 59. Hier. in Mat. Upon this place.
7. Scandals.) The simple be most annoyed by taking scandal of their Preachers,
- ↑ That is (as S. Chrysostom here expoundeth it) Tel the Prelates & cheefe Pastours of the Church; for they have jurisdiction to bind & loose such offenders, by the wordes folowing v. 18.
- ↑ Al joyning togeather in the unity of Christes Church in Councels, and Synods, or publike prayers, is of more force then of any particular man.
