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Matthew 18 · Grade 5

The Community of the Forgiven

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Read and Think

In Matthew 18 Jesus teaches how His followers should live together. Greatness in the Kingdom belongs to the humble, not the powerful. Welcoming a child in Jesus' name is welcoming Him. Because the "little ones" matter so much to the Father, whose angels always see His face, Jesus gives strong warnings about causing others to stumble and urges radical seriousness about our own sin.

The parable of the lost sheep shows the Father's seeking love. Then Jesus outlines how to handle sin in the church: first go privately; if the person will not listen, take one or two others; if he still refuses, tell the assembly. The goal is always restoration, to have "gained back your brother." Jesus promises His presence: where two or three are gathered in His name, He is in their midst.

Peter's question about forgiving seven times leads to the parable of the unforgiving servant. The first servant owed ten thousand talents, a debt impossible to repay, and the king forgave it all. The servant then choked a fellow servant over a hundred denarii. The point is clear: our sin against God is a debt far greater than any wrong done to us. Those who have been forgiven must forgive.

Show What You Know

  1. Why must we be careful not to cause little ones to stumble?

  2. List the steps Jesus gave for when a brother sins.

  3. What is the goal of confronting someone who sinned?

  4. What promise did Jesus make about gathering in His name?

  5. Compare the two debts in the parable. What do they represent?

Crossword

215436

Across

  1. The shepherd went to look for the ____ sheep.
  2. The man ____ over the sheep he found.
  3. How many sheep the man had.

Down

  1. Jesus told Peter to ____ again and again.
  2. The greatest is whoever is ____ like a child.
  3. Jesus called a little ____ to Him.

Think About It

  1. Why do you think Jesus' steps for dealing with sin start privately rather than publicly?

  2. How should knowing how much God forgave you change the way you respond when someone hurts you?

Memory Verse

So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”

Matthew 18:35 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why should we forgive others when God has forgiven us so much?
  • What does it mean to be humble like a little child?
  • What is one specific way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.