The heart of forgiveness in Matthew 18
Ian Paul
30.33
11 September 2023
12 November 2025
The lectionary gospel reading for Trinity 15 in Year A is Matt 18.21–35. It continues Matthew’s collection of Jesus’ teaching about life in the 'ekklesia'—not the ‘church’ as we would understand it now, but within the community of God, gathered around obedience to Jesus himself.
This section including challenging teaching about forgiveness, which focuses not on satisfaction of the sinned-against, but on the foundation of forgiveness. Join James and Ian as they explore the text and its implications.
Revd James Blandford-Baker is vicar of Histon and Impington, two villages just north of Cambridge. Revd Dr Ian Paul is Associate Minister of St Nic's, Nottingham, and writes the widely-read blog www.psephizo.com. Full written commentary behind the discussion can be found on the blog each week.