Matthew 18

Which worship songs are based on Matthew 18?

  1. Who Is Greatest? — Jon Guerra (2025) Matthew 18:1-4

    The song paraphrases the teaching of Jesus about greatness in the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing that the humble and childlike will be exalted.

  2. Unpredictable — Francesca Battistelli (2008) Matthew 18:3-4

    The requirement to approach God as a child echoes Jesus' teaching about becoming like children and humbling oneself. The song's surrounding prayer for humility supports this passage as the intended connection.

  3. Rest — John Mark Pantana (2020) Matthew 18:3

    The repeated instruction links entrance into God's Kingdom with becoming childlike, closely paraphrasing Jesus' response to the disciples about humility and conversion.

  4. Can You Hear Me (Demo) — Jamie MacDonald (2026) Matthew 18:3-4

    The prayer for childlike faith echoes Jesus’ teaching that his followers must become like children, emphasizing humble dependence and trust.

  5. Change in the Making — Addison Road (2010) Matthew 18:3-4

    The desire for childlike faith evokes Jesus' teaching that his followers must become like little children. The song's accompanying emphasis on humility and the breaking of pride fits the passage's explanation of childlike lowliness.

  6. The Wonder — Jason Gray (2020) Matthew 18:3-4

    The prayer for restored childlikeness reflects Jesus' teaching that entry into God's kingdom requires becoming humble like a child.

  7. Diamonds as Your Skin (live) — John Mark Pantana (2020) Matthew 18:3-4

    The opening prayer closely echoes Jesus’ instruction that his disciples must become like children, emphasizing humility and trusting dependence.

  8. Children of the Earth — Josh Garrels (2009) Matthew 18:3

    The insistence that adults must become childlike closely adapts Jesus' teaching that his followers must change and become like children to enter the kingdom of heaven.

  9. Still Believe In The Magic — Chris Llewellyn (2023) Matthew 18:3-4

    The prayer to retain a childlike spirit recalls Jesus' teaching that entry into the kingdom requires becoming like a child, especially in humility and receptivity.

  10. Perfect Love — Josh Garrels (2019) Matthew 18:3

    The prayer to be made childlike in relation to God’s kingdom directly echoes Jesus’ teaching that entry into the kingdom requires turning and becoming like children.

  11. I Will Love You — Jason Crabb (2009) Matthew 18:10

    The description of angels directly beholding God closely adapts Jesus’ statement that the angels in heaven continually behold his Father’s face.

  12. Get Found Tonight — ApologetiX (2010) Matthew 18:12-14

    The closing section explicitly names Matthew 18, identifying the other Gospel account of the shepherd seeking a wandering sheep. The search imagery and emphasis on the individual sheep directly engage that passage.

  13. All I Know — Childlike CiCi & TuKool Tiff & LANELL GRANT & Jackie Hill Perry (2025) Matthew 18:12-14

    The outro closely retells Jesus’ illustration of a shepherd leaving ninety-nine sheep to recover the one that wandered, with wording especially aligned to Matthew’s account.

  14. For Just You — ApologetiX (2012) Matthew 18:12-14

    The shepherd's pursuit of an individual wandering sheep directly recalls the lost-sheep parable in both cited passages. The celebration upon finding the lost one particularly identifies Luke's account.

  15. Living on the Top — DeWayne Woods (2009) Matthew 18:18

    The song reproduces Jesus' paired declarations about earthly binding and loosing corresponding to heaven. Its collective address favors Matthew 18:18 over the parallel statement addressed to Peter in Matthew 16:19.

  16. Spoken — William McDowell (2011) Matthew 18:18

    The bridge closely reproduces Jesus' teaching that binding and loosing on earth correspond to binding and loosing in heaven. Its collective address favors Matthew 18:18 over the similar instruction addressed individually to Peter in Matthew 16:19.

  17. Triumphant — VaShawn Mitchell (2011) Matthew 18:18

    The declarations about binding and loosing on earth and their correspondence in heaven closely adapt Jesus' teaching to his disciples. Despite transcription irregularities, the paired actions and earthly-heavenly correspondence identify the reference.

  18. One Prayer — Pastor Mike Jr. & Tamela Mann (2023) Matthew 18:19

    The bridge combines Jesus' teaching about believers agreeing together in prayer with his teaching about receiving through believing prayer.

  19. Pray — Pastor Mike Jr. (2025) Matthew 18:19

    The claim that believers who agree together in faith will receive recalls Jesus' teaching about two people agreeing in prayer.

  20. Press On — Keith & Kristyn Getty & The Getty Girls (2023) Matthew 18:20

    The opening closely reproduces Jesus’ promise of his presence among even a small number assembled in his name.

  21. Só Tu És Santo - Ao Vivo — MORADA (2017) Matthew 18:20

    The description of two or three people gathering in devotion to Jesus clearly invokes His promise to be present among even the smallest assembly gathered in His name.

  22. Shoulder to Shoulder — Allies (2011) Matthew 18:20

    The opening links believers gathering in God's name with divine support, closely adapting Jesus' promise to be present among those gathered in his name. The song expresses that presence as communal strength.

  23. There Is Power — Lincoln Brewster (2014) Matthew 18:20

    The opening closely adapts Jesus’ promise to be present wherever even a small number gather in his name.

  24. Where Jesus Is — Joey + Rory (2010) Matthew 18:20

    The chorus closely adapts Jesus’s promise to be present wherever two or three gather in his name. Its emphasis on even two people gathering makes this a specific reference rather than a general statement about divine presence.

  25. Jesus We Look to Thee — Kim Walker‐Smith (2010) Matthew 18:20

    The opening stanza closely adapts Jesus’ promise to be present among those gathered in his name. The congregation explicitly appeals to that promise as the basis for expecting his presence.

  26. Denomination Blues — Buddy Greene (2011) Matthew 18:20

    The Episcopalian verse comically adapts Jesus' statement about a small number gathering in his name, changing the number and replacing the promised divine presence with a drinking joke.

  27. Surely The Presence — Greater Vision (2024) Matthew 18:20

    The song directly invokes Jesus’ promise to be present when even two or three believers gather in his name.

  28. Ready or Not — Hillsong UNITED (2019) Matthew 18:20

    The reference to a gathering of two or three people and Christ being present among them directly engages Jesus' promise concerning even the smallest gathering in his name.

  29. Vem Com Glória — Elaine de Jesus (2015) Matthew 18:20

    The congregation appeals to God's promise to be present when believers gather together to seek him. This closely adapts Jesus' assurance of his presence among those gathered in his name.

  30. Só Tu És Santo / Uma Coisa / Deixa Queimar / Quando Ele Vem - Ao Vivo — MORADA (2021) Matthew 18:20

    The description of a gathering of two, three, or more people directly evokes Jesus’ promise to be present among those assembled in his name.

  31. All That Stuff's in There to Remind Me — ApologetiX (2022) Matthew 18:20

    The song explicitly cites this verse and restates Christ's promise to be present when even a small number of believers gather in his name.

  32. 7x70 — Chris August (2010) Matthew 18:21-22

    The title and repeated numerical formula unmistakably invoke Jesus’ answer to Peter about how often to forgive. The song applies that instruction to repeated family wounds, presenting forgiveness as a commitment that moves beyond counting offenses.

  33. Lover Of My Soul — TAYA (2023) Matthew 18:21-22

    The numerical expression about repeated forgiveness unmistakably recalls Jesus' answer to Peter concerning forgiveness beyond ordinary limits.

Matthew 18 (King James Version)

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.