Take heed that ye despise not, &c.— Because pride, or a high opinion of one's self, with the contempt of others, is often the parent of offences, our Lord solemnly cautioned his disciples against that evil, and shewed them the unreasonableness of it by this delightful argument,—that the meanest Christian is an object of the care of Providence—Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; one who is converted, and becomes as a little child; one of my real disciples, of whom I have been speaking to you; for I say unto you, that in heaven, &c. which Dr. Clarke interprets, "they are the care of angels, and under the protection of God." The expression, behold the face of my Father, alludes to the custom of earthly courts, where the great men, those who are highest in office and favour, are most frequently in the prince's palace and presence. Wherefore, when we are told that the angels of the least of Christ's disciples behold the face of God, the meaning is, that the chief angels are employed in taking care of such; and our Lord's reasoning is both strong and beautiful, when on this account he cautions us against despising them. To conclude, by telling them that the Son of man was come to seek and save that which was lost; and by delivering the parable of the lost sheep, which its owner found after much painful searching, he has eminently displayed the immense care which the Father Almighty takes of men, and has given us a just notion of the value which he puts on the least of his reasonable creatures. He gives his angels charge concerning them; he has sent his only-begotten Son to save them, and condescends to share in the joy which the heavenly beings are filled with upon their recovery. The particle γαρ, rendered for in Matthew 18:11 introduces another reason to enforce the caution not to despise these little ones; and therefore would be rendered more properly, moreover or further. "Not only the angels minister to their salvation, but I, the Lord of men and angels, am come down from heaven for their sakes." See Macknight, Grotius, and Suicer's Thesaurus, vol. 1: p. 43.
Related Commentaries of Matthew 18:10
Matthew 18:10-11
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.