PRAY
READ – Matthew 18:1 – 9
Have you ever asked a friend to describe somewhere to you?
Perhaps where they’ve just been on holiday?
You’ve never been, so you want to know what it’s like…
For me it’s SYDNEY. I’ve never been, but knowing Ross was a great chance to find out! To ask someone who knows all about it!
This morning we meet the disciples asking Jesus about the Kingdom of Heaven they want to know what it’s like, and specifically “Who is the Greatest?”
Now I don’t think this question is coming from quite the same place as the request of James and John to sit at the right and left of Christ in the Kingdom, as recorded in Matthew 20, and Mark 10. I think it’s a genuine question, after all, this conversation comes just after the transfiguration where the disciples see Jesus having a chat with Elijah and Moses. So they know those are the Top 3 in the kingdom maybe they think they’ll sneak in in 4th place perhaps.
Ok… so maybe the disciples weren’t vying for place in the Kingdom just yet, but Jesus nonetheless exposes their wrong thinking about what the Kingdom is like he goes on to give them some pointers as to what life in God’s Kingdom is like, more precisely, what the members God’s Kingdom are like…
1stBecome like Children
v.3You can’t even get into the Kingdom unless you change and become like children
There’s two things they’re called to do-1) Change2) Become childlike
Change-that’s a heart change, a repentance of the ideas of what greatness is, and a change that they’d stop striving for what they think greatness in the Kingdom is and to start to follow Jesus way!
Become childlike-What status, what greatness does a child have in Jewish society? None whatsoever! This is a big rebuke for the disciples if you even want to be in the Kingdom, you’ve gotta become like this child, you’ve gotta become nothing!
v.4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom
Humility is the mark of greatness. It’s the humble nature of the child that promotes him to Kingdom Greatness. God’s view of greatness brings down our own prideful views of what greatness is He mocks our arrogance with a child.
Jesus defines what Kingdom Greatness is, and he models it in his own life too
“I have not come to be served but to serve”
“Though He was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor”
“He made himself nothing, He humbled himself and became obedient to death”
2nd Welcome God’s Children
v.5Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me
The Kingdom is a place where children are welcomed.
What will motivate you to welcome children into the Kingdom
1) You welcome God the Father Father and child are - connected
Many of you are parents… how did you feel when your children were offended, or warmly welcomed by others??
2) A Humble view of yourself! If you are like a child you will - welcome others
How do you view yourself? How do you view others?
Do you welcome others, children, people who are nothing?
3rdProtect God’s Children
v.6Don’t cause the children to sin
First. Jesus gives us all a warning. The positive message is that we should welcome children in his name, but a warning follows straight away. If you cause a little one who believes in Jesus to sin (or to stumble) you’d be better off dead! So serious is this deed of causing young Christians to sin, that it’s better to receive the capital punishment of the ancient world than what than to face God in judgement!
v.8-9Don’t let yourself be caused to sin
Jesus concludes with a personal warning to us all, a warning to guard ourselves. He uses some pretty extreme advice although it’s metaphorical. You see Jesus doesn’t want us to maim ourselves in an effort to sin less, but he does want us to be ruthless and practical in resisting temptation to sin.
The problem is that changing these practical things doesn’t get you into the kingdom, gouging out your eyes doesn’t save you it just makes you a condemned sinner with no eyes. It’s only a spiritual change that will ultimately save you.
The Test of Childlikeness-what are the members of God’s Kingdom like?
Do we recognise that in the eyes of God we have no status, we’re like children?
Do we recognise that we stumble into sin and cause others to as well?
Do we recognise that it is just and fair that we should be thrown into the fire of hell?
You see, Jesus isn’t asking you to be more modest, to be more apologetic towards God, he’s not saying try harder to avoid sinning. He’s saying you need a new heart! You need to humble yourself before God, because you have no status, you’re a sinner who deserves the fire of hell. Humbling yourself allows you to see what you’re really like, the mess that you’re in, and your desperate need for a saviour…
…and it shows you how great God is, so great that God himself would stoop down to our level, he’d make himself nothing to save us from the mess we’re in, to give us a new heart, to give us life, to make us people of His Kingdom.
