KBM Who Is The Greatest?

We continue our theme of late over “The Life of Christ” by looking at Jesus physical life here on earth. In our last study we focused on Mark 7:1-23 wherein Jesus teaches the disciples the difference between truth and man’s traditions that can often make void truth, God’s word. Today we are going to be looking at an unfortunately common theme with the apostles while Jesus was “in the flesh.” And that theme revolved around wondering “Who Is The Greatest.” In Mark 9:33-37 we see the apostles arguing with each other over their warped view of the the “coming kingdom” at that time. They thought it would be an earthly kingdom but they were wrong, as God never intended to create an earthly kingdom. Jesus handled this arguing by telling them in Mark 9:35, “…if anyone would be first, he must be last and servant of all.” In our text today we are going to be examining a different approach the apostles took in trying to answer the question “who is going to be the greatest in the kingdom.” This time, instead of arguing with each other they simply ask Jesus to answer it for them. Let’s read Matthew 18:1....

Matthew 18:1 ESV

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

However, I don’t want to focus on their question but rather Jesus’ answer. Jesus knew they were confused about the kingdom and instead of destroying their confidence he did what he often did and explained the truth in how they “ought to be thinking.”

He begins in Matthew 18:2-6 by explaining they “ought to become like little children.” This seems maybe odd at first when we consider the large number of passages that tell us “not to be like children but mature” like in Hebrews 5:12-14; Hebrews 6:1; Colossians 1:28; Philippians 3:15.

So what gives here? Why are they told to be like little children? The apostle Paul would say the same thing as Jesus was getting at to his disciples in 1 Corinthians 14:20 when he wrote…

1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV

20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

What Jesus and Paul are saying here is that Christians must be innocent and pure like children but mature in our knowledge of God’s word and wise in how to use it.

Jesus concluded his lesson over the apostles question in Matthew 18:10-12 by warning them “not to despise one of his little ones.” There are two realities that come forth from what Jesus is telling them. First, God knows who his children are.

Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…”

God knows us all, each and everyone who has ever been conceived. Secondly, God loves each and every person that he has placed life into when conceived. We could spend hours reading all the passages that express God’s love for us but here are just a few.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:35–39 ESV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Who is the greatest in the kingdom, in other words the church (Colossians 1:13)?

It is the one who fights the good fight of faith here on earth and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

It is the one that has endured the spiritual race (Hebrews 12:1-2), finished first (1 Corinthians 9:24), and has received the “victorious crown” (1 Corinthians 9:25; James 1:12; Revelation 2:10).

Let us seek being found faithful in God’s eyes above all else.