Seeking Status
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Big Idea: Those priveleged to be given faith must remain humble
Big Idea: Those priveleged to be given faith must remain humble
Subtitle: Our need for humility in Christ.
Recap: Last week: Jesus tells them that suffering is coming. “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this because it was concealed from them. Right before that they had received a lesson in humility when they were unable to cast out a demon from a boy. They are still in need of a lesson on humility it seems, as they continue thinking in a prideful way. Who will be the greatest? And then, how dare someone do ministry without our blessing!
An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.
But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side
and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.”
But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”
Big Idea: Those priveleged to be given faith must remain humble
Big Idea: Those priveleged to be given faith must remain humble
This passage was greatly convicting to me personally
Some passages hit a little harder.
SEEKING STATUS: There is a danger to believers that is illustrated here.
They are true believers
We need to understand there are true believers who fall into arrogance.
There are also false converts who are arrogant.
We may not always know right off who is sincere and who isn’t. We will know in time, but we cannot always know. Just because someone has flaws, even many flaws, does not automatically mean they are not part of the family of believers. Just because someone seems very upright and sincere does not mean they are not a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
Jesus’ own close-knit group fell into the trap of wanting recognition, perhaps power or prestige.
An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.
This argument was apparently a heated one.
Imagine the discussion, what Peter may have thought, or Matthew or Andrew.
But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side
Jesus is about to give an object lesson. He brings in a child. Why? He could have just said to them, “be like a child”. But he wants this to be a fully visual illustration. Maybe that would help the lesson to sink in.
and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
Many have used this, along with the passage “Let the little children come to me” to be an impetus for children’s ministry. Some churches have gone to such lengths that children’s ministry is the overarching theme of the whole church. In many churches, everything revolves around the children’s ministry
I am not against children’s ministry per se.
However, the point of this illustration is not really about children’s ministry. And let the little children come to me really isn’t only about Jesus caring for children. There is a bigger lesson here to adults. In both passages, Jesus is telling adults they need to be like children.
Children are:
dependent
trusting
unburdened by political
usually connect easily with other children
Nowhere does scripture teach us to prioritize any particular group in evangelism.
An argument could be made to prioritize evangelizing and discipling men, especially husbands and fathers, because they are more likely to guide their children in the faith. The church equips laypeople to do ministry.
At home
in the world
etc
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,
but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
To such belongs: Not to them only, but to such. Be like children.
“Real men”in that day did not spend time with children. Only a servant or a woman would spend a lot of time with children.
It was humbling to be with children, and humbling to be like a child
people seeking status usually try to find favor with people above them in station
people who are not seeking status will to be more likely see all people, including the lowly, children, poor, sick, etc.
If you are seeking to be great, you may not wish to associate with the common person
Kent Hughes:
Luke, Vol. 1—That You May Know the Truth Chapter 44: True Greatness
Why are things so upside-down? Consider the difference between dogs and cats. The master pets a dog, and the dog wags its tail and thinks, “He must be God.” The master pets his cat, and the cat purrs, shuts its eyes, and thinks to itself, “I must be God.” After God has graciously reached down to us, there is a perverse human tendency to think like the cat!
So we are to love children, to support them, to obey scripture and bring them up in a godly way, but the ministry of the church does not revolve around children. All are valuable. All need to come humbly. All with saving faith are equal participants in the kingdom. We are not to seek status, but we are to think of ourselves as lower than others. Phil2.1-7
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
The one who is least among you all is the one who is great.
So that is lesson one in humility in this short passage.
Now we move to the one that really got me: Jesus’ disciples are mad that someone not from their group is doing work for the kingdom.
John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.”
But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”
So here is a person who must have heard Jesus, and was out doing work in Jesus’ name. RC Sproul remarks:
A Walk with God: Luke 47. Who is the Greatest? (Luke 9:46–50)
How ironic that this report comes right after the episode where the disciples themselves had failed in their efforts to heal a possessed person. Now here is one who is not even one of the inner circle who is doing it.
Was there some jealousy at work here? Almost certainly. In their pride, they couldn’t allow someone else to do work in Jesus’ name. They were the ones with Jesus! How dare this man go around doing good work for Jesus?
Matthew Henry:
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Luke 9:43–50)
This man they rebuked and restrained; they would not let him pray and preach, though it was to the honour of Christ, though it did good to men and weakened Satan’s kingdom, because he did not follow Christ with them; he separated from their church, was not ordained as they were, paid them no respect, nor gave them the right hand of fellowship. Now, if ever any society of Christians in this world had reason to silence those that were not of their communion, the twelve disciples at this time had; and yet, 2. Jesus Christ chided them for what they did, and warned them not to do the like again, nor any that profess to be successors of the apostles:
This may recall you students of scripture to a time when Eldad and Medad were preaching, and Joshua spoke to Moses all in a huff, worried for Moses’ sake that these men were taking away from Moses’ authority.
Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp.
And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.”
But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”
I said this is the part that got to me. I care deeply about good teaching, correct doctrine, and I am concerned how lacking it is in many Christian circles. But I also must remember that those who may be a little less doctrinally sound may still be used of the Lord.
I can remember responding to the gospel
I could go back to the same spot in the basement of the church.
Looking back, I now know that there were some bad teachings in that church.
Yet God used that church to draw me to himself.
Therefore, I am thankful to my parents for bringing me!
I am thankful that at least the gospel was presented!
And it was there I first had real faith.
We must balance our concern for proper doctrine and training for clergy with a knowledge that our sovereign God can draw someone to himself even by a person who may not have everything correct.
Yes, we should strive to have good doctrine, and know our Bible well, but also realize that God has always used imperfect people in his mission.
Big Idea: Those priveleged to be given faith must remain humble
Big Idea: Those priveleged to be given faith must remain humble
Like many of our lessons, this is easier said than done. He can strengthen us for the work. We can do what we must, always seeking Him and learning his word.
If those closest to Jesus fell into pride, how much more ought we to take heed? One of my drill instructors in boot camp would often say, before he was about to teach us something, “It would BEHOOVE you to pay attention!”.
I say the same to myself in this study, and I say to you as well: It would behoove you to pay attention. Watch out for pride and arrogance that can come, even to solid believers.
You see, these disciples were true believers. They have experienced the power of the ministry of Jesus Christ first-hand. And having experienced that power, they want a seat at the table. Think about a Presidential candidate who is sure to win. Perhaps Ronald Reagan, when he won his election, every poll indicated it would be a huge victory. Not every race is that easy to call. But if you were certain your candidate was going to win, and you were a friend, would you not be tempted to jockey for a position? We love to align ourselves with the powerful.
Human nature is self-serving. We love to seek status. But in the kingdom of God, the one who will be the least of these will be the greatest. God reached down to us, so let us not be like cats who think “I must be God”.
When we consider our need for humility, let us not be comparing ourselves to others, but to God himself. When we get to know Him and His character, we cannot help but be humbled. When we realize our utter need for him, we must realize that we are indeed low, because He is so High. We must not seek to learn who among us is the greatest, and we must not look with derision on those who are serving Christ, but not in the exact way we would have.
