The Path to Reconciliation and Accountability
Matthew • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Let us Pray.
“Heavenly Father. We pray for unity among us, knowing that where two or three are gathered in Your name, You are there with us. Help us to stand together in faith, supporting one another in prayer and agreement, trusting in Your promise to hear us. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be always acceptable in thy sight, O LORD my strength and my redeemer.” Amen.
Please be seated.
When Jesus walked among his very imperfect disciples, He was concerned about their tendency to call attention to their own achievements instead of putting others before themselves. On one occasion, He chose to expose this tendency in a most unusual way: by using a small child to teach some vital life lessons that are true in every generation.
Let us travel to the first century to the city of Capernaum in the gospel of St Matthew beginning in Chapter 18.
Here we find Jesus asking them what they had been discussing among themselves, during their long walk from Caesarea Philippi. As it turns out, they had been debating about which one of them was the greatest.
Ashamed of their jostling, they stayed silent when Jesus asked what they had been talking about. Instead of truly revealing their debate they asked a general question. “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” This was simply a smoke screen intended to get Jesus to settle their actual question indirectly: Who (among us) is the greatest?
The Children Text (Verses 1-6):
Jesus responds by calling a child to Him and stating that unless they change and become like little children, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Talk about turning the tables! The child stood in their presence by direct invitation from Jesus. Unlike the disciples, who were jostling for first place, the child had no agenda, no stuff to strut, no desire for applause.
Jesus explained that the key to having a place in the kingdom of heaven is humility. The child had no pride, no arrogance, no conceit, no expectations. It was a what-you-see-is-what-you-get moment.
Jesus highlights the importance of having a childlike attitude. This means being open, trusting, and humble. He states that unless one changes and becomes like little children, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Our spiritual lesson is to recognize how easy it is to undervalue or discount little children, or for that matter, other believers who are weak and fragile in their faith. By showing preferential treatment to those who are gifted or wealthy or famous or powerful, we turn our backs on those less noticeable members of the church who often exhibit the character of Christ better than others.
If heaven places such a value on lost and weak souls, shouldn’t we?
Warnings About Temptation (Verses 7-9):
Jesus then picked up the theme of placing “stumbling blocks” in the path of others.
Let me tell you a personal story...
Growing up, I had a close group of friends who I spent most of my time with. We shared many interests, but as we got older, some of these friends started engaging in activities that I knew were not right for me. They began experimenting with drugs and often skipped school, which was something I didn't want any part of.
As a young man, I found myself at a crossroads, there was a stumbling block in my way. I valued their friendship, but I also knew that continuing to spend time with them would likely lead me down a path I didn't want to take. I realized that I needed to make a difficult decision to protect my values and future.
After a lot of thinking and reflection, I decided to distance myself from the group. It was a painful choice, because it meant losing friends and feeling alone for a while. However, I knew it was necessary to avoid the temptations that came with their lifestyle.
In the end, this decision allowed me to focus on my studies and build new friendships with people who shared my values. It was a challenging experience, but it taught me the importance of making tough choices to maintain my integrity and stay true to my beliefs.
This personal story dove tails nicely to what scripture tells us in verses 7-9. Jesus warns us about the snares of temptations and the serious consequences of causing others to sin. If we let stumbling blocks into our own lives, eventually a chain reaction will ensue that causes others to stumble as well. He uses language, suggesting that if a part of your body causes you to sin, it is better to remove it than to be led into sin.
Jesus wasn’t advocating literal self-mutilation as a solution for removing stumbling blocks in our lives. Rather, He wanted His followers to have uncompromising standards when it came to temptation and sin.
If presented with these temptations, as Christians, we should ask ourselves a couple of reflective questions. "How will this decision affect my relationship with God and others?" or "What does the Bible say about this temptation?"
By asking ourselves these questions we maintain a strong moral compass.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Verses 10-14):
Jesus continues his lesson by the parable of the Lost sheep. I like this parable because in a way it talks about me. I was that lost sheep that Jesus talks about. Were you like me? Were you lost sometime in your life?
Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep to illustrate God's care for each individual. He explains that just as a shepherd rejoices more over finding one lost sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not stray, God values every person and seeks to bring back those who have gone astray.
Verse 14 sums up this parable very nicely.
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
The point of the story is to serve as a reminder that no one, no one is too far gone for Jesus to redeem, and that he places equal value on each and every person.
Let us be reminded by a passage in the Book of Romans 3:23-24
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Jesus’ purpose was to correct the misconception that the believer who sinned was less valuable in the Father’s eyes than the rest. In reality, the Father values all of His believers equally. But note that this also draws us into our Father’s grace. God wanted the universe to know that he is a God who pursues His own and rescues even those who rebel against Him.
I would like to underscore the story's main message. Redemption is available to all and that everyone holds equal value in the eyes of Jesus.
Jesus follows up with this story of a straying sheep to the straying of a brother and how we can participate in his pursuit back to righteous living.
Patiently and Truthfully Pursuing the Straying Brother. (Verses 15-20):
If someone sins against you, first address the issue privately. If they do not listen, bring one or two others to help mediate. If the person still refuses to listen, bring the matter before the church.
In the event the believer continues to resist the appeals of all of his brothers and sisters, he is to be removed from the fellowship. He has refused submission to the church.
The Bible insists that every Christian be accountable to the local assembly.
Church discipline is more biblically understood as covering every effort by any individual or group in the church to turn a straying believer back to righteous living.
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
The motive is love, and the goal is to make it as easy as possible for the straying brother or sister to receive the message and make the change.
We may at the moment not recognize it, but, our disciplinary actions towards the sinning brother are actually our participation in the Father’s zealous pursuit of “his little one.”
The Power of Agreement in Prayer (Verses 18-20):
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.
We travel to the last few verses in this chapter to verse 18. It suggests that the decisions made by the disciples on earth, in accordance with Jesus’ teaching would be recognized and upheld in heaven.
In a broader sense, this passage is often understood to refer to the authority given to the church to make decisions about doctrine, discipline, and governance. It emphasizes the responsibility of church leaders to seek divine guidance and act in accordance with God's will.
As we follow Jesus’ guidelines and pursue the brother with the loving heart of the pursuing Father, we can rest assured that our decisions on earth are in the keeping with His in heaven.
We end with verses 19 and 20. These two verses are among the most misunderstood in the Bible.
Please note, nowhere in the Bible does God imply that He listens any differently to one person praying than He does to two, ten, or five hundred.
If He does hear two or more people better than He hears one, then we must assume that Jesus’ prayers lacked effectiveness when He went off alone to pray. But in the Book of James its says otherwise.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
God listens to each of His children, together or individually.
APPLICATION:
As we reflect on the teachings of Matthew 18:1-20 let us remember the profound responsibility we have as followers of Christ to nurture a community grounded in love, humility, and forgiveness.
We see that Jesus’ illustration of becoming like a child reminds us that we’re all equally valued in God’s eyes whoever we are or were.
That helps explain why, when the LORD Jesus Christ died, He died for all…including you and me. But unless the Spirit converts our hearts and we come to Jesus like little children, we will be too prideful, too stubborn. too selfish, or too arrogant.
Christians must learn humility. It was the way of Jesus. We must always give the glory to God for what He accomplishes in our lives. However, small or humble the task or job, we should faithfully perform it.
Faithfulness in seemingly small things is only preparation for the larger opportunities God has waiting for us.
We would all do well to remember our LORD’s rule… (From the ESV)
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
I pray that we go froward, and embrace these principles in His name. Amen.
