Stumbling Blocks

Brother’s Keeper

Genesis 3:24 “So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.”

Adam and Eve are thrusted out of the Garden

God stations cherubim outside to guard the entrance

This was Adam’s job (2:15)

Genesis 4:1–9 NASB95

Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.” Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Is Cain Responsible for Abel?

Was Adam responsible for Eve?

as she is the one who took from the fruit

Adam - relinquish his position as the head of household?

Point: There are certain jobs / roles given to respective members of the household

Family:

1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.”

Colossians 3:18–21 “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.”

-There is a God-ordained order in the Household

-Specific Roles are given to specific members of the household

-This is oftentimes interrupted and families are thrown into disarray

Reason this is interrupted is the curse

Because it is a natural part of our sin nature:

Genesis 3:16 “To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.””

Family of God (Church) also ought to incorporate order

1 Corinthians 12:4–12 NASB95

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

-Order of the Church Body is ordained by God

-and we (Church) are accountable for edifying, and encouraging one another - Just as the family

So: Am I my Brother’s Keeper?

The Little Ones

Last Week:

Jesus Begins His Discourse on the Church

-How do we interact in the Kingdom of Heaven

Disciples: Who is the Greatest in the KoH?

Converted - to even enter in

Less: of an experiential emotion or one time feeling

More: This conversion looks like a long walk of obedient faithfulness

Become humble as a child

What is Childlike faith?

Submission to God

Receive such children in the name of Jesus

Jesus sends us disciples

We have a responsibility to them

Are you your brother’s keeper?

Woe to the Stumbling Blocks

Read Text

These little ones …who believe in me…

Notice the Resemblance to John’ Gospel and letters

John has a tendency to over-simplify the message

Why?

Because he’s conveying a simple solution to a difficult problem

BELIEVE in JESUS for ETERNAL life

Matthew is attempting to simplify this concept for the same purpose: Clarity

Do not be a stumbling Block

1 Corinthians 8 NASB95

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

You have the capacity to make a younger Xtian stumble by negligence

You know you are free, be a solid example to those around you

Always be conscious of the ones that God has given you

There is a clear understanding of judgement to those who are a stumbling block

The World (outside of the Church) is surrounded by Stumbling Blocks

Understand: the world is contrary to the Church

We are commanded to be a holy people set apart for honorable use

We must contend with the outside world, and be cautious of the things we consume as Xtians

Be very cautious of Stumbling Blocks

vv 8-9

Literal or not?

Enter Life

Enter Life

Jesus is talking about a critical moment in the life of a Christian

There is a moment when you (Xtian) decide to turn away from Sin

and decision into eternal life

Do we not all enter in crippled?

battle wounds are expected

I have decided to follow Jesus I have decided to follow Jesus I have decided to follow Jesus No turning back, no turning back

Tho' none go with me, I still will follow Tho' none go with me, I still will follow Tho' none go with me, I still will follow No turning back, no turning back

The world behind me, the cross before me The world behind me, the cross before me The world behind me, the cross before me No turning back, no turning back

Will you decide now to follow Jesus? Will you decide now to follow Jesus? Will you decide now to follow Jesus? No turning back, no turning back No turning back No turning back