Kingdom Priorities

Matthew 18:1–4 ESV

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Over the past several weeks, we considered the topic of “One Nation Under God.” One truth has remained central: followers of Jesus Christ belong first to the Kingdom of God. Today, we are moving on to discuss life in God’s kingdom.

(pause)

There is something in us that wants to matter… to be recognized… to be important.

(pause)

Every earthly kingdom defines greatness differently.

America celebrates influence.

Business celebrates success.

Sports celebrates championships.

Social media celebrates followers.

But Jesus overturns every definition.

The question the disciples asked in our text for today and the following teaching of Jesus is also recorded in Mark and Luke.

When we look to those parallel passages, we find that the question the disciples asked Jesus arose from an argument they were having among themselves.

Simply, the disciples were comparing themselves to one another, trying to determine who was the greatest, the best, the most special in God's kingdom. They could not agree, so finally they went to Jesus to find what he would say in order to give them better criteria to judge among themselves.

This question came about near the end of Jesus' earthly ministry. During this time, Jesus increasingly focused his training of the disciples about life in the kingdom of God. In Matthew's gospel, this is the fourth of Jesus' five discourses.

(pause)

Jesus answered by calling a small child and putting the little boy in the middle of the group. He then said…

Matthew 18:3 ESV

and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

What did Jesus mean here?

Jesus wasn’t saying children are morally superior. They certainly aren’t. Rather, Jesus was pointing out that children possessed no social rank. They had no claim to honor. Kingdom greatness begins when we stop pursuing status.

Roger Hahn, in his commentary on this scripture gives us this helpful background:

The biblical world was what anthropologists call an honor-shame society. The social status, and thus the worth of every person in the society, was established through an elaborate system of valuing and devaluing. Every conversation and social interaction was regulated by the relative status of each participant. People often engaged in one-upmanship and other ploys designed to increase their own honor or decrease the honor of another. Jesus persistently rejected both the devaluing of persons and the games played that were part of the honor-shame society.

The rest of this chapter is comprised of several teachings that at first glance might seem disconnected but are not. Instead, they all share practical implications of what it means to be greatest in God's kingdom.

The key idea Jesus taught his disciples is that …

Big Idea: Humility defines greatness in God’s kingdom.

We see the importance of humility to God in the four priorities Jesus identified in this chapter that should be characterized God’s people.

When we are consumed by pride, we overlook insignificant people. Humility notices those the rest of the world overlooks… and is concerned for their welfare. And so we find…

Priority #1: Protect the vulnerable, vv. 5-9.

Matthew 18:5–6 ESV

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

(pause)

In that culture, and often even today, children are discounted as less important. Yes… in certain ways we promote the value of children in society today.

A number of years ago, there was the saying about doing anything for a child. But in reality, people often discount the value of children.

Churches sometimes say they value children, but they structure nearly everything around adult convenience. The question then is: are children merely tolerated or truly received in Jesus’ name?

We should note that Jesus introduced this teaching with a little child literally standing before him, but his language broadened to include humble, vulnerable, and easily disregarded believers that in many ways were like children.

In verses seven through nine, Jesus employed hyperbole - exaggeration to make his point about God's passion for the vulnerable. Jesus said it would be better to cut of your hand or foot or to gouge out your eye, if these lead you into sin.

Consider the implications of this. Jesus gave a strict warning against careless living or teaching that leads people to sin or put stumbling blocks before them.

Jesus also said that anything in our lives that might lead us to sin should be removed. Protecting others begins with taking our own sin seriously!

Jesus is passionate about protecting those who are spiritually vulnerable!

(pause)

As followers of Jesus, citizens of God’s kingdom, we must share Jesus' passion.

(pause)

Romans 14-15 and 2 Corinthians 8-10 share a similar principle. In both of these situations Paul addressed those in the church who, in exercising their liberty in Christ, were in danger of leading people to do what they felt was sin, as well as those who, by their insistence on following various rules in order to be holy, were in danger of taking Christ's place in judging the believer's spirituality.

In Matthew 18, Romans and 2 Corinthians, the principle is the same: we must protect the weak and vulnerable!

(pause)

This often means a change in mindset. Our number one priority is not ourselves, but rather we are always looking out for the needs of others.

(pause)

We must never close our eyes to the weak and vulnerable. We must be patient. Instead of expecting others to “grow up”, we seek their safety and security: physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

(pause)

Priority #2: Restore the wandering, vv. 10-14.

In these verses Jesus retold the Parable of the Lost Sheep. But notice again how he introduced his teaching here.

Matthew 18:10 ESV

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. …

In virtually every business there will be some loss. In fact, businesses typically make plans for such loss and waste. One might think that of a hundred sheep, the shepherd would expect several sheep to wander off and be lost.

You might think that he would understand that as an acceptable cost of the sheep-herding business.

But look what the shepherd did! He left the 99 in the mountains - most likely not all by themselves but with shepherds of other flocks nearby.

The shepherd searched tirelessly in the rugged, dangerous terrain until he found that one wandering sheep. Then, notice how Jesus characterized the attitude of the shepherd in verse thirteen:

Matthew 18:13 ESV

And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

This one sheep that most might discount as less important - the shepherd rejoiced over it more! Jesus applied his story this way:

Matthew 18:14 ESV

So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Do you see the heart of God?

(pause)

God is not willing to consider even one of these little ones as expendable.

Instead of taking a break after a long day of work, instead of staying in the safety of the camp, instead getting a good night’s rest, the shepherd left the ninety-nine on the mountains and searched for the one stray.

(pause)

How do we live out this priority in our local community of Christ followers?

It means that we are vitally concerned for the spiritual health of one another. We attend church services and activities not merely for what we can get out of it, but with a loving concern for others.

It means being aware of that one who looks discouraged, and praying for them and maybe saying something to encourage them. It means welcoming people, especially those who are newer, and even inviting them to share your pew.

It means noticing when people start missing service, and calling or visiting them to tell them we miss them. For the one who appears to be straying into sin, it means praying - intercessory prayer, praying and fasting - for their soul.

Priority #3: Reconcile through confrontation, vv. 15-20.

The Shepherd’s concern for the wandering one leads naturally to the next question: What should we do when a brother or sister falls into sin?

Jesus gives us a very practical way to stop all of this at the beginning.

Matthew 18:15 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.…

Notice what Jesus said and didn't say here. If you brother sins against you, instead of retaliating, go to him and explain his fault.

If your brother sins against you, instead of calling or texting various people in the church, go to that person and explain how they have offended you.

If your brother sins against you, instead of giving them the cold shoulder or making snide remarks, go to that person and explain how they have offended you.

If your brother sins against you, go to that person and explain how they have offended you!

Matthew 18:15 ESV

… If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

(pause)

Oh, yes, I know.

(pause)

We feel like that person who has offended us should take the first step and apologize to us. We feel like they should clearly understand their fault. They are in the wrong, not us. They have sinned.

Do you see the humility of the child that is required here in order to seek reconciliation the way God prescribes it?

(pause)

We - the one who is offended - must take the first step. We must explain to the other how they have offended us!

(pause)

These verses describe the biblical way to practice church discipline. First, you should privately approach the person and seek reconciliation.

Secondly, you should take one or two witnesses along with you. This second step is important, because often when there is a great offense both parties end up saying and doing things that lead to a greater divide.

The presence of witnesses helps establish the facts, guard against false accusation and join with us in the effort of restoring the person.

Finally, the matter should be taken before the church. If the person will not listen, he should be considered as a "Gentile" or "tax collector."

But we should understand the implications of what Jesus was saying here. Jesus was the friend of tax collectors. Jesus accepted Gentiles!

It has been rightly said that Jesus was saying that such a person should be removed from the church's member list and placed on its prospect list!

This is quite a statement! First, we see that we must recognize a person who refuses to repent of sin no longer is identified as part of God’s people.

But secondly, this does not mean our efforts at reconciliation are ended. Rather, they take on a different character as we seek the one whose relationship has been severed.

Jesus then stated that whatever the church binds on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever is loosed on earth will be loosed in Heaven.

It is in this context that Jesus gave that wonderful promise that if two or three are gathered in his name that he would be with them. We often take this promise as encouragement for us as we meet for worship.

But the true intent seems to be to say that in those times where Christian brothers and sisters are struggling with past offenses, personality differences, opposing beliefs, etc. and just cannot seem to find common ground, Jesus is there with us and in Him we can find common ground!

In Jesus we can find reconciliation. In Jesus we can experience peace in the Body of Christ. In Jesus, our problems with one another become potential through the power of the Spirit!

Priority #4: Forgive through grace, vv. 21-35.

Before we consider the text, we should clarify this statement.

(pause)

Neither these verses nor anywhere else in the Bible suggest that abuse should be ignored or allowed to continue.

(pause)

This scripture does not suggest it is ever okay to allow sin to go unchecked.

(pause)

This scripture is not teaching easy or cheap grace.

(pause)

This scripture is not addressing how to handle abuse. Rather, these verses teach painful grace - showing love and forgiveness to others even though they repeatedly fail to deserve it.

(pause)

You know that is the real meaning of grace, right? Grace is undeserved favor!

(pause)

Peter must have felt convicted by Jesus' teaching on love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. He approached Jesus to ask how many times he should forgive his brother. Peter suggested seven times.

Most Jews of that time would have considered this to be quite magnanimous on his part, for the religious leaders taught you only needed to forgive your brother three times before writing him off. Peter doubled this standard and added one for good measure!

Matthew 18:22 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

There is a discrepancy among the various Greek texts. Some say 77 times; others say 70 times 7 times. Jesus' point is obvious, either way: don't keep track of how many times your brother offends you. Just forgive!

Jesus then told the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant and concluded with these words,

Matthew 18:35 ESV

So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

The point is clear. As followers of Jesus who have been forgiven and transformed by the grace of God, we should be marked by a humility that forgives.

No, this does not mean that we condone or ignore sin. But it does mean that we extend grace to those who acknowledge their need and accept it.

Sometimes, we may overlook those who have gone too far out into sin or have failed too often as impossible to redeem, unacceptable in God's eyes.

Jesus tells us we need to have a change of heart and mind and forgive from grace.

We realize that if we were to apply the same degree of justice and vengeance on ourselves that we sometimes wish on others, we might not be able to recover from our punishment.

Jesus’ point is not that our forgiveness purchases God’s forgiveness. Rather, he is saying those who receive the immeasurable, amazing grace of God cannot persistently refuse to share grace with others.

(pause)

In our scripture, we find Jesus placing a child before the disciples to teach them an important truth:

Big Idea: Humility defines greatness in God’s kingdom.

But we know that Jesus did not merely place a child before His disciples and command humility. He humbled Himself. The King became a servant.

He welcomed the overlooked, pursued the wandering, confronted sin in order to save sinners, and extended forgiveness at the cost of His own blood. We can live this way only because the greatest One in the kingdom made Himself the servant of all.

(pause)

Notice again how this teaching of Jesus began.

Matthew 18:3 ESV

and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

This is how the text reads in the ESV. But when we compare this wording to the KJV, we find something startling.

Matthew 18:3 KJV

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The word translated “turn” or “be converted” means to change direction. In other words, Jesus was not calling His disciples to make a minor adjustment in their behavior.

He was saying that their attitudes and behaviors, guided by the cultural way of looking at life, was so wrong and opposite God's purpose and plan that these disciples needed to be converted - they needed to make a 180 degree change in direction - in the way they thought, talked, and acted.

Instead of arguing over who was the greatest, they should humble themselves like a small child and then pursue a life of loving and caring for those who were weak, vulnerable, and in need of grace.

Today as then, Christ is calling to you and to me. He is saying to us today as then, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

What is really important in living for Jesus and being part of God’s kingdom is different than what many may think.

(pause)

As individuals and as a local community of God’s people - a church, our greatness will only come through priorities shaped by humility: protecting the vulnerable, restoring the wandering, reconciling through confrontation, and forgiving from grace.

(pause)

Our challenge today then is to carefully consider if our priorities reflect Kingdom priorities. The question is not about our importance.

Instead, we should ask, “Whom am I willing to serve? Is there someone I have overlooked? Who is wandering that I should pursue? With whom do I need to seek reconciliation? Who do I need to forgive as God as forgiven me?

As the Holy Spirit impresses God’s Word upon your heart, let us embrace Kingdom priorities and may the humility of Jesus be formed within us.

May Christ’s love compel us to give as he would give, speak as he would speak, serve as he would serve, and live as he would live.

Closing Song: #711 Your Love Compels Me

Your love compels me Lord

To give as You would give

To speak as You would speak

To live as You would live

Your love compels me Lord

To see as You would see

To serve as You would serve

To be what You would be