Like a Child

Intro

Why does Jesus use a child as an object lesson for us in our story?

Children are dependent upon adults. If we had a $1 for every time Erika or I have grabbed a rock out of Lincoln’s mouth, we would be very rich people. Adyline is convinced as of late that socks are unnecessary. We tell her continually that if you where shoes or boots, you have to wear socks. For whatever reason, she doesn’t think so. So she went out to pick blackberries, and guess what happened? Big blisters on her heals. And books of the earth would not be able to contain stories for Leland. Birthdays are not a celebration for child, but a celebration that by God’s grace, parents have kept them alive another year.

This week we start a new chapter in Matthew. This is a new discourse of Jesus, number 4 of 5. We’ve talked about Jesus giving 5 major discourses in Matthew, to Parallel the 5 book so Torah. Jesus comes with the same authority of God announce the kingdom of heaven to the people of God and how they can be a part of it.

Jesus’s focus in this fourth section is how life in God’s kingdom works out in community. The focus in many of Jesus’s teaches thus far has been inward, and now we see that the inward change that we get to be a part of has an effect on the community of believers.

MAIN POINT: Being a part of Jesus’s kingdom by living in a covenant community begins with reflecting on Children.

I. Position of the Little Ones v1-4

Lets first look at the position of the little ones. we see this in verses 1-4.

The disciples have been doing a lot of thinking of who is the greatest in the kingdom. They might naturally think Peter, but they might also remember Jesus’s teaching that the least are the greatest. So who will be the greatest?

This might come naturally from the end of chapter 17 as they were thinking about being part of Jesus’s sons of the king. Who would be the greatest if they are the ones directly and closely following Jesus?

Jesus has announced his death, and maybe they are thinking about who is going to be his successor? Who will take the reins while Jesus is gone?

This question is still a question we think of today. Who is the greatest? Growing up, the greatest, was astronauts right? All kids my age either wanted to be the president or an astronaut.

Today, the greatest is a professional video gamer. They can sit in their mom’s basement and make an easy six figures. If you don’t know this, i kid you not. Doing teen ministry for 9 years before moving here, kids long for this.

Our society today still looks at who is the greatest. Tech giants have become the greatest in our society. They are the riches and most influential. So influential that they have started doing manifesto essays and posting on social media with massive followings.

It is a human impulse to desire greatest and want to know the pecking order.

Jesus has already addressed this question in a different part of the gospel, but here, Jesus answers the question in a very different way.

In verse 2, Jesus brings in a child, as an object lesson.

The radical response Jesus is calling for needed a graphic visual.

We don’t know if it is one of the disciples Children, a child following Jesus around, or a random kid who was passing by. The unknownness of the child only helps Jesus’s point.

This would have been strange, and a child in the middle of all these adults would have looked very unimportant.

Western society highlights and values children, but first century Judaism overlooked children in society. They were loved by parents, but often seen as insignificant.

Then we look at verse three. Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like a child, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

This is strong language being used by Jesus. Never is a word that should stand out to us.

We should ask the question, what does it mean to become like a child?

Notice the turning. There is an emphasis on change in our lives that must happen to enter the kingdom.

Joining Jesus and his kingdom is not just a realization. It involves turning from the path you are currently on. Changing your mindset and way of life. Turning or repentance is part of conversion in Jesus’s kingdom.

Becoming like a child is not mere humility. We might ask are children really humble?

Most teachers and parents would say kids more often than not confident in their own abilities and not humble. Jesus can’t mean humility. Rather, it is a comparison to trust, reliance, dependance.

Becoming like a child is not an ethical characteristic, but accepting a position in the social scale. Children are the lowest in the hierarchy and authority. They don’t get a choice in the matter.

This is the answer to the disciples questions.

A child’s humility is not a subjective characteristic, but rather an objective state.

REPEAT.

Children, even if they don’t like it, are dependent upon parents and adults for everything. To stay alive. For every part of their life.

Do you want to know what happens to the child that is unwilling to humble themselves under their parents authority? Injury and death.

In the chapter devoted to what does it look like to live in a kingdom community that we call the church, Jesus first wants us to understand what our position is. Our focus cannot be ourselves and our position. It should be helping others grow in Christ. If your focus is self and your own elevation, you missed what the kingdom is about. It isn’t just accepting a place at the bottom, but turning to seek a place at the bottom.

I’ve seen this play out in church culture. We were once a part of a church that highlighted positions in the church. Where to have a position in the church was something to be sought after. It was encouraged to pursue authority. Want to know what that church was bad at? Discipleship and helping other people grow in Christ as a church. Loving people.

If your desire is for position, you have missed what the kingdom is about.

Think of the way a Princess is born into a kingdom. Maybe even specifically the story of Rapunzel as given by Disney. Receiving the position, not earning it. Not because she was great, or because she earned it, or that she had inherent good character or qualities. She receives it and then has the opportunity to help people through her position given to her.

We aren’t great because of what we bring to the table, but what has been done already on account of Christ.

Self-reliance and independence are against the gospel of the kingdom. It is an impossible attitude for entering the kingdom.

Then look at verse four. Matthew 18:4 “Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

This is a bit of encouragement. Being great in the kingdom doesn’t require you do a bunch of tasks, meet a bunch of goals, excel, be the smartest or the best.

Doing a task means nothing in comparison to humbling yourself to accept the position of a child.

Jesus is not looking for great people. Jesus is looking for humble people.

We read verse 4 as humble yourself, but we might better understand this word as “ to humiliate oneself” like this child.

This is the consistent message that Jesus has been teaching throughout Matthew. Announcing the kingdom is here and inviting you to join. And how do you join? By submitting to the kingdom. By giving up what you value and think is important, and accepting what Jesus has actually said is important. This is a submission to “God knows best.”

We talked this past Wednesday at how challenging this is, even in forms of righteousness. We wrestled with the thought that our defined or perceived reality of righteousness and justice, is often times not what God has determined is righteous and just. And it is hard to submit to that.

But we become like a child and trust our heavenly father like a child trusts a parent.

This is against the modern phrase of “believe in yourself.” Said by so many today, and on social media, and on clothing. “believe in yourself” is a worldly philosophy that should not have any part in the Christians vocabulary.

Joining Jesus’s kingdom is the opposite of believing in yourself. It is believing in Jesus, and then submitting like a child, to who he is.

This is the first step in being a part of being a part of the community of kingdom people. Humiliating yourself to the level of a child, in complete and utter dependence. On Christ, and his people.

We might think to ourselves, I don’t need church. I don’t need to grow with people. I have Christianity all on my own. I can be self-sufficient in my faith. This is the opposite of what Jesus is calling us to. Jesus wants us to be part of community, growing together. Your faith in Jesus affecting and influencing my faith in Jesus. And my faith in Jesus influencing and affecting yours.

II. Acceptance of the Little Ones v5.

Next, we see acceptance of the little ones. And this is only going to be verse 5.

Matthew 18:5 NET 2nd ed.

And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.

Now we have to ask, is he still talking about children or not? And we would have to say no. The word “such” indicates that we are moving beyond the child that was in front of Jesus and talking about a category of people whom the child represents. The category certainly includes children, but is a larger category of Jesus’s disciples, the ones willing to humiliate themselves like a child.

If we read the whole chapter, which we will continue in the coming weeks, it will be more obvious that the little ones refer to a larger category beyond children.

We move from not only becoming like one of the little ones, but also, in Jesus’s community, accepting the little ones like Jesus.

First we see the work that God is doing in us and submit to his will, then we learn to accept others who also are subjecting themselves to God like child.

The idea is continued here with the least becoming the greatest. The least become great because they belong to Jesus. Not because they are great in and of themselves.

In a world that is searching for the brightest and best, aren’t you clad that Jesus is not? And because Jesus welcomes us who come to him in faith, we do as well.

Kingdom life looks like receiving the least, where as we often want to promote the best.

This principle is one that James, the brother of Jesus, will expound upon in James 2:1–4 “My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes, do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”? If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?”

Who are the ones we are more eager to welcome and befriend? The ones that are great by the world’s standards? Or the ones that are great by God’s standards? Or, do we welcome and befriend people at all?

We all are great in that God has graciously given us his grace as we have received the relationship that Jesus has secured for us. Ought we not to graciously welcome others in grace also?

Verse 5 is a reminder to us that receiving Jesus’s people is to receive Jesus. If you aren’t receiving the neglected, the lowly, the poor, the ones society looks down on, that profess the name of Jesus, you are not receiving Jesus.

I’m thankful for you all. And I tell people on a regular bases throughout the week, that they will be welcomed and loved with the kindness of Christ. Some people might say I’m taking a bit risk telling people that. But I don’t. Because I know you. The Spirit of God in me knows the Spirit of God in you and I have seen time and time again when you welcome people in love. I regularly hear from visitors that we are a welcoming and warm church. Sometimes, I don’t even get a chance to talk to the visitors because you all are talking to them!

Thank you for being a part of Christ’s kingdom in this way.

III. Rejection of the Little Ones v6-9

Next, we see rejection of the little ones in verses 6-9. To be a part of Jesus’s people in the church, the first step was to become like a little one, then accept other little ones, then there is a warning. To be part of Jesus’s people the church, you cannot reject one of the little ones.

Matthew 18:6 ““But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea.”

This is a strong warning Jesus gives. But i want us to carefully assess what Jesus is saying will be the cause of Jesus’s harsh judgement.

The little ones could certainly apply to children, and we think of the vast number of children being led astray from God because of worldly systems of gender ideology and over sexualization or a blatant hatred of God.

This world that our kids are being raised in was unimaginable a couple of decades ago when I was growing up. Certainly the ones leading these children away from God and the truth found in his Word will receive Jesus’s harsh judgement.

But remember that the little ones is a broader category of the ones trusting Jesus. The phrase used in verse 6 is “who believe in me.” This is a rare phrase in Matthew, and the only time it happens in Matthew Mark and Luke.

This is a warning to not damage the trust or belief that disciples have in Jesus and what he has commanded for his people.

Cause to sin is too specific and doesn’t capture this word that is used here. The word is σκανδαλίσῃ meaning cause to stumble.

Right now, little Lincoln is learning to walk, he is just barely getting it this week. He is little, the smallest object might cause him to fall. Our house is small, and there are many object that will cause him to stumble. But do you want to know what else causes him to stumble? People. Including his siblings. There is one that will intentionally put their foot in his way that causes him to stumble. But sometimes, causing to stumble happens without the intention. Maybe someone leaves their toy out where they shouldn’t, or they have there foot in his path and aren’t paying attention. Erika and I continually remind them not to cause their brother to stumble, either intentionally, or unintentionally.

If you cause someone, a disciple of Jesus, to trip in their relationship with God, you should consider yourself being at risk of receiving this harsh judgement.

Leading other to sin, or tolerating sin is a great evil to Jesus.

One specific example that comes to mind is the way society has changed in the way we tolerate living together outside of marriage, and even the christian church tolerates this. Intimacy outside of marriage by the children of God cannot be tolerated or made to be accepted. As believers, we ruin the gospel, and cause others to stumble by tolerated this behavior and looking the other way.

Look at verse 7. Matthew 18:7 “Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come.”

This is a double woe. One for the people of the world in general who cause sin, and one for the person who causes others to stumble.

If you are unfamiliar with “woe” language, this is prophetic judgement language. It’s an announcement of someone not aligning with God’s way, and occuring God’s wrath for themselves.

To be clear, the necessity of the stumbling blocks do not come as a part of God’s plan. God is not the author of any evil. But rather, the the necessity of stumbling blocks comes for the nature of our fallen world.

But here is the point, just because you work within a fallen structure of our present world, does not excuse you from personal choice and responsibility.

According to Jesus, you are not a product of your environment. While you may have once been a product of your environment, once you enter into Jesus’s kingdom, you are no longer a product of that old environment, the culture, your upbringing. The devil did not make you do it. You are now a product of grace and mercy, under the authority of God. The old self is dead and you are a new Creation in Christ.

Being a part of Jesus’s way of life is not going to be easy. In fact, life get’s more difficut when you follow Jesus. It is swimming upstream, against the flow. Being a part of the kingdom doesn’t mean you can be complacent and kick up for your feet. It is actively joining in God’s work of redemption.

You aren’t defined by your past, your guilt is no longer over you. Christ has removed it and the sin that caused it. If you are not defined by sin and guilt, don’t stay in it. Put it out of your life.

Lets look at verses 8-9. Matthew 18:8–9 “If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into fiery hell.”

The message for us is that we would deal radically with sin. That we would cut it out of our lives.

Jesus is using hyperbole, or overstating, even exaggerating the point. Better to remove the thing that is sending you to hell than to continue allowing it to send you to the hell of fire.

Many of you have nice lawns. If you have a house in the country, you might be fine with your yard not being perfect, a few weeds and dandelions are okay. But, if you live in town, you might want your hard to look a little nicer and have less dandelions. There might be no better spreader than dandelions. You might look at your yard and think, ah, just one dandelion is not bad. It is an eyesore, and imperfection in the lawn, but it is not that bad. Then you think of going out and pulling it up that yellow thing, but it is just one. Then it blooms and turns white and fluffy. And you look at it and think, maybe i should go pull it very carefully before the wind comes. But you ignore it. But one gust of wind and it’s over. You get two nights of sleep and that one or two dandelion became a field of dandelions! You aren’t growing grass anymore, you are growing dandelions!

We might be tempted to think Jesus is trying to to ensure the dandelions of our lives don’t get out of control. But this is not what he is saying. One dandelion of sin is to much. Just like one dandelion takes away from a perfectly green lawn, so small sin takes away from the image of God in us. Jesus is not calling you to remove sin because it can get out of control, he is calling you to remove sin because that one sin affects all of who you are as a person. He is calling you to remove sin because you love God’s righteousness.

We are often too passive in regards to our sin. We are too complacent with what we allow for our thoughts and our lives.

What serious steps are we willing to take to live out God’s righteousness in our lives?

Verses 8-9 should not be unfamiliar, as Jesus says something very similar, almost identical in the sermon on the mount in chapter 5.

But here, the context is different. In chapter 5, the focus is on your personal responsibility of repentance in light of being a part of God’s kingdom. The focus is personally turning from sin.

But here, Jesus is causing us to consider how our walk in Christianity affects others. Our sin does not just affect us, but causes others to sin. Our sin causes other believers growth in Christ to be hindered.

Your sin does not just affect you, it affects the people around you as well. Think about how serious God was in the old testament in the story of Achan after the Battle of Jericho. Achan’s sin really only affected him, or so he thought, but it ended up affecting everyone, and so God dealt with him in a cruel way to save the people from unholiness.

Think of gossip in our lives. Gossip is a sin and something the New Testament tells us to remove from our lives. And if we continue in it, it doesn’t just affect us, it affects others. If i tear someone down to others, I affect others view of that person.

Think about greed. If I'm always talking about the next material thing i am after, or the next thing I am getting, it might have an affect to be a stumbling block to others and breed discontent for what God has given them.

Maybe you, develop an emotional connection to your co-work, maybe not intentionally, but they are beginning to have a closer relationship with you than their own spouse. Is your relationship with them causing them to commit emotional adultery? It might be time to transfer to a different department, or start looking for a new job.

And one might say “but that is too much! It will be uncomfortable to ask for a transfer without a good reason. I have been working this job for a long time! I can’t take a pay cut!”

But better to cut it off then loose your whole self and be a stumbling block to others.

Will we as a people remove sin from our lives, even the small ones as Jesus is calling us to??

One area that I see often become a stumbling block for peoples faith is politics. Is your upheld version of politics causing others to stumble in their faith? I know that one side can run to the Bible and justify their position, and the other side can run to the Bible and justify their position. Matt Chandler said one side wants the King without the Kingdom, and the other side wants the Kingdom without the King. Certainly our personal political preferences in our American Identity should not be the cause of a little one stumbling in their Identity with Christ. Our national identity cannot come before our heavenly kingdom identity.

Beyond the Walls

If you are here today, and do not yet know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, if there is not a point in your life that you repented of sin and trusted Christ as savior, there is a harsh warning for you that Jesus gives.

Your end will not be a ceasing to exist. But an eternal torment in hell’s fire. Eternal. Think about when you hold your hand over a burning stove or accidently touch something hot. We only do it for a second as it is a terrible torment. What about an eternity of that? Whatever is keeping you from coming to Jesus today, ask yourself if it is worth spending eternity in hell’s tormenting fire.

Maybe you claim Christianity but are unwilling to part with certain aspects of your life that don’t align with what Jesus has commanded. A sin that you continue to hold onto. A mindset or value that you hold too dear to submit to God’s word.

All of us should ask ourselves this question right now. Ask yourself right now, what is the one thing in my life I struggle with in submitting to Jesus? What comes to your mind right now first? Whatever comes to your mind right now is the thing that is putting you at risk of eternal hell fire.

Satan whispers in our ear that this one thing is not too big of a deal. But Jesus has told in his Word that this one issue is a big enough deal to send us to eternal fire.

Jesus dose not say this to be mean. He says it in kindness and grace, wanting you to come to repentance and faith in him. If i saw a blind individual trying to cross pleasant street, i wouldn’t stand by and allow fate to take it’s course. I wouldn’t hope for an outcome. I wouldn’t tell them “be careful.” I would say “stop! You are about to get yourself killed!” Not because I am mean, but because I care for that person.

If you today want to make a decision to follow Jesus, please come and talk to us after the service.

Believers, consider how you are accepting your fellow brothers and sisters and new brothers and sisters in the covenant community of the church. Are you embracing them in the Spirit of Christ, or are you neglecting them?

Let us be a people who love the holiness of God and take sin seriously as we remove from our lives what is evil before God.

Father, help me to grasp the reality of submitting to your kingdom like a child.

Jesus, help me to love your people like you do.

Spirit, search my heart for sin, and the way I might be causing others to stumble.