A Childlike Attitude

Introduction:

Pledge to the Bible

Passage ()

English Standard Version Chapter 19

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,

14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Title: A Childlike Attitude

Segway:

A couple of weeks ago (Before our vacation) we opened up Chapter 19 in Matthew.

Series within the series (A Journey with Matthew) we find this Extraordinary thing.

Matthew focuses on a couple of things in chapter 19 dealing with this “Insight into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

If you remember verses 1-12 ....

Jesus is approached by some pharisees and they asked the question about divorce.

They were trying to trick Jesus in front this large crowd.

Jesus took this moment to reveal to them as well as all who could hear, this extraordinary insight into the kingdom of Heaven.

The reason for the divorce rate to be so high was because they were treating their wives as property/possession.

And they ask Jesus, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Jesus answers them in verse 8 “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

This is the main point of this pericope “Hardness of heart.”

So, in , the first insight into the Kingdom of Heaven is “A Tender Heart.”

Our Heart needs to be tendered to the ways of God.

Paul reminds us what the Holy Spirit says in , in regards to the heart ....

“7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness ...”

Hebrews chapter 3 tells us about the difference between Moses and Jesus and how Jesus is so much more but

This insight into the kingdom of Heaven is one that the heart is open and receptive to the ways of the Lord.

“Today, if you hear his voice,

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society. ...”

8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

So this is the first extraordinary insight we see in this pericope for what the Kingdom of Heaven will entail.

A Tender Heart

How many of you long to experience the Kingdom of Heaven?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Shelly and I were catching up on AGT and saw the part where the children’s choir was given the golden buzzer.

Aren’t you grateful for a God who doesn’t make it a maze or a combination lock to enter into the Kingdom?

I found myself getting emotional.

My wife caught me wiping my eyes.

She said, “I love your tender heart.”

Receive Jesus and his grace/mercy which then the Father accepts you into HIS Kingdom

This is what Jesus was talking about in the later part of verse 12 “Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

This insight into the Kingdom of Heaven reveals the understanding that it is not entering a place as it is entering into the “Presence” of ...

Presence of God

Now we move into the second insight into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Body:

Before we jump right to the 2nd insight lets look at what’s taking place in this pericope.

Matthew shares with us, again, an encounter Jesus has in reference with children.

In 18:2 Jesus uses a child to demonstrate insight into the Kingdom of heaven.

Disciples were arguing “Who will be the greatest in the KOH”

Jesus say’s, (3) “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

I don’t know about you but this bring me joy.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

My wife says I acted like a Kid all the time and I say, “Kingdom worthy.”

Here in Chapter 19:13 We find people bringing children to Jesus.

Not children who are sick, ill, dying, or even dead.

Healthy children!

We are not sure but we believe they are infants to toddlers (Unable to walk at this point)

They are brought by an adult (Parent, guardian, or nurse)

All for the purpose of Jesus “Laying Hands on them and praying.”

This is a wonderful scene “Jesus blessing the children.”

I have had the honor and privileged of dedicating many children.

There is just something special about it.

Understanding what takes place and dedicating this child back to the Lord.

Laying hands on them and praying a blessing.

I consider it an honor and a privilege!

Let us be reminded of how children were viewed back in this day and time .....

Possession/property

Not of value until the age of being able to produce for the family.

Not thought highly of ....

And what we see in this pericope is that they were being brought to the Lord to be blessed!

Let me explain why I say they are coming to be blessed.

What we find in scripture is when it references “Laying on of hands” its meaning a person is receiving a blessing. (This is one reason!)

As a matter of fact, Laying on of hands and praying is a typical Jewish blessing - asking God for His favor to rest on someone.

People saying, “Let us pray a blessing on you!”

There are some other reason for laying on of hands:

The laying on of hands was also done for healing [cf. 9:18; ; ; , ; ; , ; ], for reception of the Holy Spirit [; ], and for ordination [; ; ; ; ]; and for the blessing of the father []

I recall a story when I was a youth pastor.

A mom of one of my teens didn’t quite understand what it meant to bless someone.

One Sunday morning she was fast approaching me and you could tell she was a little frazzled.

She said, “I need to talk to you about my daughter.”

I replied, “Ok, whats the matter?”

She said, “Well first off, this morning, she was being so disrespectful, so I blessed her up one side and down the other.”

The first thing I felt I needed to do was help redefine the word “bless” for this mom.

This is not the kind of blessing that is being referenced in this pericope.

There are some other reason for laying on of hands:

The laying on of hands was also done for healing [cf. 9:18; ; ; , ; ; , ; ], for reception of the Holy Spirit [; ], and for ordination [; ; ; ; ]; and for the blessing of the father []

A mom of one of my teens was fast approaching me and you could tell she was a little frazzled.

She said, “I need to talk to you about my daughter.”

I replied, “Ok, whats the matter?”

She said, “Well first off, this morning, she was being so disrespectful, so I blessed her up one side and down the other.”

The first thing I felt I needed to do was help redefine the word “bless” for this mom.

As a matter of fact Laying on of hands and praying is a typical Jewish blessing - asking God for His favor to rest on someone.

There are some other reason for laying on of hands:

The laying on of hands was also done for healing [cf. 9:18; ; ; , ; ; , ; ], for reception of the Holy Spirit [; ], and for ordination [; ; ; ; ]; and for the blessing of the father [] And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 33b: Matthew 14–28 Comment

The laying on of hands was also done for healing [cf. 9:18; Mark 6:5; 7:32; 8:23, 25; Luke 4:40; Acts 9:12, 17; 28:8], for reception of the Holy Spirit [Acts 8:17–19; 19:6], and for ordination [Acts 6:6; 13:3; 1 Tim 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim 1:6]; OT background exists only for ordination [Num 27:18, 23; cf. Deut 34:9] and for the blessing of the father [Gen 48:14]

15 And he blessed Joseph

English Standard Version Chapter 48

And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).

15 And he blessed Joseph

This is all these adults wanted ...... The Lords blessing on their children.

But for some reason we see the disciples (Not the Pharisees) rebuking the adults who are bringing these children to Jesus.

We don’t know why, specifically, they were rebuking them!

15 And he blessed Joseph, specifically, they were rebuking them!

Could have been because they thought Jesus was getting tired and needed some rest.

Could have been because the disciples plans were being disrupted and they were a little cranky.

The next thing we read is Jesus saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, ...”

And then he says something that would get the attention of all who were listening and reading, “for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Its the same word we find in But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Then we read in verse 15 And he laid hands on them and went away.

2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

What a picture we see of Jesus in Chapter 19....

(VS 1-12) Jesus defending the defenseless (Women of that day)

Would you agree with me, we are blessed to serve a God who will defend those who are defenseless?

When we are guilty of all charges against us when it comes to sin.

Jesus stands in as our defense attorney and claims, “innocent by the blood.”

(VS 13-15) Jesus blessing the least of these (Children of that day)

Would you also agree with me, we are blessed to serve a God who is willing to bless the least of us?

The world wants us to feel unworthy (the least of the least)

Jesus intercedes (Paid the price for our sin’s) and lays hands on us (Fill’s us with His Spirit) and blesses us with the blessing of all blessings: Forgiveness, Redemption!

He longs to pour out his blessings for ALL too receive.

All you have to do is ask!

Forgive me!

I believe!

I Accept!

Climax:

So the 2nd insight into the kingdom of heaven would be “to be childlike.”

To be more specific, “A Childlike Attitude.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

ttitude.”

I then began to ask the question ....

What does this attitude look like?

When it comes to children there at least 2 things that we can learn when it comes to the kingdom of heaven:

The Lord revealed to me 2 attitudes to share with you this morning.

I am sure there are more than two, but ......

Attitude of Dependency

A child is totally dependent on someone else to take care of them.

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 477 Epigram on Births & Babies

Someone has given this definition of a baby: “A baby is a small member of the home that makes love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, the bankroll smaller, the home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.

This is not a bad thing .....

Someone has given this definition of a baby: “A baby is a small member of the home that makes love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, the bankroll smaller, the home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.

Someone has given this definition of a baby: “A baby is a small member of the home that makes love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, the bankroll smaller, the home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.

I would add: One that is totally dependent on you.

This is the characteristic we must display when it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven.

We must be totally dependent on Christ!

“But Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

When it comes to dependency, Scripture tell us it must be Christ.

Scripture tells us it must be Christ.

Rest assure, if you are dependent on someone/something else as well trying to be dependent on Christ, the foundation of your life has the high possibility of crumbling.

Here is what I mean by saying this:

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Humility

Look what the passage stated, “children were brought to him” (Vs 13)

Ephesians tells us in 2:19-21 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Jesus needs to become your cornerstone!

Definition of a cornerstone:

Literally: a large stone near the base of a building where two walls meet.

Metaphorically: something of great importance on which everything else depends

We must be totally dependent on Christ, just as a child who is totally dependent on a parent.

The 2nd thing is ....

Attitude of Humility

This is total dependency on someone bringing them to the Lord.

This is what we see in children, right?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

We must be totally dependent on the Lord.

I have never met a prideful baby.

I think one of the benefits of being a child is this ....

This is what Paul is talking about when he states we must be crucified, reborn, old man must die, etc.

It is those who place themselves on a pedestal who exclude themselves from the reach of the kingdom of heaven; those who cannot place themselves on a pedestal benefit from being spared the temptation.

Then and only then do we take on the attitude of a child: totally dependent on Christ.

Think of it like this, A child cannot feed itself, cannot bath itself, cannot clothe itself, has no way of earning a living for itself, Right?)

Humility is good for us ....

says, He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

and teaches the humble his way.

says, For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

he adorns the humble with salvation.

I know you might be thinking, “I think this might be a little stretch.”

(Have the praise team come back up)

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Conclusion:

So far, this insight into the Kingdom of Heaven ....

.... Peter sums all of this up in Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Matthew shares with us, Jesus giving insight to the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Here is the encouragement we can receive today ....

Be totally dependent on Him!

There are some here this morning who find your dependency in other things: Money, spouse, job, Etc.

Put you trust in Him (Jesus)!

Be Humble!

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Practice humility.

I shared something from a book I finished up last night, “Daniel Dilemma.”

[The moment you make engaging with other people about “being right,” you need to stop and check your heart.]

You might need to practice a little humility.

(DON’T RAISE YOUR HANDS)

How many of us can honestly say, “I am totally dependent on Christ!”?

(RAISE YOUR HAND) How many desire to be?

(DON’T RAISE YOUR HANDS)

How many of us can honestly say, “Humility is what I practice!”?

(RAISE YOUR HANDS) How many of long to practice humility?”

Pause:

What is getting in the way of us being able to profess these 2 things?

I could go down a list of things it could be that we might be dealing with but

.... what is the Lord revealing to you right now?