Children and Christmas
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At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Introduction:
Introduction:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-
Christmas is a excellent time to teach our children about Jesus
Don’t let the conflict and controversy discourage you from teaching the truth about Jesus birth, life, death, and resurrection
Let the children come
Let the children come
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
“So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full—
Introduction:
Introduction:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
“So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full—then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you
Hindering the children from coming to Jesus displeases Him
A child’s character exemplifies what any age needs to become a child of God
Deuteronomy 6:
A tender heart
We come like a child to become a child of God
We come like a child to become a child of God
We bring children to Jesus Christ
We bring children to Jesus Christ
Let the children come
Let the children come
They are bringing their little ones to Jesus Christ
This action followed Jesus’ teaching on marriage
In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter.
The ‘little children’
Infants
Younger children who could walk
Used of the child in who was raised from the dead and age was 12 years old
The ‘they’ is not identified
It was a custom of the Jewish faith to bring their children to blessed by a rabbi
Possibly mother or father or both together, older siblings, grandparents, other relatives
They were for sure those who had heard the words of Jesus Christ
Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.
Mark 10:
They were those who had saw the works of Jesus Christ
Demon possessed son
They wanted to bring their children into the presence of Jesus so He could pray (Matthew 19:13) and bless them
They wanted Jesus to bless their little children
It was a custom of the Jewish faith to bring their children to blessed by a rabbi. They were following the example of their patriarchs
They were following the example of their patriarchs
Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said:
“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
Today by the parents at shabbat:
To girls: May you be like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.
To boys: May you be like Ephraim and Menashe (said to boys).
To all: May G‑d bless you and guard you.
May G‑d show you favor and be gracious to you.
May G‑d show you kindness and grant you peace.
They viewed their children as a gift from the Lord
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Psalm 127:3
They were meeting their responsibility to teach their children
“Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always. Know today that I do not speak with your children, who have not known and who have not seen the chastening of the Lord your God, His greatness and His mighty hand and His outstretched arm—
but your eyes have seen every great act of the Lord which He did.
“Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
“Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
They were showing they loved their children
They were showing their children were important to them
They were showing they cared about their children’s souls
They were showing they believed their children needed the blessing of Jesus
The misguided disciples’ try to stop them
They thought they were doing the right thing
They had failed to understand the things Jesus taught
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
They lacked compassion
They still didn’t fully comprehend the purpose and person of Jesus
They didn’t see children important or relevant to Jesus
They were not old enough to become a follower of Jesus Christ
Jesus was indignant at the disciples’ actions
Jesus saw their action
Jesus became angry, incensed, offended
He gave the command to allow the children to come to Him
Who are we bringing our children too?
Do we want Jesus in our children’s life?
He gave the second command not to hinder them from coming to Him
What are we doing that keeps our children from coming to the Lord?
Hypocrisy?
Gossip?
Too busy or lazy?
What are we willing to do in order to get our children to Jesus?
He states His reason for letting them come
These children are an illustration of those that enter the kingdom of God
MacArthur believes this passage answers the question of what happens to children who have not reached the age of accountability
Learn from the children
Learn from the children
Jesus was indignant at the disciples’ actions
Jesus saw their action
Jesus became angry, incensed, offended
First command was to allow the children to come to Him
Who are we bringing our children too?
Do we want Jesus in our children’s life?
Second command was don’t hinder them from coming to Him
What are we doing that keeps our children from coming to the Lord?
Hypocrisy?
Gossip?
Too busy or lazy?
What are we willing to do in order to get our children to Jesus?
Those who are part of the kingdom are like these little children
The affirmed truth - “Assuredly, I say to you”
We can hear and receive His words with absolute confidence
We can take His words as personally spoken to us
Learn to be humble as a child
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Learn to be humble as a child
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Pride caused the fall of Satan
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Isaiah 14:12
Pride caused the fall of Adam and Eve
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:
Learn to have faith as a child
A faith that is totally dependent upon God
Learn to totally trust God’s grace as a child
For your salvation
With their whole heart and no reservations
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
For their salvation
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
For their protection
As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
2 Samuel 22:
John 6:66-
Learn to receive the truth as a child
Learn to receive God’s salvation as a gift
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John 6:66
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Learn to be humble and have complete dependence upon God
A faith from an undivided heart
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
A faith that openly praises God
Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,
‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”
Matthew 21:14-
Learn to receive God’s grace as a child
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Look at the Savior’s care
Look at the Savior’s care
Jesus’ care for children is seen His anger towards those who blocked the children from coming to Him
Is a strong faith but not a foolish faith
Is a steady faith not a doubting faith
Is a submissive faith and not a selfish faith
A child-like dependence
A child-like dependence
We should pray every child would come to arms of Jesus
A child-like humility
A child-like humility
Jesus’ care for children is seen His taking time for them
Bring your children to the lap of Jesus
Jesus’ care for children is seen in His touch of them
trustworthy
Jesus’ care for children is seen in His blessing of them
Jesus blessed each child personally
depenedent
Jesus received praise from children
humble
receptive