S207 Seeing Greatness Clearly (Matthew 18.1-6)

I was inspired when I heard a podcast from The Bible Project, and they mentioned this passage in passing. I was reminded of how easy Matthew 18 was to misunderstand, and how important the topic Jesus was teaching about was for us. I wanted to teach on the subject a couple weeks ago, but realized it would take 4 weeks to teach, and I only had 3 weeks between Army weekends…so, here we go with our 4-part series through Matthew 18.

2. Important Topic

The way we see one another is how we will treat one another. It will determine how we value another person in their struggles, whether we are helpful or hinderances in their spiritual walk.

3. Clearer Picture

Our annual theme: “Seeing God Clearly With 20/20 Spiritual Vision” is focused on having a clear picture of the world around us in a spiritual sense.

B. …Not the First

1. The Disciples Struggled to See One Another Clearly

We see a lot of incidents where they are bickering, or trying to get ahead. In this text, and others, we see a snapshot into their hearts as to a struggle of wanting to be better than others.

There were competitions within the 12 Apostles as to who was going to be considered better than the others. They probably had some jealousy and frustration when they perceived one or another getting special treatment or value from Jesus.

2. We Struggle to See One Another Clearly

We are human, with all our human flaws. We get caught up in the world’s point of view.

If men who walked with Jesus were struggling with comparisons, and selfishness or pettiness, why wouldn’t we?

It is not that we don’t like one another, or love one another, but we can get caught up in our own minds. We begin to play the comparison game, and that leads to disaster.

C. The Dangers of Comparison

1. The Initial Danger

We start to look down on others. We think we are better than one another. We start comparing our “accomplishments” and what we “contribute” to the Lord.

2. The Real Danger

These comparisons lead to a false sense of security.

A false sense of our superiority over others. But we are not superior to others. Jesus doesn’t love you more because you are American. Jesus doesn’t love me more because I am at the building more than others. Jesus doesn’t love you more because you have more Bible verses memorized.

A false sense of spirituality. As we will see with these men, there might have been a sense of superiority from what they had done or not done. In our own lives, we might feel we are MORE spiritual than we are, when we begin to compare ourselves to our brethren.

The largest danger: a false sense of salvation. When we begin to use comparisons to make ourselves feel superior to others, we might think we are saved or spiritual, when we are comparing ourselves to the wrong thing. The world does this all the time: “I’m not that bad, so God must let me into heaven.” We have our own version of that, where we begin to compare ourselves to one another or even other “churchy” folks, and feel like we have our salvation in the bag.

3. Comparison is Wrong

It gave these disciples the wrong point of view. It gives us the wrong point of view.

It reveals how we look down on our brethren.

It means, we are not seeing our brethren correctly.

D. Jesus is Correcting This Mindset

1. The Whole Chapter

Two questions lead to this whole chapter’s discussion.

Matthew 18.1: “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Matthew 18.21: “How often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?”

2. These Questions Reveal

Reveal...

…an inner struggle.

…a wrong mindset.

…a sense of self-righteousness.

…a sense of superiority.

These questions reveal that the disciples didn’t see their brethren correctly.

3. Jesus Wants Us to See One Another Correctly

As heaven sees us.

We are not compared to one another from a heavenly perspective. Why would we compare ourselves with one another if heaven doesn’t?

E. How Does It Start?

Matthew 18:1–6 NASB95

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

1. Context

Matthew 17.1-13: The Transfiguration

Matthew 17.14-23: The Failed Exorcism

These are the events on the minds of the disciples.

2. Heading to Jerusalem

In Capernaum, Mark 9.33 records they are in a house (maybe Jesus’ own living situation?). This is probably the 12 closest disciples of Jesus. Not long after this, they head south toward the crucifixion.

Jesus is nearing the end of His time with them and wants to get them ready before He departs. A lot of issues still dealing with…predominantly, their worldly view of the kingdom of heaven.

Kingdom of heaven is Matthew’s favorite way of describing the kingdom of God. It is the spiritual rule and dominion of God in His people’s lives. Problem: the disciples (and all Jews) had a worldly point of view. A worldly kingdom, a worldly status, a worldly set of rules. Jesus wanted them to see this was all spiritual and ran by a different set of rules.

The more they ask questions like these, the more Jesus sees His need to take them and give them special instruction.

This is on the mind of Jesus.

F. Our Text

1. The Question of Greatness (Matthew 18:1)

2. The Illustration of Greatness (Matthew 18:2-4)

3. The Living of Greatness (Matthew 18:5-6)

Prayer

BODY

I. The Question of Greatness (Matthew 18.1)

All interesting teachings have a root question. Often, those questions have a root motivation. This one might SEEM innocent enough at the surface.

A. A Simple Question: Who is the greatest? (Matthew 18.1)

1. Were they looking for HOW to be great? No

They were not interested in what would please God. They were not interested in advancing their current standing in the kingdom of heaven for the sake of getting better.

2. They wanted to know who was greatest…in comparison.

This word suggests a comparison.

What they probably meant...

Can we relate? Do we ask the same thing?

3. What is implied by “greatest”?

If there is a great, there must be a lesser.

What do they want out of this? What is it they think they will get?

They must have thought much like we think. If I am the greatest, then I am better than others. God must be more impressed with me. I must be like the other “greats” in scripture (Abraham, Moses, David, etc.).

B. A Revealing Question: What’s in the heart?

1. This pulls back the curtain to their heart.

What a person says is a reflection into the heart of that person. Jesus has just said this in Matthew 15.18.

Matthew 15:18 NASB95

“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

We also see they understood their heart was not in the right place. When we see how Mark records the event, we see a bit more into their shame at the question.

Mark 9:33–34 NASB95

They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.

It seems Jesus had to draw the question out of them. They knew this was not in line with what Jesus was teaching and trying to get them to understand.

2. We see this is not the last time this question is brought up.

See Luke 22.24 (at the Last Supper). James and John had a similar question, though they asked it through their mother in Matthew 20.20-22. This shows us it was a deep rooted issue. It was important to them.

This discussion (which we are about to get more into) did not “solve” the problem.

3. Why would this be so important to them? It keeps sticking, it keeps coming up.

It is a selfish question. They want to get ahead. They want to be important.

They are stuck with a worldly view. A worldly view of the kingdom (Jesus in Jerusalem, taking on Rome). A worldly view of priority and importance (he who is greatest and highest is best). A worldly view of how to get to the highest standards (when you are special, taken apart, doing unusual things, you must be great).

4. What would be behind the curtain of our own heart?

We might be the first to point a finger at these men, but let’s consider where they are in their spiritual journey and then reflect on ourselves.

These men have been walking with Jesus, day in and day out, for three years. Have we? These men have heard Jesus and asked questions and seen the miracles first hand. Have we?

Yet, these men struggled with worldliness in their view of greatness. I imagine this is something we might struggle with.

If we pulled back the curtain to our heart, would there be selfishness? Would there be a desire to be better than others?

C. A Motivated Question: What were they thinking?

1. What was going on?

When we think about what has been going on, it might be easier to see why this question comes up, now.

The transfiguration. Nobody knows what happened, but I am sure the others knew something BIG had happened. Imagine being Andrew, or Judas, or one of the other apostles. You saw Peter, James and John go up with Jesus to do something special and unique (AGAIN). Then, they come down and you can tell something big happened…but they tell you Jesus said they weren’t allowed to discuss it.

The demoniac. Everyone seems to be trying to get this demon out of the kids who was possessed. But no one was successful. It took Jesus to come in and directly get rid of the demon. He said there was a different way to get the demon to leave, and no one else knew. Maybe THIS was how they could set themselves apart.

The tax money. Peter gets to go out and get a fish with tax money (a miracle) and pay it on behalf of Jesus. Again, special treatment from someone who has already been given special treatment and recognition (remember Matthew 16 and the keys to the kingdom?)

2. Can we blame them for asking this sort of question?

If I was struggling with my self-image and sense of importance, maybe I would be seeking how to get ahead. How to compare myself better to the others. I would be struggling with jealousy, a selfish desire to be recognized by the teacher I admire and look up to.

They also knew something was up. There was a tension in the air, and Jesus had been confirming that when He went to Jerusalem, something big was going to happen. This is the last chance to get ahead.

D. Jesus Teaches About True Greatness

II. The Illustration of Greatness (Matthew 18.2-4)

To help these men understand what they were missing, Jesus uses an illustration. To better reveal and help them remember what the perspective of heaven is on greatness.

A. A Living Illustration (Matthew 18.2)

1. Jesus calls a child to Him.

This was probably a child everyone knew. Maybe one of the disciples’ children? One of the children helping around the house.

The first thing we see, though not emphasized in the text, what does the child do? Comes to Jesus when called. [Lenski]

This child is put in their midst as a lesson. To teach them what they were missing. A parable…a living illustration. This would undoubtedly stick out in their minds when they recalled this conversation or subject.

2. Why a child?

This is the OPPOSITE of what they would consider great in their minds. What would they think was great? Generals…armies…leaders…speakers…wealth…power and influence. Those who take power, who seize the initiative. It was true for them, and it is still often true for us in our own world.

This is the REALITY of greatness in the spiritual kingdom Jesus is establishing. It is the opposite of the world. It is counter-intuitive. But Jesus needs these men to understand they have been seeking greatness the wrong way.

B. Greatness Through Conversion (Matthew 18.3)

To be converted means to be changed, to turn, to start a new direction.

These men needed to change their thinking. They were going the way of the world’s sense of greatness (accomplishments, distinguishing).

Instead, greatness in the kingdom of heaven is a total different direction. A different way of thinking. They need to CHANGE or be converted if they are going to be great.

What is the change they need to see to be great?

C. Greatness Through Humility (Matthew 18.4)

1. This is where the attitude adjustment begins toward self.

Humility means to see yourself as lower. To not think highly of self.

This does not mean you think of yourself as a dog or insignificant to God. Instead, you realize you are not any more special or important that all the other people of God.

Sometimes, we struggle thinking that humility means I debase myself and think I am worthless. Instead, I think there are a couple wise men who have helpful quotes to remind us what humility is all about.

C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity,

“Do not think if you mean a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays…He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”

—C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Or as Rick Warren famously summarized that statement, he defines humility as,

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but rather thinking of yourself less.”

—Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Life

But often, we become proud when we think of how “great” we are and what we “contribute to the kingdom. Just because...

…you are an elder

…a preacher

…an older Christian

…a younger Christian

…a man

…a woman

…a new Christian

These are not reasons to value yourself higher than others.

2. Humility like the child.

Think of all the ways a child is humble.

If pride comes from accomplishment and skill, a child has none of that. They have no great accomplishments. They have no great skills.

A child realizes they are dependent upon others. They cannot make food for themselves, clothes for themselves, or even educate themselves. They need help from others.

This is the humility of God’s people. We recognize we need God and we are not accomplished or greatly skilled in the matters of the spiritual kingdom.

3. The disciples had seen themselves the WRONG way.

They had believed it was best to compare to one another. This would lead to an attitude of “I’m better than you.”

4. Now, the disciples must see themselves in the RIGHT way.

This is no longer an attitude of comparison. This is an attitude of introspection and realization of your own unimportance.

This unimportance is not that we have no value, but that our value is not based on a comparison with others. When we compare with others, we feel better or worse because of a perception of our own superiority or inferiority.

When we are humble, we recognize the kingdom is not about me. It is about God. I compare myself to God’s standards and His love and point of view toward me.

D. Greatness starts with humility toward self, and continues in our attitude toward others.

III. The Living of Greatness (Matthew 18.5-6)

The greatness discussion was focused on self. They wanted to know about themselves and how THEY got to be great. But Jesus is continuing to change the dichotomy and help them see that true spiritual greatness does not focus on self (humility), but focuses on others.

A. Living Genuine Greatness Means Acceptance (Matthew 18.5)

This is where the attitude adjustment begins toward others.

1. Jesus changes from the child to the people of God in general.

The child was there in their midst. He was the “literal” illustration. He was to help them understand the right attitude.

But now, Jesus shifts to saying, one such child and in Mt 18.6, He uses the phrase these little ones to describe God’s people.

God sees us as children in the kingdom of heaven. We ought to be humble, dependent, and loving. We are also valuable, important, and special to God. Just as your children are to you, and you are to your parents.

2. Greatness means we accept God’s people.

We receive one another. This means we are accepting and embrace one another.

Notice the difference this makes from how the disciples were before. They were comparing and competing, probably focused on one another’s short comings and their own perceived superiorities.

Now, they accept one another. This means embracing the weaknesses and short comings of others. This means you don’t ostracize someone just because they are not like you. This means you receive them and love them, just as you would Jesus.

3. We are seeing one another the way God sees us.

We are accepting, even when we don’t always understand.

We are receiving, even when we feel inferior, or if we feel superior.

We see one another as God sees us: fellow children, just as dear and important to God as we are to Him.

B. Living Genuine Greatness Means Caution (Matthew 18.6)

We need to see how important others’ souls are to God. We need to see their value in the scheme of eternity.

1. We need to see the dangers of sin.

The subject Jesus uses is to stumble. It means to fall and falter. The emphasis in this passage is to push or encourage someone to this falling and tripping [BDAG, see N1].

The context shows us this has to do with sin. As Jesus continues to discuss this idea of stumble, He discusses the things that cause or encourage sin in our lives and the lives of others.

2. We need to help one another.

Jesus will go into depth in Matthew 18.12-35 about the need we have to help one another.

We need to see the value of one another before we will help each other. But when we recognize this value, we must act correctly in preventing sin in one another’s lives.

3. We CANNOT hinder one another.

This is the warning of Jesus. It would be terrible to be responsible for one of God’s people to falter in their spiritual walk.

Jesus said it would be better to be drowned horribly. Like having a giant stone hung around your neck and thrown into the deep, cold depths of the waters to agonize and die.

Agony and death are better than being one to cause another to sin. This is serious stuff