The Original Children’s Sermon
Matthew 18:1-6
February 19, 2012
This morning we shift gears just a little bit
And get to this very important and wonderful 18th chapter of Matthew.
I call it “The Original Children’s Sermon”,
But don’t get the idea that this is some sort of over-simplified,
Dumbed-down type of sermon.
This was a sermon from Jesus
On how His children were to relate to one another.
You will remember that Jesus first introduced
The concept of His church back in chapter 16.
Matthew 16:18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”
And if you will remember the word “church” translates EKLESIA which literally means “the called out ones” it is often translated “the assembly”.
That means as part of the church
We have to realize is that we are all in this thing together.
None of us is individually the body of Christ, but corporately we are.
1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”
And the result is that we all work together.
In short, our relationship with one another matters.
You may remember the infamous statement of Cain after he slew his brother Abel.
Genesis 4:9 “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Well, the unequivocal answer to that question in Scripture is
“Yes, you are.”
We are both accountable to each other and responsible for each other.
And for this whole “church” idea that Christ introduced to work correctly
Then it is vitally important that we learn how
We are called to relate our brothers and sisters in Christ.
And a very important part in learning that lesson
Is found in studying the 18th chapter of Matthew.
And yet it is a tragedy that this chapter is widely ignored today.
For it is here that Jesus teaches us of our responsibility to our brethren.
• Responsibility to Receive our brothers…
• Responsibility to Protect our brothers…
• Responsibility to Restore our brothers…
• Responsibility to Forgive our brothers…
We really need to spend some time here
And learn to rescue this often forgotten chapter.
First let me show you how it all starts.
(1) “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that at this point
The disciples have failed to learn anything.
All Jesus has been talking about is the necessity of denying self,
And yet all the disciples can talk about is who gets the most glory.
Mark’s gospel helps us fill in the timeline especially well.
Mark 9:33-37 “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. Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
So Mark shows us that straight off of the encounter with the demon-possessed man that the disciples could not deliver,
Jesus and His disciples headed for Capernaum.
(And we already know this for last week we saw Jesus there dealing with the issue of paying taxes)
What Matthew didn’t tell us about
Was the conversation that took place on the way.
They wanted to know who was the greatest.
I feel certain that this little debate was at least in part a result of Peter, James, and John getting to accompany Jesus up the mountain while the other 9 were not permitted.
One can only imagine the feelings of arrogance and conversely jealousy
That would be spreading throughout the group.
So instead of focusing on denying self,
They are focusing on exalting self and seeing who is the greatest.
Luke’s gospel actually calls their conversation an argument.
And so obviously we have here
The very opposite attitude that Jesus has been teaching.
These guys weren’t concerned about each other,
They were concerned about themselves.
And it is this argument that motivates this great sermon from Jesus.
We are going to talk about these first verses this morning, but it is vitally important that you first see the sermon in its entirety so you get the gist.
They ask who is the greatest and it opens the door
For Jesus to reveal something amazing.
The actual greatest is your brother.
(Not you)
And throughout this chapter Jesus reveals,
Not the greatness of an individual,
But rather our responsibility to our brother.
You must:
• Receive your brother (5)
• Protect your brother (6-7)
• Guide your brother (8-9)
• Honor your brother (10-11)
• Search for your brother (12-14)
• Restore your brother (15-20)
• Forgive your brother (21-35)
And when you take this chapter in its entirety
It really reads like it is my brother who is important to Christ.
And Christ wants me to go out of my way to make sure
That my brother has the life Christ intended.
And the idea then is clear.
If you want to know who the greatest is, it is your brother.
And again we are reminded that the church is not about me.
I am to focus on my brother.
And while this concept is overlooked today,
It was central to the message of the apostles to the church.
Philippians 2:1-4 “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Romans 15:1-2 “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”
Galatians 6:1-2 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
The writer of Hebrews chimes in on this as well.
Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
Not only that but we also have 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Thessalonians 3, and 1 Timothy 2 all calling for the church discipline that Christ outlines in this chapter.
All of those passages tend to reinforce the idea
That I am second, but my brother is first.
And that is to be the dominant attitude of the church.
And it is obvious the disciples did not have that attitude.
So let’s see how Jesus address it.
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Let’s see how Jesus answered.
(2) “And He called a child to Himself and set him before them.”
Now please understand what He is doing.
Jesus chooses the most insignificant person in the room
As an example to the disciples.
If you were to ask the disciples:
Who in this room is the weakest?
Who in this room knows the least?
Who in this room is least important to the mission?
They all would have chosen the child.
And yet that is why Jesus chose him as well.
He chose the child because the child was the lowest,
And Jesus uses that to make a point.
#1 CHILDREN ARE TO BE EMULATED
Matthew 18:2-4
After calling the child Scripture says that Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Throughout Scripture there are two things
That God most likes to compare His people to.
1) Sheep
2) Children
We know of the children of Israel, the children of God, the children of the kingdom, etc.
And He compares us to children
For much the same reason that He compares us to sheep.
It is a living analogy of
• Our weakness compared to His strength,
• Our ignorance compared to His wisdom,
• Our depravity compared to His righteousness.
He uses children as an analogy on purpose.
In fact He says, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Now there is a strange statement.
Jesus said the disciples needed to be “converted”.
The word there literally means “to turn around”
Acts 3:19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;”
And Jesus used that word here.
You need to turn around.
Now we understand using that word in regard
To someone living in blatant immorality or detestable sin.
But Jesus says that we need to be “converted and become like children.”
Typically we hear that text read and people say something like:
Children are innocent so we need to be innocent…
Children are trusting so we need to be trusting…
Children are loving so we need to be loving…
But those definitions are concocted from our own minds, not the text,
For one could also say:
Children are dirty so we need to be dirty…
Children are short so we need to be short…
Children like sugar so we need to like sugar…
The point is that Jesus makes it abundantly clear
What He means by being like a child.
Look at verse 4, “Whoever then humbles himself as this child…”
Now again, that DOESN’T mean that
Children are humble so we need to be humble.
(Some children are anything but humble, some are down right selfish and arrogant.)
What He means is that in the world’s eyes children hold a low place.
They are insignificant.
No one wants to hear their opinions…
No one counts on their ability…
No one is looking to them for answers…
They do not hold positions of importance they are children.
They hold a very humble and lowly position.
And Jesus is saying that in order to “enter the kingdom of heaven”
We must quit seeking high positions and start seeking the lowly ones.
Presently the disciples were walking the path of pride,
Arrogance, ambition, and self-love.
Jesus said, you are walking the wrong direction.
You can’t even enter the kingdom like that, let alone be the greatest in it.
If you want to enter the kingdom you had better quit
Being the most important and instead become the least important.
And this is not new information
Matthew 5:3-12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The beatitudes don’t promote virtues that the world holds in high esteem.
The beatitudes promote the virtues that Christ holds in high esteem.
And yet Jesus called that attitude blessed, why?
Because that is the type of attitude that will be saved.
This question the disciples asked was a total offence to Christ.
It reeked of arrogance and self-worth and pride.
And Jesus is here putting a stop to it.
If you even want to be in the kingdom (let alone the greatest)
Then you must become “like children”
And then come to Me in humility.
But you sure don’t come in arrogance.
For “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
The illustration is often given but so effective.
Luke 18:9-14 “And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
That illustration speaks for itself.
To walk to God with heads held high is an insult to His holiness.
Forget being the greatest, it will be a miracle if you even get in.
You must become nothing, insignificant, weak, and humble.
(4) “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Now I hope you catch the genius of the statement.
WHO IS THE GREATEST?
The one who thinks he is the least.
So obviously anyone who would argue
In order to have his own greatness recognized
Is missing the point altogether.
We need to emulate children.
#2 CHILDREN ARE TO BE VALUED
Matthew 18:5
Now, I certainly agree and believe that Jesus
Does in fact love literal children.
Certainly their innocence and simple faith are precious to Him.
There is no denying He loves children.
But if you only see this statement as referring to children
Then you are missing the point of the sermon.
When He talks about receiving children He is not advocating
That everyone who loves little kids loves Jesus.
The “child” here is an example of the lowly.
That is why Jesus used a child in His original example.
And what Jesus is saying is not only should you become low,
But you need receive the lowly as more important than yourself.
WHY?
Because the way you receive them is the way you receive Me.
“And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;”
Matthew 25:34-40 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
It is that same point Jesus is making here.
You have to learn to value what I value and to love what I love.
Jesus loves a humble heart.
Jesus loves a lowly spirit.
Jesus loves the meek and hungry.
And yet the disciples had already declared that as valueless.
It is so easy to assign value to people when they enter the church doors.
We are notorious for valuing successful businessmen, or the wealthy,
Or those who look and dress well, or who speak well as the most important.
And it is easy for us to love them.
And yet Jesus says to love the least.
And how you treat them is evident of how you treat Me.
WHY?
Because they are His.
Do you think you can reject my family and honor Me at the same time?
LET ME ASK YOU: WHO DETERMINES THE VALUE OF AN OBJECT?
You could say, the retailer, they are the ones who set the price.
But price and value are two different things.
The price is set by the retailer,
But the value is set by the one who purchases it.
For in reality things are only truly worth what someone will pay for them.
And Christ says you had better quit looking at people
Through their value to you
And start looking at people through their value to Me.
Quit focusing on what you think is the best
And learn to focus on what I think is the best.
And anyone who does not value and receive those who are humbled does not value and receive Christ.
Children are to be emulated, children are to be Valued
#3 CHILDREN ARE TO BE PROTECTED
Matthew 18:6
Now here is the flipside of the equation.
“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.”
Now we are talking about angering Christ.
Christ values those poor humble people so much that if you do anything to cause them to “stumble” or fall away from Him.
You would be better off to be tied to the ocean floor than to do that.
DO YOU GET THE PICTURE?
They are valuable to Him.
And you must see them as more valuable even than yourself.
All this talk about how great you are,
As though everyone else ought to focus on how to keep you happy.
You are not the greatest, you are the least,
And you had better make sure you receive everyone else better.
And you had better make sure
That you don’t let your arrogance make one of them stumble.
Because if you do, you are in great danger!
Isn’t that just the opposite of how we often view ourselves?
We tend to think that I am so important to Jesus
And you had better not make me mad or cause me pain or upset me
Because Jesus will get you.
And yet Jesus is saying don’t think of yourself in those terms
Think of your brother in those terms.
You see, you are your brother’s keeper.
The focus is not on you, it is on him.
And this is how we act in the church.
• Emulate the poor and the lowly.
• Value the poor and the lowly.
• Protect the poor and the lowly.
Because Christ died for them and they are important to Him.
THIS IS THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH.
I am the least important person here,
And I come, not to see how good I can be treated,
But I come to serve you,
Because you are so important to Christ.
But if I come with an attitude of thinking I am the greatest.
Not only am I not the greatest, but I’m not even in the kingdom.
So humble yourself before God and humble yourself before men
And start loving and receiving and serving and protecting
Those who are important to Christ.
Matthew 18:1-4 “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.”
