Mat 18:1 At that time the
disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of
heaven?" Mat 18:2 And He called a child to
Himself and set him before them,
This relates to Matthew
17: 24-27, the disciples were jockeying for position in the new kingdom
that they thought would be here on earth. They also felt that it would be soon
and because Peter, James and John were at the transfiguration they were worried
about their positions in the new kingdom. See Acts
1:6 and Mark
9:33-34.
We as adults often worry about our position in life we try
to improve it, in your job or in your social standing. It is not uncommon to
see jealousy around such subjects; when you are young it is only natural in our
society to try to compete. It would be much harder to be humble.
Mat 18:3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become
like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
What is it about children? The disciples were trying to get
advanced placement in God’s kingdom. They were acting like children by talking
about petty things, but they were adults.
Mat 18:4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Children will talk about petty things but they accept things
as they are. When you were young and had a normal family, most likely you were
happy with your toys etc., when I was a boy I didn’t have a lot of toys but I
used what I had and really didn’t think to much about what others had. When
older that probably was not true but when you were 5 or 6 you just went out and had fun
with your friends. That is what Jesus wants us to do. Accept his word and put
it to use and not worry about the trappings of today’s world.
Mat 18:5 "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives
Me;
This verse was difficult for me to explain so again I will
borrow from the Life Application New Testament:
Jesus was also teaching the disciples to welcome children.
This was a new approach in a society where children were usually treated as
second-class citizens. Jesus equated the attitude of welcoming children with a
willingness to receive him. An attitude that welcomes a little child like this
readily welcomes and embraces believers of little worldly importance and low
status. This shows an attitude that also welcomes the Savior, for he too was of
little worldly importance and of low status. In God’s Kingdom, greatness lies
in acceptance of and dependence upon the Savior. Together in the church,
believers are to welcome and love one another, encourage one another, allow
everyone a place to shine according to their gifts, and appreciate one another.
Mat 18:6 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.
Think of the people or groups that are disallowing children to not come to Jesus. What are the Taliban doing to their children? Teaching how to use guns and become suicide bombers and they will be rewarded with virgins in the afterlife. Wow that is so sick.
Think about the heaven God is offering. No pain, no worry,
no steeling, a life without worry and you have contentment. Which would you
rather have?
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