LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN

Passage: Matthew 18:1-14

Key verse: 13

NIV

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven(A)

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,(B) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.(C) 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.(D) 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.(E)

Causing to Stumble

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.(F) 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!(G) 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble,(H) cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble,(I) gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.(J)

The Parable of the Wandering Sheep(K)

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels(L) in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11] [a]

12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 18:11 Some manuscripts include here the words of Luke 19:10.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Who Is the Greatest?

18 (A)At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you (B)turn and (C)become like children, you (D)will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 (E)Whoever humbles himself like this child is the (F)greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 (G)“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but (H)whoever causes one of these (I)little ones who believe in me to sin,[a] it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Temptations to Sin

7 “Woe to the world for (J)temptations to sin![b] (K)For it is necessary that temptations come, (L)but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 (M)And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into (N)the eternal fire. 9 (O)And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the (P)hell[c] of fire.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

10 “See that you do not despise (Q)one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven (R)their angels always (S)see the face of my Father who is in heaven.[d] 12 (T)What do you think? (U)If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So (V)it is not the will of my[e] Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 18:6 Greek causes… to stumble; also verses 8, 9
  2. Matthew 18:7 Greek stumbling blocks
  3. Matthew 18:9 Greek Gehenna
  4. Matthew 18:10 Some manuscripts add verse 11: For the Son of Man came to save the lost
  5. Matthew 18:14 Some manuscripts your
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus’ disciples wondered who the greatest in the kingdom of heaven would be. Jesus said that only if we become like little children can we enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who simply trust Jesus and follow him may look naïve and vulnerable in the world, but they will be called the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (3,4).

The “little one” may stumble due to the temptation of the world. And Jesus uses strong, rather offensive, language to tell us how to deal with our sins. Whether committing sin oneself or causing others to sin, one should deal with it as a matter of life and death (6-9). We need to understand the consequences of ignoring God's righteousness.

Then Jesus explains the heart of God as he deals with each of the little children. As a man who goes out to look for one lost sheep, leaving his ninety-nine on the hills, our God cares for each of his children and is willing to regain them at all costs (14). Would you open your heart toward the voice of your shepherd, and follow him, as he walks ahead of you? Would you put your trust in him and let him lead you in the progress to the kingdom of heaven?

Prayer: Father, thank you for your protection as my shepherd. Please help me to become like a little child and simply trust and obey you today.

One Word: Like a little one