(Text and Audio)
Title: Who is the Greatest?
Today we return to the Gospel of Matthew which has been our core study for about the last 3.5 years here at Heritage. And today we not only begin a new chapter, as we’ve worked our way into chapter 18, but we also begin a very important section within Matthew itself.
Chapter 18 begins the 4th of the 5 great teachings that we have from Jesus in the book of Matthew. It is both my favorite of the teachings that we’ve studied so far, and it is also, without question, the most challenging to our personal walks.
In the coming weeks as we work though chapter 18 you will notice some recurrent themes in this teaching from Jesus, one of which we will look at today. Jesus will answer this question posed to him by the disciples by using an illustration of a “little child” and that theme will come up in several of our next few sermons.
Much like when we studied the book of I John and came to an understanding of what John was saying when he addressed the church as “my little children” it will be important for us to know what Jesus is and isn’t saying when he uses children as an illustration for his teachings.
Let’s get started.
(read/pray)
- What is the reasoning behind their question?
All of us have been in a conversation where we are asked a question and we aren’t quite sure what the question really is, so we reply back with this question: Why do you ask?
Obviously, if we understand the motivation for the question, the intention for the question, we will be better able to ask it.
I remember once a while ago I had to go see a certain specialist for a medical issue and a while later a friend of mine had an appointment to see the same person and they asked me, “What did you think of Dr. Smith?” (Names have been changed to protect the innocent.)
I responded, “Why do you ask?”
My friend then explained that their general physician had referred them to Dr. Smith and they wanted to make sure they were going to be able to address their problems and help them medically.
You see, I knew Dr. Smith personally, and didn’t care for him. As a physician he was fine, The Lord used him to solve my particular issue, but as a person I had some issues with him.
So when I asked my friend, “Why do you ask?” I was trying to determine if they were asking me about Dr. Smith’s professional ability or about whether I thought he was an honorable person.
The disciples could be asking this particular question for a variety of reasons. Now, I think we can all agree that in Matthew’s gospel, the author doesn’t give us any clues as to the motivations of the disciples, but, if we consider the parallel accounts of Mark and Luke, we get some more insight.
Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
–Mark 9:33-34
Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him…
–Luke 9:46-47
And, in another, separate incident recorded by Luke, we read this:
Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
-Luke 9:24
I think we can all agree, this wasn’t the best moment for the disciples. What would you say, was the motivating factor in why these disciples then asked this question?
Pride (lack of humility)
- The Brilliance of Jesus’s Illustration
Knowing what was in the disciple’s minds as they asked this question makes Jesus answer and illustration of that answer that much more powerful.
Jesus calls a little child to himself, sets the child before these disciples and tells them, “Unless you are converted, and become like this child you see before you, you don’t belong with me.”
In other words: Do you see this child? Humble. Dependent. Willing to accept from others what they cannot provide for themselves. THIS is the greatest in my kingdom.
In other other words: IT”S NOT ABOUT YOU! IT IS, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, ABOUT JESUS!
- A Restorative Reminder
There’s one last thing I want us to cover this morning as we close.
Jesus closes the opening thought of this powerful illustration with a verse that is so often overlooked in meaning, and I believe it is every bit as powerful as the lesson he gives in verses 2-4.
Look at verse 5. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives me.”
Let’s break that down.
Q: Who or what is “one little child like this?”
A: A Disciple of Christ
Q: If you receive (accept) a Disciple of Christ than who or what are you actually receiving?
A: Jesus himself.
Is it not logical then to conclude that if the opposite occurs, if someone rejects a humble, dependent, true disciple of Jesus, then then also are rejecting Jesus himself?
You all following me here? Right on the heels of Jesus offering a pretty obvious rebuke to the petty squabbles of his followers, he offers a reminder of their power.
He desperate wants them to grow up, because they will hold the keys to heaven once Jesus is gone.
We, the Church today, have to stop being about us, our reputations, our pride, our position or authority, or voice in the Christian community. WE have to stop squabbling, both within our churches, and between churches. And I’m as guilty of this as anyone in this room.
Look, it’s okay, it’s good to take stands, to have theological convictions, to discuss and debate all these things.
But those debate must occur without our motivation being pride, arrogance, self. We have to stop arguing about who the greatest is.
Summary:
In essence Jesus is saying, “Stop behaving like children, and start behaving like children.”
It’s so simple, I don’t even know why you guys pay me to do this.