(Text and Audio)
Title: Four Questions, Part One
Over the course of the next two weeks we will be looking at these two verses that may seem rather straight-forward. But the reason I want to spend two weeks there is because after really reading and studying these verses I believe at least four questions need to be accurately answered for us to fully contemplate and apply what Jesus is challenging his disciples with. And it all begins with one little word…
Opening
The word in verse 10, translated as “despise” is an interesting Greek word.
“despise” kataphroneō (Kah-tah-fro-nay-oh) to despise, disdain, think little or nothing of.
The best way to define this word may be to suggest that we have a dismissive attitude toward them.
Now, before we go any further, let me ask a practical question. In what ways do you think that the followers of Jesus may have been running the risk of “despising one of these little ones?” Let me ask it another way: How might we today, also run the risk of “despising of of these little ones”? (Take answers)
- Not REALLY listening to them
- Considering them simple, or unintelligent
- Patting them on the head, but not realizing the power that God has to use them to teach us. (Parents, amen?)
- Perhaps most importantly: Refusing to teach them sound doctrine because we think they are too young to truly understand Biblical Truth.
Four questions need to be answered to fully understand and applyJesus’s command here. We will deal with the first two questions today, and the second two questions next week.
- Who (precisely) are these “little ones”?
- Why are we not to despise them?
- Are these angels personal, or corporate?
- What is the application for this teaching?
Who are the Little Ones?
Remember that “these little ones” is an condensed version of verse 6 “these little ones who believe in me.” We need to be careful not to assume that what Jesus is saying is that “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.”
This is the the same conversation Jesus is having with the disciples, all of chapter 18 happens in one teaching. Jesus is still standing before the disciples, this child that he called to himself in verse 2 is the same child he’s referencing in both verse 6 (“One of these little ones who believes in me”) and verse 10 (“One of these little ones”)
Why do I feel the need to stress that? Because I don’t want us to end up in simple, unbiblical, nursery-rhyme theology.
“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Does Jesus really “love all the children of the world?”
And, if so, when does he stop loving them? Because, unless you are arguing that Jesus also loves all the adults of the world, then, at some point, Jesus’s love has to “turn off” does it not? When does that occur?
To be clear: I do believe the Bible teaches that there is a general mercy upon and love upon all mankind. This is what John is referring to in John 3:16 when he says “for God so loved the world…” But this general mercy is not the same as specific, individual, predestined, chosen love.
Think of it this way: Did God have a general love for his creation in the Old Testament? To be sure, he calls it “good.” But did God love all the inhabitants of that world after the fall of man? He only saves Noah and his family, he only calls Israel his nation. Israel was chosen, special, destined for something different that the rest of the world. So it is the same today with the Church.
Why are we not to despise them?
“…for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in Heaven.”
Next week we will deal with the role of these angels, but for now I want us to focus on what Jesus says about the angels reactions to these “Little ones (who believe in me.)”
He says that when the heavenly host of angels look upon these children, saved, chosen, loved by Jesus, the only thing they see is the face of God.
Can you wrap your mind around that? No one is arguing these children are innocent of sin, yet the angels see the face of God.
How is that even possible?
Friends, just when you think you’ve gotten a hold mentally of the power of the blood of Jesus, we read a sentence like this that should just cause us to be silent in wonder and amazement at the redemptive and preserving power of the grace that exist ONLY in the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Now, think about what I just said: the blood’s power is both redemptive and preserving.
How am I able to argue the part about it being preserving?
Simple. The word “always.”
Whenever these angels look up on these little ones who believe in me, they ALWAYS see the face of God.
And if you are saved by God’s grace this morning, I’m here to tell you that is what the angels see in you. The face of God.
Perhaps nowhere in our society today is it more important to be reminded of this truth that amongst our teens. (expand.)
So, in conclusion, what is the answer to our second question: Why are we not to despise them?
Answer: They belong to God.
His image is upon them just as much as it upon any believer. Their age does not make them a second-class believer. In fact, at the beginning of this teaching, Jesus states just the opposite. In verse 3 he flat out tells us that WE need to become like THEM. (humble, dependent believers.)
(Close/Pray)