Matthew 18:1-14 It all began with the disciples asking the Lord Jesus a question. You ask questions when you are curious about something. Back then, the disciples were curious about who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The master teacher decided to teach with a show and tell. This method is visual and most often appealing. He called a child to him and to have the child stood among them. He then proclaimed that unless one is converted and become like a little child, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Our Lord laid the foundational requirement to enter the kingdom of heaven. That requires one to be converted and become like a little child. This is the first and most important truth. How can one enter the kingdom of heaven should be the question before that of who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus set their priorities right.
Now about the child. The child was obedient. He responded to Jesus’s call. He may feel awkward and perhaps uneasy standing in front of a group of adults but he was willing. Our Lord was saying to His disciples that they have to be obedient and willing to enter the kingdom of God. That is Biblical faith. The mixture of willingness and obedience.
Next, He addressed their question. Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? This is the one who makes himself humble like a child. The Lord Himself became the greatest in the kingdom because He not only taught humility but He showed us humility! He was obedient even to the cross. Therefore God greatly exalts Jesus’s name above all other names. Philippians 2:9-11.
The Lord did not stop there. He continued to teach that there will be consequences for how a child or a child of God is treated. If you welcome them you welcome the Lord and if you trap them you are far better to hang a weight on your neck and throw yourself into the deep end of the sea. That means it is far better to die than do such a thing. The reason He said that is because there are worst things than to die. The worst thing is hell. In hell, the fire will not quench. Our Lord taught more about hell than heaven because He did not want people to end up there!
What about us who sinned by mistreating children and God’s people before we were converted? Jesus said He came to save the lost. We still have hope when we repent and become like a child and follow the Lord Jesus wholeheartedly.
May we be converted to be like a child. May we be willing to obey the Lord in all things. May we treat a child well and the children of God will. May we be reminded of hell’s fire and live intentionally.
Antioch Chapel 