Matthew 18,   Jan 31, 2015

Asking who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is sort of guaranteeing that you aren't going to be considered.   It's like bragging about how humble you are...it doesn't work.
Jesus says that we need to become like children.   Of course, He isn't talking about childish behavior, but rather childlike attributes.   The older we become the less likely we are to learn new things.   We become suspicious and guarded, we don't say exactly what we are thinking, we have learned to hold back our opinion so we aren't embarrassed or out of favor.  We tend to believe that we are wiser as we get older...and in some cases we are, but the idea that we wise enough makes it hard for us to learn from others.   The saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" has some truth to it.

But Jesus says that if we want to enter into heaven "we must change".   When it comes to relating to Jesus, we must become teachable, trusting and transparent.  Humility is the only way into the kingdom.  Humbly accepting that Christ has done for us what we could never do for ourselves is the only way to gain entrance.   The proud and arrogant will never enter.   Only those who develop childlike humility.

In verse 5 the topic shifts from the child as a metaphor for behavior to the actual child.   I see Jesus pointing to the children around Him and saying these things.   Since Jesus says that children can sin, and in so doing they can lose their place in heaven, we should take care to make sure that never happens.   We should teach and encourage them to remain faithful with every resource that we have.  Those who lead children astray will be punished, but that doesn't mean the children won't have to pay for their sin.   They will suffer as well.

I think of Judas, or of Pharaoh when I read  verse 7.  Woe to the person through whom sinful things come!   Lord, may I never be the person that serves as a conduit for any evil to be visited upon others.

When I was younger in my faith I thought that cutting off a hand might be literal, even though I knew it couldn't be true.   As I grow older I realize that you could gouge out both of your eyes and still be guilty of sin.  The problem is the heart, and our thoughts.  We need to be cleansed in our hearts, purified of evil desires in heart and mind, that will stop the progress of sin in our lives.    However there is a part that we can do, and that is to ruthlessly eliminate from our lives anything that tempts us to sin.  If it's the computer, then lose it, or limit it's scope.  If it's the TV, do the same.   Maybe it's friends....share your faith and then let them go.   Anything that leads you back into sin must be removed before it causes you to stumble.    Releasing some of these things will be hard, and probably painful.   It may cost something..but it's worth it.

Thinking of the children being able to sin and lose salvation, the next passage balances it a little.   It would seem that the children also have personal angels assigned who are always in the presence of God.   This seems to imply that there is a certain number of years during which a child isn't responsible for their original sin.

I wonder, does the passage about looking for a lost sheep mean that Jesus is looking for children who are lost...meaning that even though the children have angels who see the face of Christ, they must at some point become responsible for their behavior.   Perhaps it's as early as when we can determine right from wrong.   That's pretty early in development.

18:15-20  is often used to mediate church disagreements.  If serving Christ is our primary goal and desire then the guidance offered here will provide sufficient motivation to change behavior.  However, if serving Christ is a secondary goal and pleasing our own carnal desires in our primary desire, then this sequence of events will only lead to disunity.   The selfish person will break communion with the body in order to please themselves.

And then finally the passage regarding the unmerciful servant.   You can sum up this passage simply by saying that "we have been forgiven of much, so we should also forgive others".   Why is it that we complain about the things that others do while we are just as guilty?   We are just as inclined to accept forgiveness and then point our finger at others as was this servant.   It's almost as if once our sins have been forgiven we forget how dysfunctional we were...or still are, in many cases.    Although forgiven we aren't perfect, and yet our critical behavior often would lead you to believe that we believe ourselves to be blameless.   A person once forgiven should become a forgiving person!  Too often the reverse is true.    The solution to the problem is spending more time thanking and praising God for what He has done, and considering our lost state without Him.   This will generate more love for God and for others in our lives.    The more we love, the less likely we are to be critical.

focusing forward,

PR