Site Search Engine

The Gospel of Matthew

Christian humility and the parable of the lost sheep

Chapter 18: 1-14

 

The greatest in the kingdom of Heaven

The disciples were arguing among themselves as to who was the greatest among them, in their journey back to Capernaum (Mark 9:34 and Luke 9:46 - they obviously had not chosen  Peter, as Roman tradition has it). So they came to the Lord asked Him "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" Here we glimpse the possibility of ambition and even partisanship among them. They had a lot to learn yet, and were tied down to the interests and patterns they knew in the world.

To illustrate what He would teach them, the Lord called over a boy and put him between them. He was still very small, because Mark tells us that He took him into His arms. So also the repentant sinner hears His calling and comes humbly to receive His protection.

The Lord Jesus then told His disciples that, assuredly, “unless they converted and became as little children, they would by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (verse 3). This is the first step for salvation of the soul of every sinner, without which there is no way into heaven, much less to any exalted position in His Kingdom.

Conversion consists of a complete change of direction, the negation of self and admission of Christ as personal Saviour and Lord. It is what we call the "new birth", as explained to the Pharisee Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), a new spiritual birth.

To become like a child does not mean that an adult should act with childishness, abandoning the seriousness gained by his experience. Nor is he to think like a child, returning to ingenuity.

The virtue found in a child, to which the Lord referred, is its humility. The world does not regard humility as a virtue; rather the meek are put back and trampled underfoot. They are the least important in our society, the least respected, the least influential. The humble of the world are destined to serve others, not to take up positions of command.

Christian humility

The Lord added, “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (v. 4). Later, He would say to His disciples "he who is greatest among you shall be your servant" (chapter 23:11). In the spiritual ambit, values are inverted because who serves others most is the greatest of all. This was the answer to the question posed by the disciples.

Not all the disciples were already converted. Judas Iscariot proved he was not by his behaviour later on. Every sinner must humble himself, acknowledge his guilt of sin before God, and receive forgiveness given graciously to him through his faith in the Lord Jesus. He then starts a new life as a child, learning from the Word of God, and from the more experienced teachers, how to grow in the knowledge of Christ. The intellectual baggage that he formerly had will be worth little, but everything that he has must be placed in the service of the Lord.

In the church of God those of more authority serve the most: those who are the overseers of a local church (called elders, bishops or presbyters) are there to serve, "feeding the flock" (1 Peter 5:2.3), the others, who have a function within the church, are the "deacons", which translates as "servants", or "ministers".

Care for new converts

Then the Lord commented on the kind of treatment given to a little boy like that: it can be a welcome, or it can be an obstacle. The boy was still helpless, inexperienced, dependent on older people, and needed teaching. The initial situation of the sinner, who turns and starts a new life in Christ, is the same. Having humbled himself to be born again by faith, the new believer needs much support, teaching, protection and encouragement as a child. It is a very vulnerable stage in their lives. Therefore, the Lord Jesus continued to use the same parallelism for both situations.

He stated that whoever received a person like that child in His name, would be receiving Him. It is a serious warning for us not to despise new converts. The newly converted not only need but also deserve more of our attention than those who consider themselves adults, well instructed and convinced. The help we give them is as worthy as if it were for the Lord Jesus Himself, such is the importance that the Lord gives them.

On the other hand, for those who make a new believer in the Lord Jesus stumble, “it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (verse 6). To cause to stumble is to lead to sin, or in any other way harm him in his new life. The figure of a millstone emphasizes the wickedness committed, because:

1. The stone was so large and heavy that it needed to be moved by a beast of burden, like an ass.
2. Drowning was a punishment used by Gentiles, never by the Jews, to whom the sea was a dangerous place and drowning was a most tragic death.

There is nothing worse than destroying the innocence of a child, and driving it to sin. It is like spreading a contagious disease on purpose.

In the world, there is sin and the temptation to commit sin is everywhere. It is inevitable and nothing can be done to stop it or to prevent children or new believers to be exposed to them. However, it is another thing to be the actual agent of corruption to provoke the fall of these little ones. It is preferable to mutilate oneself, if that can prevent committing such an offence.

To God, these small humble ones are so important, that “in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven” (verse 10). The expression "to see the face" was common, and derived from the protocol of ancient monarchs, where only the courtiers, ministers and the most important people could move closer to the person of the king. The angels of the humble little ones also have that privilege to come very close to God the Father.

The parable of the shepherd

Finally, the Lord Jesus told a parable to illustrate God's love for the lost sinner, whose sin was forgiven and that, submissive, is now enjoying the protection of God. The illustration demonstrates that a shepherd ends up happier with a sheep that was lost and that he found again, than with all the other ninety-nine sheep of his flock.

The joy was not because the sheep got lost and gave him opportunity to go looking for it, of course, but because it was found. So also, God does not want any among His little ones to perish. The parable teaches us several things about the love of God:

1. It is personal. There were ninety-nine sheep in safety, but the shepherd sought the one that was lost. God is not satisfied until the last lost one is gathered to Him.

2. It is patient. The sheep can get lost foolishly, but the shepherd still risks his life to find it. The sinner can be silly, being responsible for his own situation, but God still loves him.

3. It is active. The shepherd did not wait for the sheep to find its way back, but went looking for it. God sent his Son to seek and save the lost.

4. It is of rejoicing. There was only joy of the shepherd, without recriminations to the sheep. God wipes away our sins and only joy remains.

5. It is protecting. The shepherd sought and saved the sheep. The love of God saves man from the penalty, the power and finally the presence of sin, becoming the winner.

 

R David Jones  

 

 

 

 

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

 

 

 

2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,

 

3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

 

 

 

7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
8 "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.
9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
10 "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

 

11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
12 "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18 verses 1 to 14