Sermon: Three Simple Rules To Greatness - The Greatest in the Kingdom
Scripture: Matthew 18:1-11 “About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. 10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.”11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”
Introduction: Matthew 18 begins with a discussion about a question, Who is the G.O.A.T.? What Does Goat Mean? GOAT abbreviation stands for the "Greatest of All Time." Ideally, goat is internet slang mainly used to complement musicians, athletes, and other celebrities who have achieved the greatest heights in their professional fields. Who is the greatest of all time in the kingdom? Jesus’ disciples were asking, Jesus respond by using a little child as an example of greatness in the kingdom, then he offers a parable of the lost sheep”, instructions on correcting wayward believers, and concludes with a parable of the unforgiving debtor. Why did Jesus use a little child to teach lessons on Kingdom greatness? Why did Jesus want us to be like children? First, please know this is not an exhortation to childlessness. We are called to spiritual maturity. Yet there are some attitudes in a child necessary for us to emulate that we might not have considered and those attitudes may not be on our minds as we pursue greatness. The disciples of Jesus wanted to be great in the kingdom. Some people criticize the disciples for even asking the question. Jesus consider it normal and shows them a better way and a better attitude. It is normal to desire promote, achievement and elevation. We are created in the image and likeness of God who turned darkness into light and the beautified his creation and say, “This is good!”
To change and be more like children in this sense is not to regress, not to abandon maturity or rationality or discernment. It means to adopt a different attitude. In the epistles, Paul later complained about the follies of adults who fail to grow up. So what is the text about? Jesus picks up a little child and sit him on his lap, in middle of his disciples pointing out the trusting nature of a little child, the believing nature, the forgiving nature and the joyful nature of a child. You can almost see the little child sitting there giggling and laughing as Jesus points outs his greatness. Matthew 18 begins with a question from the disciples to Jesus: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus' surprising response becomes the foundation for the rest of the chapter. Jesus calls a child to Him and puts that child in the middle of the group of disciples as they are talking. The discourse emphasizes the importance of obedience, humility and self-sacrifice as the high virtues within the beloved community. It teaches that in the Kingdom of God, it is childlike humility that matters, not social prominence and clout.
This lesson seems almost out of place, knowing his earthly ministry is coming to a close, Jesus set the record straight. The kingdom is not about titles and position of authority, the kingdom is about relationship. When children play, they are concerned about who is going to be the captain or the leader. They are in it to enjoy the game. Men love competition. Because of their egos, they will hurt one another, run over one another, criticize one another, all to be proclaim the winner. If some one get trampled, they consider it unavoidable collateral damage. In the kingdom the relationships are more important than positions of authority and prestige. Jesus gives us the steps to kingdom greatness.
1. Do Right, Turn from your sin and live a life of humility. Matt 18:2 “Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Today, many people only emphasize the grace of God, but repentance is still a precedes forgiveness. Everything in the kingdom hinges on what we believe. Little children are trusting and easy to believe. They tend to take the word of their parents on face value. They normally believe whatever a trustworthy adult tells them. A few years ago, parent had to teach their children “not to talk to strangers.” Those things are still important today. Parents fear their children encounters even on line. I wont’ you to think about the trusting attitude. The greatest in the kingdom are those who will take God’s word a face value because God can be trusted. Who turn for their sin because God said it. This kind of humility leads to greatness. The Prophet Micah 6:6-8, shows how to be great, “Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Turning from our sin and live a life of humility are the first steps to greatness. The second step is treat others on the way you would treat me even little children.
2. Do Good, Treat Others The Way You Would Treat Me. Matt 18:5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.”
To welcome others as you would welcome Jesus himself is the second step to greatness. Have you ever noticed how easy children can welcome other little children if left alone. They welcome without considering the economic condition or social status, without considering what school they attend, without considering what color they are. Normally, it is the adults that make the distinctions. They impose their prejudices on their children.
It is easy to accept prominent people, rich people and influential people, it is easier still overlook child unless they can help us get to where we want to get. Jesus said, “welcome a little child like this.” The disciples did not know the child’s name or background or where he was from, yet Jesus said welcome on my behalf. Greatness in the kingdom will lead us to serve God and serve others; to love God by loving others; to welcome God by loving others. Let error on the side of doing good!
3. Do No Harm and Cause None to Stumble. Matt. 18:6-7 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.”
Greatness in the kingdom comes from doing right, turning from sin and living in humility; from doing good, treating others the way you would treat the Lord, welcoming them, helping them, and loving them. Finally greatness comes by doing no harm. Doing harm includes not going after sheep that wander from the fold, not forgiving those who trespass against us. I know it seems like a heavy responsibility. It is hard enough to keep myself straight, yet God makes us our brother’s keepers. In our effort to climb, you can cause others to fall down, fall behind and even tempt them to sin.
Sometimes people will say, “my habits is not hurting anyone but myself.” If you were in a world by your self, that maybe true. In the world, some one is watching you, following you, coping your every moves and walking in your steps. 1 Cor. 8:9-13 “But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.10 for if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol?11So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed.12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.”
Paul gives us a clear example of how we may cause believers to stumble. We may not have to deal with food offered to idols, but there are so many other ways that the people are affected by our actions. In life we must deal with people, who will injure us and mistreat us, God is concerned about saving all. The example Jesus uses is someone who failed to keep his word, fail to pay back a loan, things will happen. Jesus said, make forgiveness your aim. Why? You have been forgiven for so much more than you are owed. Let us chose to do no harm.
Further to promote the humility and moderation of his disciples, our Lord proceeded in the discourse which he began with the little child in his arms, and said, Take special heed that you despise not one of these little ones, or that you do not cast contempt on the weakest or most average of my servants, nor injure the soul of a little child; for I say unto you, that there attendant angels in heaven, who stand before my heavenly Father; who will defend and protect them.
Then Jesus our Savior continues his argument against giving offence to his children by saying; he came into the world to redeem and save them. Therefore none ought to scandalize and offend them. And to illustrate this, he compares himself to a good shepherd, who regards every one of his sheep; and if any wander or go astray, he seeks to recover it with desire and joy. The natural condition of mankind is like to that of wandering sheep; they err and go astray from God their chief good, and the object of their complete happiness. It is the work and business, the care and concern, of Jesus Christ, to seek and recover lost souls, as the shepherd doth his lost sheep. To forgive as the the master who was owed a great sum, but forgave. You are greatest in the kingdom when you do right, do good and do no harm!
