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Matthew 18; Luke 10 – Come Follow Me
Matthew chapter 18, Jesus has been teaching the twelve about His Kingdom. Jesus has gone to great lengths to show that His Kingdom is not of this world and those who will be “greatest” in it will be servants who frankly will suffer. He came to save us from sin and death and hell. Then He leads us through continued living in this world. Scripture promises two sure things for those who are His – otherworldly peace and suffering of some sort. How this plays out is dependent on the Lord and the persons involved. Kind of a frightening concept, isn’t it? But the biblical formula is ever present – believers will have peace, John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” And, then believers will suffer 2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
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Jesus has been telling his apostles over and, over again they were going to suffer for Him. But they kept maintaining the idea that they were going to be powerful in a political kingdom of earthly strength. And quite naturally, with that are going to be questions as to who is going to the greatest. Here in verse 1 the disciples were caught by the Lord disputing over who was going to be the greatest in the Kingdom. Matthew tells us how the Lord answers them.
Verses 2-3 “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The word here for “converted” means “changed or turned.” Scripture calls it the new birth, rebirth, or regeneration. Jesus was referring to a change or turning that these apostles had yet to experience. This was referring to changing from death to eternal life (or spiritual rebirth). This will happen on the Day of Pentecost, which we will read about in Act 1-2. So, even though these apostles had walked with Jesus, seen Him work miracles and felt His love for them, this was not enough to secure their walk. They needed the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In the end, this is the difference between religion and relationship. Between earthly kingdoms and His true Kingdom. The apostles came to Jesus wanting to know (in their un-regenerated flesh) who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom He was establishing. His response was to take a child, set him or her in the midst of them and say, they needed to be converted and become as little children. They needed to become less prideful and more, humble as a child. In Mark 9:35 Jesus adds “if any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
The Lord reinforces this point in verse 4 of Matthew 18 “Whoseover therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Paul gave us the best indication of what true humble characteristics are all about. Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” 2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any
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By Danny Larsen
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Matthew chapter 18, Jesus has been teaching the twelve about His Kingdom. Jesus has gone to great lengths to show that His Kingdom is not of this world and those who will be “greatest” in it will be servants who frankly will suffer. He came to save us from sin and death and hell. Then He leads us through continued living in this world. Scripture promises two sure things for those who are His – otherworldly peace and suffering of some sort. How this plays out is dependent on the Lord and the persons involved. Kind of a frightening concept, isn’t it? But the biblical formula is ever present – believers will have peace, John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” And, then believers will suffer 2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
Read More
Jesus has been telling his apostles over and, over again they were going to suffer for Him. But they kept maintaining the idea that they were going to be powerful in a political kingdom of earthly strength. And quite naturally, with that are going to be questions as to who is going to the greatest. Here in verse 1 the disciples were caught by the Lord disputing over who was going to be the greatest in the Kingdom. Matthew tells us how the Lord answers them.
Verses 2-3 “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The word here for “converted” means “changed or turned.” Scripture calls it the new birth, rebirth, or regeneration. Jesus was referring to a change or turning that these apostles had yet to experience. This was referring to changing from death to eternal life (or spiritual rebirth). This will happen on the Day of Pentecost, which we will read about in Act 1-2. So, even though these apostles had walked with Jesus, seen Him work miracles and felt His love for them, this was not enough to secure their walk. They needed the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In the end, this is the difference between religion and relationship. Between earthly kingdoms and His true Kingdom. The apostles came to Jesus wanting to know (in their un-regenerated flesh) who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom He was establishing. His response was to take a child, set him or her in the midst of them and say, they needed to be converted and become as little children. They needed to become less prideful and more, humble as a child. In Mark 9:35 Jesus adds “if any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
The Lord reinforces this point in verse 4 of Matthew 18 “Whoseover therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Paul gave us the best indication of what true humble characteristics are all about. Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” 2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any