Greatness (Matthew 18:1-6)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 18:1-6
     At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
   “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

COMMENT

The disciples came and asked Jesus, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Perhaps, as in Mark 9, their real question was "Which one of us is the greatest?" Judging by Jesus's answer, I think this would be the case. So Jesus calls a child to himself, puts the child in their midst, and tells them that unless they become like a child, they will not even enter the kingdom.

A few things I want to address here. One is the difference between being child-like and childish. The disciples were already behaving childish, bickering about who was the greatest. That is not what Jesus is wanting. He is wanting child-likeness. The idea of wonderment, the idea of dependence, the idea of not acting like you already know it all. (Obviously, the child Jesus showed them was not near his teenage years yet!)

"Turn and become like children." A change must take place, and perhaps had not yet taken place among the disciples. Humble, this word draws me back to the Sermon in the Mount again. Specifically the Beatitudes. This is a change, a turn from the religious thinking of the day. Perhaps a turn that is needed again today. One thing that has always puzzled me is the idea that some (many?) have that they got it right, that their belief system is THE ONE that Jesus is most proud if. Perhaps they go to church multiple times a week, give over the 10% minimum (allegedly) required, don't drink, cuss, or go to R-rated movies, or whatever. Maybe it is their doctrinal stance, when they take communion, are they baptized, how their church is governed, etc. 2,000 years after His death, and they are the one who have it right. Maybe it is whether they are Calvinists, Arminians, or neither. Maybe it is it is something else. Whatever the case, Jesus seems to be looking for something else. Attitude, humility. What if the real church is scattered among the church itself, along with the weeds that will be removed later. That is a scary thought, yet fitting considering His words that those who do not turn will never enter the kingdom.

How do we receive the children, those new to faith? Do we indoctrinate them into our belief system, so that they become like one of us? Or do we show them Jesus through our humility and graciousness? Because how you receive the child indicates a lot about your own destination.