Kingdom Greatness

Sermon: The Path to Kingdom Greatness

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-11 “About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 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. So, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 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.

“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 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. 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. “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.” For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”

Introduction: Matthew 18 begins with a discussion about the question, Who is the Greatest disciple? Who is the greatest among us in the kingdom? Jesus’ disciples were probably surprised by Jesus’ response, Jesus calls a child and places the child among them and tells them that unless they change and become as little children, they will never even enter the kingdom. If they are concerned about their own status, they have missed the point completely.

A child in the ancient world was without status or rights, completely dependent on the good will of others to care for him or her. Jesus further specifies what this means in the following verse: “Whoever humbles themselves like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”. It is giving up claims to power and status and knowing one’s total dependence on God that counts as greatness in the kingdom of heaven.

The Summer Olympics will be starting soon, and the media focus will largely be on the athletes that will strive to prove how “great” he or she is in comparison to all the others. Those who win a medal will be considered great in that particular event, with bronze being great, with the silver being greater and the gold being the greatest. Yet, as we all know, the greatest athletes do not always win every contest. In baseball, even the greatest homerun hitters strike out much more than they get hits. We also understand that even if a person is great in the sense of having exceptional abilities, they are not a great person unless they also have good character qualities. While on vacation, my wife and I visited the Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs. I was surprised by some of the athletes posted on the large screen and walls. Though all the athletes were great, some were given special recognition and a place on the walls as you enter the museum.

The pride and arrogance of the disciples must be addressed, and their attention refocused. Jesus does that by saying, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” (Matthew 18:5). Jesus humbles himself in identifying with a little child, one without power or status. This is neither the first time nor the last in Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus identifies with those who are powerless, needy, and marginal, and says that our response to such persons is, in effect, our response to him (Matthew 10:40-42; 25:34-46).

Jesus uses 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 considers it normal and shows them a better way and a better attitude. It is normal to desire promotion, achievement, and elevation. We are created in the image and likeness of God who turned darkness into light and then beautified his creation and said, “This is good!”