Greatness and Humility
Part 2: Considering the Needs and Weaknesses of Others
Matthew 18:1-10
June 10, 2007
Introduction
I’m going to do something a little different today, given the fact that we will be observing the Lord’s Supper here in a bit.
So for the sake of time, I’m going to dispense with some of the regular introductory stuff that I normally have in the beginning and just kind of dive in to the stuff we need to cover, okay?
I also need to tell you that this will be a hard message to listen to at times, and it won’t be the smoothest you’ve heard.
This subject matter doesn’t lend itself real well to smooth transitions and humorous anecdotes.
My preaching teachers probably won’t think much of my form today, but we’ll trust God to override that.
We’re in Matthew 18, and we’re in the first 10 verses. Let’s head over there, okay?
Matthew 18:1-10 –
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
10 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”
What I want to look at today is the focus of verses 5 and 6.
There are two main components to this part of the passage.
The first is the encouragement in verse 5 to welcome the “little ones.” It’s short, and I want to take a moment to discuss this in just a little bit.
Jesus makes an unmistakable link between welcoming others and welcoming Him.
Hospitality was a huge mark of the early church. I think one of the major reasons was because they caught that link.
The bottom line here is that we are to be people who welcome any who are part of the family of believers, no matter their station in life.
Children were considered second-class citizens, and Jesus is basically saying that “second-class” citizens are to be shown the same hospitality you would show anyone else.
So showing hospitality – “welcoming” is something Jesus encourages us here as a display of love toward others and toward Jesus Himself.
But now let’s turn the corner to the meat of the passage, the warnings about sin and causing people to sin, starting in verse 6.
For some reason, Jesus felt that He needed to spend extra time and effort here discussing sin, especially in relation to these “little ones.”
And remember, when Jesus talks about the little ones, He’s not just talking about children – He’s talking about all who have put their humble faith in Him.
But before I too much farther, let me make a very quick comment about verses 7-9.
These are a repeat of what Jesus says back in chapter 5 when He’s discussing adultery in the Sermon on the Mount.
Without going over all that again, let me just review by saying that Jesus is saying you need to cut out the sources of temptation that lead you to sin.
Sometimes those cuts have to be drastic, and may cause hardship or pain. But that’s better than finding yourself facing eternal life in hell instead of heaven, wouldn’t you agree?
Back to the issue in verse 6.
Often Scripture talks about personal sin and the need to leave it with the help of God.
But we don’t often talk about the fact that sometimes we are guilty of not just personal sin, but also of influencing others to sin.
And Jesus makes no bones about the fact that it is very serious. He hates the idea that people are involved in causing others to sin.
So how does that happen? How do people cause others to sin? I want to as quickly as I can discuss four ways that people can be led into sin. There may be others, but here are four that come to mind very quickly.
Ready? We’re going to move fast!
Here’s the first way:
* Directly bringing someone into sinful activity.
It’s pretty obvious how this happens. You’re involved in sin, and you bring others into it. Pretty simple. I don’t think I need to go much further into that.
Jesus says that when you do that, you’re under His judgment, and it won’t be pretty.
Here’s another way to lead someone into sin:
* Modeling sin in your own life.
If you live a lifestyle that includes sin, then you are telling those around you that it’s okay, and that they are welcome to sin just like you do.
Allowing it in your life gives permission, if you will, to do it in their own life.
I hope you can see how this would be detriment to children and young Christians.
The Christian life is a life of example. And the example Christ wants us to live is – get this – Christlikeness!
And don’t give me the excuse, “Well, that’s just part of who I am. I’ve always done this and it’s no big deal.”
There is no such thing as an “okay” sin. Jesus isn’t “okay” with it.
It doesn’t matter if “everyone is doing it.” That doesn’t excuse it. It’s sin, and if you’re displaying it in your life, then you’re potentially leading others to commit the same sin.
And obviously, Jesus isn’t too keen on that deal.
Here’s another way people lead other people to sin –
* Taking part in activities that prey on another person’s weakness.
This one may not be as obvious as others, so let me just use an example that will help you understand it – drinking alcohol.
There is plenty of discussion about whether having a drink or two is a sin. But there is no dispute that getting drunk is a sin, according to Scripture.
And if you believe it’s okay to have a drink, yet you drink in the presence of someone who battles alcoholism, then you are leading someone into an area of temptation they may not be able to fight off.
“But Brian – is it my problem that they can’t control themselves around the booze? Why should I have to curb my fun for their sake?”
First of all, because Scripture commands it. And secondly, because it’s the Christlike thing to do – showing concern for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Scripture is very clear about this. In fact, the apostle Paul discussed this when talking about eating meat sacrificed to idols.
He knew that the sacrifice to idols did not make the meat uneatable for Christians, but was also aware that there were plenty of young or immature Christians who felt that they would be in sin to eat it.
Paul said, “You know what? I’m cool with that. And to make it easier for them, I’m not going to exercise my Christian freedom around them. They are too important, and I don’t want to do anything that might make them stumble. And if it means that I never eat meat again, then that’s what I’ll do.”
To refuse this is show selfishness of the highest order. It is sin, no matter how you cut it, no matter how you try to rationalize it.
Don’t take part in activities that prey on the weaknesses of others. Here’s a fourth way we can cause others to sin, and it’ll be the last one we look at, for the sake of time.
* Condoning the sin of others.
You do this in a couple ways. Either by encouraging their sin or by not denouncing it.
By encouraging it I mean that you joke with them about it, swap stories about how you do that particular sin, or whatever. And so you give the impression that that sin is okay.
And when we choose to not call sin “sin,” then we give the impression that it’s really not all that bad, so don’t make a big deal out of it.
Let me just use one example that I think will show you just what I’m trying to get across here.
In our society, it’s simply expected that people sleep together while they’re dating. That’s just the way it works nowadays, and everybody’s doing it.
And therefore, we should just accept it and let people live their lives, right?
And instead of condoning it, we need to calling it sin, and calling out those who do it, especially if the people claim to be Christians.
But too often the Church falls silent.
We don’t want to be “judgmental” or too pious, and don’t want to offend anyone.
Well, I don’t like offending anyone either. But if someone’s eternal life is on the line, don’t you think it’s worth the risk?
You better believe it is!
And when you don’t speak up, you’re giving silent permission to keep it up.
Sheesh, Brian. You’re being pretty hard on us today, aren’t you?
Maybe, but if you can find a way to sugar-coat what Jesus says, then you go right ahead. I can’t find it.
In a message like this, I think there is really only one application: examine yourself and repent of those areas where you see that you are either not welcoming the Family of God or are influencing others to sin.
That’s about as basic as it gets. But when Jesus addresses sin, He only expects one reaction: repentance.
That understanding that what you are doing is sin and you need to change, with the help of God and maybe more mature believers who have walked the road before you.
If the Spirit’s been nudging you about something, then you need to do something about it.
You need to confess that to God and turn from it with His help, accepting the forgiveness He offers you.
Jesus’ words here are harsh – but His forgiveness is real and He offers it to you.
In a moment we’re going to take communion. One of the most important aspects of communion is the fact that we are to examine ourselves before we receive the elements.
Usually I ask you to examine yourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit to see if there is anything you need to confess.
I’d like to charge you today to ask the Spirit to specifically show you if you are unwelcoming to others in the Family of God or have been guilty of leading others into sin.
If you have, then lay it before Him, coming to Him for forgiveness and letting Him restore you in right relationship to Him.
That’s what the Father wants – that’s why He sent His Son.
And that is why we observe the Lord’s Supper. So let’s do that now, okay?
