Back when I was in college, one of my favorite songs was “Faith Like a Child” by Jars of Clay. Listen as I share some of the lyrics to this song: “Dear God, surround me as I speak; the bridges that I walk across are weak. Frustrations fill the void that I can’t solely bear . . . Sometimes, when I feel miles away, and my eyes can’t see Your face; I wonder if I’ve grown to lose the recklessness I walked in the light of You. They say that I can move the mountains, and send them crashing to the sea. They say that I can walk on water, if I would follow and believe – with faith like a child.” But I must ask, “How many of us have lost the faith of a child? How many of us have lost the wonder of life and joy of our salvation? And how many of us have grown coldhearted towards those who still believe that God can do miracles?”
When we lose the faith of a child we no longer follow God in reckless abandon, we allow the complications of life to frustrate us, we seek after human recognition instead of God’s approval, and we become judgmental towards those who still maintain that childlike innocence. We can even go so far as to judge other people’s motives and question their salvation; thus, becoming a hindrance. As we approach some of our upcoming outreaches, such as vacation Bible school and even a possible fall revival, we need to consider how our waning faith can potentially become a hindrance to others – that is, if that be our condition – and in our passage today, Jesus provides a warning to those who hinder believers who have the faith of a child. It is also a warning to those who would hinder children from coming to Jesus.
Receiving the Little Children (Matthew 18:1-6)
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. 6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
“Who then is greatest?” (v. 1) the disciples asked. This “was a repeated topic of discussion among the disciples, for we find it mentioned often in the gospel records. Recent events would have aggravated the problem, particularly with reference to Peter. After all, Peter had walked on the water, had been on the mountaintop with the Lord, and had even had his taxes paid by means of a miracle.”(1) The disciples “were thinking only of themselves and what position they would have in His kingdom. So absorbed were the disciples in this matter that they actually argued with each other (Luke 9:46)!”(2)
“The disciples waited breathlessly for Jesus to name the greatest man among them. But He bypassed them completely and called a little child into their midst” (v. 2).(3) Now, there is a tradition that this child grew to be Ignatius of Antioch, who in later days became a great servant of the Church, a great writer, and finally a martyr for Christ. Commentator Adam Clarke indicates that this tradition comes from the Christian writer Nicephorus, who says that Ignatius was killed by Emperor Trajan in 107 A.D.(4)
In verse 3, Jesus said, “Unless you are converted.” Unless you are converted from those prejudices which are at present so harmful, and unless you are clothed with the spirit of humility, you cannot enter into the spirit, design, and privileges of a spiritual and eternal kingdom.(5) He then stated, “and become as little children” (v. 3). Unless you are “truly without worldly ambition, and the lust of power, as little children are,”(6) “you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (v. 3). Matthew Henry says, “You must be of another mind, and in another frame and temper.” You “must have other thoughts, both of yourselves and of the kingdom of heaven, before you be fit for a place in it. The pride, ambition, and [display] of honor and dominion, which appear within you, must be repented of, mortified, and reformed.”(7)
In verse 4, Jesus said, “Whoever humbles himself as this little child.” Humility is the key to greatness in our Lord’s kingdom. Henry continues to expound, “As children, we must desire the sincere milk of the word (1 Peter 2:2); as children, we must be careful for nothing, but leave it to our heavenly Father to care for us (Matthew 6:31); we must, as children, be harmless and inoffensive, and void of malice (1 Corinthians 14:20) . . . and we must be humble . . . As children are little in body and low in stature, so we must be little and low in spirit, and in our thoughts of ourselves.”(8)
Commentator Warren Wiersbe says, “An unspoiled child has the characteristics that make for humility: trust (Matthew 18:6), dependence, the desire to make others happy, [and] an absence of boasting or selfish desire to be greater than others.” He says that “by nature, all of us are rebels who want to be celebrities instead of servants.”(9) Charles Spurgeon, known as the prince of preachers, had this to say about the humility in children: “Children do not try to be humble,” he says “but they are so; and the same is the case with [sincerely] gracious persons. The imitation of humility is sickening; the reality is attractive.”(10)
Now, in verse 5, we read that “whoever receives one little child like this,” or “in this manner.” That is, whoever shall receive and love others, having a spirit like this child – being humble, meek, and unambitious – receives Me.(11) The phrase “in My name” means someone who is a follower of Christ, or one who is “attached” to Him. Whoever is indwelled by My Spirit, and who, because he has that Spirit, loves one such little child, also loves Me. The word “receive” means, “to approve, love,” or “treat with kindness,” and “to aid in time of need.”(12)
The descriptions of humility and innocence in this passage remind me of Isaiah 11:6, which says, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” This verse refers to the coming of Jesus Christ and the reign of His kingdom. This prophecy in Isaiah foretold that the Messiah will arise from the stem of Jesse, and He will reign in wisdom, justice, and righteousness (Isaiah 11:1-6). The reign of peace that is established will enable the wolf to dwell with the lamb, the leopard to lie down with the young goat, and the calf to lie down with the lion. You see, predators will abandon their carnivorous appetites.
And who shall lead these wild beasts? The Scripture tells us that “a little child shall lead them.” It won’t be those who fight for positions of honor and seats of power within the church or kingdom. According to Jesus, those who seek glory from men already have their reward (Matthew 6:2). It will be those who have humility and childlike faith. And I’m sure that genuine little children, who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, will also be among those in the lead. Even though Matthew chapter 18 primarily speaks of the childlike faith found in a disciple of Christ, allow me transition and apply this passage to the faith of genuine little children.
I want to begin by saying that we often look down on children. We might say, for example, that they can’t fully understand the doctrine of salvation. But what does some doctrine have to do with knowing Jesus? Nowhere in the Bible does God tell us, “This is the doctrine of salvation,” or “This is the doctrine of sin.” Theologians sit down and try to make spiritual concepts systematic and orderly. But haven’t you noticed that as people try to simplify things, they wind up creating more confusion? Sometimes people do this with the Word of God; but salvation is not meant to be complicated. Jesus said we cannot enter the kingdom unless we become as little children. Children aren’t interested in doctrine, but they will understand the simple message that God loves them and sent His Son to bring them to the heavenly Father.
When we come to Jesus, we need to accept Him as a child. A child will accept Him more readily than an adult, because he isn’t holding on to a lot of things he’s afraid to lose. A child will accept Christ more readily, because he has not yet learned that everything must be complicated. Jesus tells us to come to Him as a child. Those who humble themselves are the greatest in the kingdom. But unfortunately, many of us have lost the humility we once had as a child; and many of us have forgotten the simple message of salvation in Christ, and we have complicated it like everything else in life. We think that we have mastered the doctrine of salvation, and that we have the ability to judge the heart of another.
In preparation for our upcoming vacation Bible school, I want to share a true story and a word of caution. In one church I pastored, during VBS, we had a night where I offered a gospel presentation and an invitation, and there were fourteen children who walked the aisle to receive Christ. But afterwards, people told me, “That many kids could not have accepted Christ! They are too young to understand what they did! They must have followed each other down the aisle!” I had people tell me that they had not yet reached the age of accountability. The Bible does speak of a child becoming a man and being able to discern between good and evil, but the exact age is never mentioned. This is just an excuse when people are having a crisis of faith in believing that so many children could have come to Christ.
Verse 6 should serve as a warning to be careful in how we judge children. Jesus said, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” The King James Version says, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me” (v. 6). In New Testament Greek, the word for “sin” or “offend” is skandalon, from which we get our English word “scandal.” It means “to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall.”(13) I find it interesting to note that should someone put a stumbling “stone” in a child’s path, then a “stone” will be put around his or her neck.
Once the stone is put around someone’s neck, they are “drowned in the depth of the sea” (v. 6). “The word translated ‘depth’ is sometimes used for the sea itself (Isaiah 51:10), and signifies the middle, or deeper path, and answers to the Hebrew phrase, ‘the heart of the sea’ [used by the Targum] in Psalm 46:3.”(14) Commentator Adam Clarke says, “In Syria, as well as in Greece, this mode of punishing criminals was practiced; especially in cases of [killing a parent]; and when a person was devoted to destruction for the public safety, as in cases of plague, famine, etc. When a person was drowned, they hung a weight, a vast stone about his neck.”(15)
So, what kind of stone was put around the offender’s neck? I am going share something that both commentators John Gill and Adam Clarke tell us. Keep in mind that they both lived in the 1700’s, so their language is a little different. According to both of these commentators, should someone put a stumbling “stone” in a child’s path, then an “ass stone” will be hung around that person’s neck. Gill says, “The mill stone, in the original, is called mulon onikon,”(16) and Clarke elaborates how “in ancient times, before the invention of wind and water mills, the stones were turned sometimes by slaves, but commonly by asses or mules.” Notice that the Greek word mulon, in the term mulon onikon, sounds like our English word “mule.”
All too often, we judge the very ones who understand the message of Christ in simplicity and humility. We judge the little children. If a child confesses Jesus as Savior, are we to deny them the right to salvation? Do we tell them they are not yet ready, or do we refuse to baptize them? Listen as I read Matthew 19:13-15: “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.” Keep in mind that some of these prayers were likely for healing, and Jesus said that we should not forbid the little children from coming to Him; and I would imagine this goes for spiritual healing too.
In verse 5, Jesus said, “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” If we receive a little child – and that includes his or her confession of faith in Christ – then we receive Jesus as well. It reveals that our heart is open to the love and power of Christ. We have not yet shut the door on the wonders of salvation that God can perform in the lives of others. We have not yet given up on seeing people saved. Our heart has not yet grown cold. Those who receive the children are individuals who have a love relationship with Jesus Christ and are aware that He is alive and still able to deliver and raise the dead to spiritual life.
Time of Reflection
Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (v. 6). As VBS approaches, keep in mind that at some point we plan on offering a gospel presentation and an opportunity for children to respond. Please be mindful not to judge the confession of any children who come forward. If you do, it reveals that you are not open to what Christ wants to do. You have closed the door to Him and to the power of God. And the harsh kingdom reality, according to Jesus, is that it would be better if a millstone were hung around your neck. If you are someone who judges the little children, then perhaps you are already dead – spiritually dead, that is.
But God is not dead! The Christian writer Max Lucado wrote a book entitled He Still Moves Stones. God still works in people’s lives. God still moves stones. He can move a stone-cold heart toward faith in Christ. He can move the stumbling stones that the faithless place before the children. He can move the chain of the millstone off someone’s neck, by taking away the sentence of death; and He can move the gravestone separating us from the Lord and eternity in His kingdom.
In John chapter 11, we read that Jesus “came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone’” (vv. 38-39); and then “He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot,” and “Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go’” (vv. 43-44). Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” and we read in Romans 10:9, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” I encourage you to come today and allow Jesus to remove the stone of sin and death from your life.
NOTES
(1) Warren Wiersbe, “The Complete New Testament in One Volume,” The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007), p. 53.
(2) Ibid., p. 53.
(3) Ibid., p. 53.
(4) Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Power BibleCD (Bronson, MI: Online Publishing, Inc., 2007).
(5) Ibid.
(6) Ibid.
(7) Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the whole Bible, Power BibleCD (Bronson, MI: Online Publishing, Inc., 2007).
(8) Ibid.
(9) Wiersbe, p. 53.
(10) David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible, https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Mat/Mat-18.cfm (Accessed August 3, 2021).
(11) Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary, Power BibleCD (Bronson, MI: Online Publishing, Inc., 2007).
(12) Ibid.
(13) John Gill, John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-18-6.html (Accessed August 3, 2021).
(14) Ibid.
(15) Clarke.
(16) Gill.
