True Greatness

Matt 18:1-9 TRUE GREATNESS (Communion Sunday)

Everyone loves to be great. But we define greatness simply as being famous, rich, successful or taking high office.

• Is this how God defines greatness? What does Jesus say about being great in life?

• We will hear from Him in the text this morning.

Jesus was responding to His disciples, who asked Him WHO is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (18:1)

• Subtitles in Bible: “The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven” ??????; “Who Is the Greatest”.

• If we look at the parallel accounts in Mark 9 and Luke 9, we would know that the disciples were arguing with one another on the way here to Capernaum.

• They were debating about WHO would be the greatest in the Kingdom of God.

This argument could have been triggered by what happened before.

• Peter, James and John were taken up to the mountain by Jesus (Matt 17) and they saw His miraculous transfiguration.

• While the other disciples were at the foot of the mount, struggling to heal a demon-possessed boy, and which they failed.

• They might have talked about it. Why were these 3 disciples – Peter, James and John - so special and get to see the transfiguration at the mountaintop?

The disciples started to argue among themselves about who was the greatest.

• What kind of ambition is this? Is this the concern of a disciple of Jesus? Is this what a follower of Christ should strive for, some personal greatness?

• Are we concerned about that too? What defines greatness in the eyes of God?

Finally, on arrival at Capernaum, the disciples off-loaded the question to Jesus.

• In the text this morning, Jesus replied and taught them to see greatness in 3 ways.

First, He brought a child to His side and said we are to be as humble as a child.

• Then He gave 2 very drastic illustrations. One in verse 5 – not to stumble the child - “It would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (18:6)

• And then in verses 8-9 – not falling into sin ourselves - it is better to cut off the hand or foot, or dig out your eye and throw it away - if that causes you to sin.

Both are exaggerations to make a point. If not, many would have drowned at sea (for stumbling others) and we would have many limbless or blind people (because we sin).

• Jesus made 3 points here in His answer to the disciples’ question.

1. TRUE GREATNESS IS DEFINED BY HUMILITY

Matt 18:2-4 2And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn ????and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus tells them to TURN and BECOME like children. The Chinese bible uses TURN AROUND. Some English versions use CHANGE (NAS, NIV) or BE CONVERTED (KJV).

• In other words, the disciples were heading in the wrong direction in their thinking and they needed to TURN AROUND.

Personal greatness is not that which defines those in the Kingdom of God. No one enters God’s Kingdom by their greatness.

• Jesus says only the humble person - as humble as a child - would be able to enter His Kingdom because he knows he needs God.

• The child knows he needs help. A child knows he is dependent upon his parents’ help for everything – their meals, clothes, protection, education, etc.

• A young child knows that he cannot survive on his own; he is afraid to be alone and he wants to be with his parents.

• The disciples need to change from thinking about their greatness to understanding more of their need for God and His salvation.

Jesus uses the word “humbles” - 18:4 “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

• The truly great one is the one who knows his need for God, not the one who feels great about himself.

• The one who feels great about himself would not want God and hence he would likely not enter the Kingdom of God. He doesn’t need God.

To be in a state of need is a good thing. We are not all capable and self-sufficient. We need God. We need His presence, grace, mercy and help. We need Him all the time.

• We do not need to show that we are great because we are not, without God.

• We are sinners in need of salvation and we are Christians today living under God’s grace and provision. We are hopeless without Christ.