Matthew 18:1-20

Like A Child

            I love children. I love interacting with children and seeing them grow and learn. To me, children are nothing less than the greatest blessing one could have. Thus, I’ll never complain when I hear a child make noise during a service. I’ll never complain if, heaven forbid, a child cries or fusses because he needs something… also helps that it’s usually my own child! To hear the voice of children in the sanctuary of God is a blessed thing because they, in their own way, utter their prayers before the Lord. They’re here to worship just as we are. For this is where the church and the world have often disagreed on our views of children. I know not everyone is a children lover like me. And that’s fine. However, so often in the world, children are seen as mere objects, things, possessions that are capable of being discarded or forgotten if not wanted. We so often talk about how children were treated like property in Ancient Israel. But we don’t talk about how that same sentiment manifests in our society today. Whether a joke or not, there are many adults who think children do nothing but ruin their life. There are those who believe children are a roadblock or anchor to their career. There are those who believe that children are nothing but a burden until the child can learn to take care of himself, or better yet, take care of them too. It’s no wonder why children aren’t valued in our society and that we have many of the issues we do. 

            In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus challenges the disciples and society in their view of children. When the disciples ask Jesus, Who’s the greatest? Jesus plops a child in front of them and says, “become like them.” For while the world devalues children, Jesus counts them of equal worth. For so we shall learn: 

UNTO CHILDREN, JESUS GRANTS THE GREATNESS OF HIS KINGDOM!

I.

            Don’t assume the disciples were asking an innocent question. They weren’t simply curious about what greatness looked like in God’s kingdom. We know from the other Gospels that the disciples were arguing amongst themselves about who was the greatest disciple. As we read, “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Matthew 18:1. Indeed, there’s an innate human need to size ourselves up. We want to think of ourselves as the greatest. We strive to be better than everyone else in at least one category. Greatness in our human mind is all about what we can do, what we can accomplish, how much we can win and be successful. Such is the reason for much of our disdain for children, I believe. They’re helpless. They’re dependent. They can’t do anything themselves, let alone compete with adults for the prize. 

            How much of our own self-worth is built on our ideas of greatness? We, not just as a society, but as the entire human race have taught one another that you’re not valuable if you can’t compete or contribute in some way. You’re not great if you’re dependent like a child. But consider what Jesus says, “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,” Matthew 18:5-6. Consider how much worth our Lord places upon children. Not only does he count them among the greatest in the Kingdom of God, but he offers such severe punishment for those who cause them to stumble in faith. No, we shouldn’t despise children. But again, it’s even more than just that. For Jesus places children in our midst to remind us how corrupt and twisted our views of greatness and value are compared to his. Every single person regardless of race or gender, born and unborn, young and old, dependent or independent is valuable to our Lord. For it’s this worth, this value that’s the reason we’d be willing to cast away a limb (vv.7-9) to enter life. It’s this worth that tells us to go searching for a lost brother or sister (vv.12-14). It’s this worth that should make us seek reconciliation between estranged brothers (vv.15-20). It’s this worth that we shouldn’t despise and should form the foundation of our relationships with one another.

II.

            What makes a child great in the kingdom of God? What qualities of children should we emulate? Is it their child-like dependence? Is it their innocence? Is it their willingness to believe whatever they’re told? Is it their trust in parents to provide for them? Or is it even something else? Indeed, we could explore some of these comparisons, but I think we’d miss the point. In our world, children are considered unworthy to receive anything of value. It’s not so with God. Even the smallest, the most insignificant one among us is bestowed the riches and greatness of God’s kingdom. For unto children, Jesus grants the greatness of his kingdom! As Jesus says, “So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish,” Matthew 18:14. Even unto infants, Jesus bestows the waters of new birth in baptism. Jesus grants the gift of the Holy Spirit to a child. 

            Yes, a child is made great in God’s kingdom not because of some childlike quality or characteristic. A child is great in God’s kingdom because God bestows unto them the very gift of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born as a child, grew up as a toddler, a teenager, a young adult. Jesus has sanctified all of life that children of all ages are counted worthy of eternal life! For Jesus went to the cross, humbling himself unto death. He humbled himself as the greatest one so that in his glory, he may glorify even the least, the lowly, the little ones. It’s the greatness of our salvation won in Jesus Christ that makes one great. For so also consider the words of Paul, “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature,” 1 Corinthians 14:20. God doesn’t desire us to remain young in all things. It’s been given to us to grow up in our reasoning and faith that we may come to learn and comprehend even the deeper truths of God.

            No matter how old you are, may we be willing to count ourselves as children. May we be willing to humble ourselves before God that we may receive the greatness of his kingdom, faith, and salvation in Jesus Christ! For so shall we be children of God! In Jesus’ name! Amen!