The Humble ChildThe Humble Child

Matthew 18:1-14Matthew 18:1-14

January 4, 2015January 4, 2015

Matthew 18:1-4Matthew 18:1-4

At that time the disciples came to At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”kingdom of heaven?”  And calling to him a And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of themchild, he put him in the midst of them  and and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever Whoever humbles himself like this child is the humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Biblical HumilityBiblical Humility

• Not desiring to grasp position or Not desiring to grasp position or selfishly advance yourself. selfishly advance yourself. (Philippians 2:6)(Philippians 2:6)

• Not thinking of yourself more highly Not thinking of yourself more highly than you ought. (Romans 12:3)than you ought. (Romans 12:3)

• Quick to listen, slow to speak. Quick to listen, slow to speak. (James 1:19)(James 1:19)

• Teachable, in submission. (Prov 12:1)Teachable, in submission. (Prov 12:1)

The Humble ChildThe Humble Child

• Verse 4: “Whoever humbles himself like Verse 4: “Whoever humbles himself like this child…”this child…”

• Verse 5: “…one such child…”Verse 5: “…one such child…”

• Verse 6: “…one of these little ones who Verse 6: “…one of these little ones who believe in me…”believe in me…”

• Verse 10: “…one of these little ones…”Verse 10: “…one of these little ones…”

• Verse 14: “…one of these little ones…”Verse 14: “…one of these little ones…”

Three Lessons From Jesus Three Lessons From Jesus Regarding the Humble ChildRegarding the Humble Child

1.1.Be one.Be one.

2.2.Welcome one.Welcome one.

3.3.Rejoice over one.Rejoice over one.

Matthew 18:1-4Matthew 18:1-4

At that time the disciples came to At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”kingdom of heaven?”  And calling to him a And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of themchild, he put him in the midst of them  and and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever Whoever humbles himself like this child is the humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:8,9Matthew 18:8,9

And if your hand or your foot causes And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.to be thrown into the hell of fire.

The Parable of the The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax CollectorPharisee and the Tax Collector

The PhariseeThe Pharisee: “God, I thank you that I am : “God, I thank you that I am not like other men…”not like other men…”

The Tax Collector:The Tax Collector: “God, be merciful to “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”me, a sinner!”

Jesus:Jesus: “This man went away justified, “This man went away justified, rather than the other. For everyone who rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 18:5-7Matthew 18:5-7

Whoever receives one such child in my Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for temptations to sin! Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! temptation comes!

Three Lessons From Jesus Three Lessons From Jesus Regarding the Humble ChildRegarding the Humble Child

1.1.Be one.Be one.

2.2.Welcome one.Welcome one.

3.3.Rejoice over one.Rejoice over one.

Matthew 18:10-14Matthew 18:10-14

See that you do not despise one of these See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went and go in search of the one that went astray? astray?

Matthew 18:10-14Matthew 18:10-14

And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.of these little ones should perish.

Three Lessons From Jesus Three Lessons From Jesus Regarding the Humble ChildRegarding the Humble Child

1.1. Be one (the greatest in the Kingdom Be one (the greatest in the Kingdom continue to be humble).continue to be humble).

2.2. Welcome one (and by doing so Welcome one (and by doing so welcome Jesus).welcome Jesus).

3.3. Rejoice over one (and celebrate with Rejoice over one (and celebrate with the Father over His glorious work).the Father over His glorious work).