Chapter 47

 

“As Little Children”

 

“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

(Matthew 18:1-14)

 

The Word of God uses many names to describe and identify the Lord’s people. But more frequently than anything else the name that is used is “children.” We are called “children of promise,” “children of light,” “dear children,beloved children,” “children of the day,” and “little children.” This is a great privilege and a matter of great joy. All who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are the children of God, chosen in eternity, adopted in love, “accepted in the Beloved,” “heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ,” and always under the Father’s tender care. — Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:1-2).

 

However, the word “children” not only expresses the idea of great privilege and highest honor, it also is a word that implies our nature and state, our condition in this world. Children are weak, dependant, very ignorant, unable to care for themselves, and immature. And children are easily persuaded, tender-hearted, and quick to forgive.

 

Matthew 18 tells us that all who are converted by the grace of God become as “little children” in this world. Of course, there are babies, young men, and old men in the kingdom of God (1 John 2:12-13). But there is a very real sense in which it may be said that as long as we are in this world, in this body of flesh, we are in a state and condition of spiritual childhood. This 18th chapter of Matthew should be read and understood as a single sermon, one of the greatest and most important sermons ever to fall from the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ. The subject of the sermon is “children,” the children of God. The purpose of the message is to teach us, the church of God as a family of imperfect, weak children, how to get along with each other in this world. Our blessed Savior teaches us five distinct lessons in this message.

 

  1. Everyone who enters the kingdom of heaven must do so as a little child (vv. 1-14).
  2. All of God’s children are to be treated by us as God’s children (vv. 5-9).
  3. They are all to be cared for as God’s children (vv. 10-14).
  4. When they require it, all must be disciplined as God’s children (vv. 15-20).
  5. And they must all be forgiven as God’s children (vv. 21-35).

 

            The thing that inspired this sermon was a question that seemed to have been a constant matter of debate among our Lord’s disciples, even as it is to this day – “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” These poor disciples were still looking for Christ to establish an earthly kingdom; and each one wanted a carnal place of prominence in that kingdom. Their question is one that revealed terrible ignorance, terrible arrogance, and terrible ambition in these men. And it is a question that still reveals terrible ignorance, arrogance, and ambition.

 

            There is only one Great One in the Kingdom of God; and that Great One is Christ (Matt. 11:11). All believers are equal in him. There are no “degrees of reward” among the redeemed (John 17:24). But this question inspired our Lord to give the message contained in this chapter. And the method our Lord took to correct their error was as gentle and affectionate as it was wise and instructive.

 

The Necessity of Conversion

 

Our Lord’s response to this question reveals the necessity of conversion. He said, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (v. 3). It is impossible for anyone to be saved without being changed, not outwardly changed, but inwardly changed. “Ye must be born again!” By nature there is no fear of God in our hearts, no love for God in our souls, and no faith toward God in us, but only corruption and sin. By nature, we are entirely unfit for God’s presence (Isa. 64:6). Not only do we deserve God’s wrath, but we are unfit to enter into his presence. Conversion is as necessary as election and redemption. Without it there is no salvation (Rev. 21:27).

 

The Nature of Conversion

 

In verses 2-4, our Savior teaches us the nature of true conversion.

 

“And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

 

            Conversion is a change, the turning of a sinner to God. It is not something that we do, but something that is done to us. The language of Holy Scripture is not, “Except ye convert yourself,” but “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Jer. 31:18-19; Lam. 5:21).

 

            Someone once wrote, “Conversion is a change. It is a change of natures (2 Cor. 5:17), a change of masters (Luke 14:25-33), a change of motives (2 Cor. 8:9), and a change of manners (Gal. 5:22-23).” This change is begun in regeneration (Eph. 2:1-4). When a sinner is born again he enters into an entirely new world, an entirely new life. Christ enters into him and he enters into Christ in such a real way that he is made a partaker of the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4). But conversion is an on-going, continual operation of grace. Regeneration is the commencement of life. Conversion is the continual movement of the soul toward God, the believer’s continual coming to Christ (1 Pet. 2:4; Rom. 6:11-18; Phil. 3:4-14).

 

            The illustration our Master used to exemplify conversion is clear and instructive. “Jesus called a little child unto him, and said, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” What did he intend to convey by this child and these statements? Children are completely dependent. So we must be completely dependent upon him, living by faith, trusting him alone as our Savior. Children are modest, humble, and unassuming. So those who are converted by the grace of God, knowing and confessing their sin before him, are modest, humble, and unassuming. Children are sincere and honest. And grace experienced in the soul makes people sincere and honest. Children are relatively free of envy and ambition. And grace teaches us to deny such lusts of the flesh. Children are quick to forgive. And those who have experienced forgiveness forgive one another. In a word, conversion in time, our experimental and vital union with Christ by faith, is the fruit and evidence of our union with Christ from eternity.

 

Receive Them

 

In verses 5-6 our Lord Jesus teaches us that we are to receive his children, just as we would receive him. And he warns us to carefully avoid offending any of his darlings.

 

“And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

 

            Those who receive God’s children receive Christ himself. He regards anything done to one of his children as being done to him (Matt. 10:41-42). But those who offend his children are regarded by him as his marked enemies. To offend is to cause to stumble, to lead astray, or to discourage. We sometimes offend others directly by our acts, and words, and attitudes. And we sometimes offend others indirectly by an example of inconsistent behavior.

 

            It is impossible for us to measure (this side of eternity) the harm that is done by one person who professes faith in Christ, and yet behaves inconsistently. He gives the infidel ammunition. He stands in the way of those who seek the Lord. He discourages God’s saints. Our lives affect a lot of people and a lot of things. None of us lives unto himself. Everything we say and everything we do affects other people. Our companions, our children, our brethren, our neighbors, our friends, and our enemies are watching us. What we say and do affects them.

 

            The scandalous lives of people who profess faith in Christ and the scandalous actions of people who possess faith in Christ is a matter of grave concern, because it gives men occasion to blaspheme the name of our God. The more prominent and influential a person is the more severe the consequences of his sin are (Rom. 2:23-24).

 

            These lessons are clearly demonstrated in David’s terrible fall. Though God did not punish David for his sin personally (His sin was punished in Christ!), he did chasten him publicly. He had to vindicate his honor and show his displeasure with David’s sin. The consequences of David’s sin were far reaching. The name of the Lord was blasphemed (2 Sam. 12:14). The child of David’s lust was killed (2 Sam. 12:18). The sword has never departed from his house (2 Sam. 12:10). And David reaped the consequences of his sin in his children (2 Sam. 12:11-12; 16:22). Absalom learned to despise his father by his father’s deeds. Ahithophel learned to betray his trusted friend by David’s deeds.

 

            Let us take care never to offend any of God’s children. So earnest is our blessed Savior for the present and everlasting welfare of his redeemed ones, that he declares, “Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

 

Hell Fire

 

In verses 7-9 the Son of God speaks plainly about the judgment of God and of his everlasting wrath poured out upon the damned in hell.

 

“Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”

 

            Two strong, strong expressions are used here to get our attention. “everlasting fire” and “hell fire.” There is a place of unspeakable misery and fiery indignation, where reprobate, unbelieving men and women will spend eternity suffering the horrible, unmitigated wrath of God. Many foolish dreamers and religious deceivers have joined ranks with the infidel and scoffer, denying the doctrine of everlasting punishment. They repeat the devil’s lie “Ye shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4). Do not allow their logic and reasonings to deceive you, no matter how plausible they sound, hell is real! Hell is horrible! Hell is forever! Your conscience verifies that fact. Noah’s flood verifies that fact. The ashes of Sodom verifies that fact. There is such a thing as “the wrath of the Lamb” (Rev. 6:17). “God is love.” God is merciful and gracious. God is good and kind. And God is just and true. That means, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” The only way to escape the wrath of God in hell is to find refuge in a Substitute God has accepted, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

            The hand, the foot, and the eye are used metaphorically to represent our strongest earthly desires and our dearest earthly possessions. All are to be denied and renounced rather than that we, by indulging ourselves, offend our brothers and sisters in Christ. Rather than gratifying ourselves, let each submit to the other, each esteeming the other better than himself. What redeemed sinner would not count it his great honor to personally sacrifice his dearest possession, or surrender his most ardent desire to Christ? That is the great privilege and high honor afforded us, every time we have opportunity to serve the interests of another believer, either by receiving him, or by taking care not to offend him.

 

Blessed Security

 

In verses 10-14 the Lord Jesus returns to and teaches us one of his favorite subjects. Here he, once more, asserts the blessed and absolute security of his elect.

 

“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

 

            Christ is the Good Shepherd who tenderly cares for every soul committed to his charge. The youngest, the weakest, the most sickly of his flock are as dear to him as the strongest. And they shall never perish. Not one of them can perish because their angels watch over them (v. 10), Christ came to save them (vv. 11-13), and it is the will of God that they all be saved (v. 14).