Year 2, Week 34, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 34, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Matthew 18.

Today’s reading from Matthew 18 is the fourth of five teaching sections that Matthew includes in his Gospel account (the others are Matthew 5-7,10,13, and 24-25). This teaching section begins with a question that the disciple poses to Jesus: “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1). Perhaps the question of greatest was triggered by something Jesus said earlier about John the Baptist: “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11). However the inquiry came to be upon the mind of the disciples, Jesus provides a response that strings together multiple factors. It seems at first look that this segment of teaching is a miscellaneous collection of subjects, but a closer look might suggest that a common thread that runs through this segment is the correlation between personal character and faithful community.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is how Jesus addresses the matter of greatness: “And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2-4). Jesus summoned a child to be an object lesson for His response. Turning the matter of greatness somewhat upside down, Jesus declares that greatness is most accurately displayed through child-like humility. Children were not highly regarded in Jesus’ time. Children were not given much special focus as they were seen as insignificant at best, but more likely just a plain nuisance—in the way of really consequential matters. So, to be like a child in this context suggests that one sees one’s self as unimportant. Thus, to jockey for greatness before others is, in itself, a serious example of missing the point concerning true greatness. Jesus further adds that such child-like humility will be evidenced in how one welcomes a child: “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me” (Matthew 18:5). To treat a child well is to treat Jesus well. A wrong view of greatness, such as seeing one’s self as highly important, would manifest itself in having no regard to insignificant things like children. But ill treatment of a child, specifically, causing a child to sin invokes God’s wrath: “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 18:6).

Building upon the notion of causing “one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,” Jesus adds to what greatness consists of by giving a further about sin and temptation: “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!” (Matthew 18:7). Jesus issues a stern warning, particularly about being an aid and accomplice to temptation. Extreme measures should be taken to avoid sinning: “And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire” (Matthew 18:8-9). Greatness is seen in its hatred of sin; it is also seen in not causing others to sin.

Picking back up on matters of little children, greatness is displayed in the care of children: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones” (Matthew 18:10). The particular application of caring for children is expressed by the oversight of children: “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:12-14). Greatness is shown by its care, concern, and protection of children.

Greatness is also expressed in how one deals with being sinned against: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother” (Matthew 18:15). When sinned against, it takes humility to seek to make things right by way of reconciliation. Sometimes conflict can just be handled directly by the parties involved, but other times, additional support is needed in order to apply “pressure” that reconciliation occurs: “But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:16-17). Related to being sinned against is a proper understanding of forgiveness. So Peter asks: “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21b-22). Jesus’ fuller answer includes a parable that highlights the depth of God’s forgiveness to help foster a willingness to forgive in us: “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” (Matthew 18:32b-33). Greatness expresses forgiveness. 

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe