Matthew 18:1-6
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
When studying certain events in the gospels many times we can find a reference of the same event in one of the other three gospels. For this reason, in our personal Bible study time or devotions it is always important to read what the other gospel writers wrote about the particular event you are studying. Many times, one gospel writer will comment on a particular point that the others do not even mention. By comparing what is said in each gospel we get a better understanding of the bigger picture of what happened, what was said and why it was said.
A good example is the event that Matthew in 18:1-4 wrote about, which in the NIV Bible is titled “The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven”. This same event is also recorded in Mark 9:33-37 and in Luke 9:46-48.
Mark 9:33-37 NIV
“33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Luke 9:46-48 NIV
“46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all — he is the greatest.”
If you noticed, Matthew does not mention that there was an argument among the twelve about who was going to be the greatest among them, but Mark and Luke do. It is important to note that Matthew who was one of the twelve, was probably involved in the argument that Mark and Luke mention. Why doesn’t Matthew mention that there was an argument among the twelve? We can only speculate why, but we also need to take into account that neither Mark or Luke were present when this event took place. This could possibly explain why they both wrote that there was an argument among the twelve which gives us a different understanding or perspective of what Jesus did and why He said what He said.
Whether there was an argument or not, what Jesus did and said exposed and identified a very crucial need for change in each of the disciple’s character and understanding about leadership in the kingdom of God. We need not forget that in less than a month, eleven of these disciples were going to be the leaders of Christ’s church.
“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” By the disciples asking this question, it is clear that they wanted to know who Jesus was going to recognize as the greatest among them. They wanted to hear the answer from their spiritual leader and their rabi himself. Jesus, being the great teacher because of His Godly omniscience, gave them an answer that the twelve never expected, but most importantly they all directly needed to apply to themselves.
Jesus not naming or acknowledging anyone of the twelve, bypassing them all, “He called a little child and had him stand among them.” And very clearly, He answered their question in multiple parts in the following verses.
Jesus first tells them something in verse three which has two parts that directly applied to each one of them (and us also). “3 And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change …” What Jesus was telling them was that they all needed to change not just one of them. They could not continue to be the same person as they were. This answer to the question fits very well into the context of the attitude of the disciples, because they were arguing among themselves as to who was the greatest among them, Luke 9:46, “An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.”. Jesus was telling them that it was not acceptable to continue to think and act as the person who they thought they were.
But how were they to change? Jesus tells them very clearly, “…and become like little children…”, become like the little child He had standing among them. But in what way? There needed to be a character transformation in each one of them from within, of which only by submitting to the Holy Spirit would they be able to experience this change.
How does what Jesus is telling the disciples apply to us? The commentary in the Fire Bible tell us the following. “The positive changes Jesus desires to make in our lives through the initial experience of spiritual salvation and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit start with a childlike (not “childish”) attitude. In order for Christ to transform our character and make us fit for his kingdom, our attitude toward him must be humble, honest, dependent, trusting and ready to be molded by the heavenly Father.”
Jesus is very clear when he tells them and us, if that change does not happen, “you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”. How many Christians are seeking to be someone important, wanting to be recognized, or even a leader in God’s kingdom, but are trying to do it on their own terms and not willing to submitto “change”? If we do not do what Jesus tells us we will never “enter” to know and experience what it is to live and thrive in God’s kingdom. Warren Wiersbe explains it this way. “The disciples wanted to know who was greatest in the kingdom. But Jesus warned them that, apart from humility, they could not even enter the kingdom! They had to be converted – turned around in their thinking – or they would never make it.”
Finally, Jesus tells them “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Humility is the childlike change that needed to happen in each one of the disciples but also in us if we want to “enter the kingdom of heaven”, to be recognized by God, used by God and have a life that tells others not to look at me and what I do (pride), but look at who is Jesus in me.
Pastor John
Humble yourselves before the Lord,
and he will lift you up.
James 4:10
