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18:1-5
Types of greatness
While Peter was sorting out the tax question, the other disciples were
discussing the kingdom of God. As they saw it, there was a time coming when they
would all be given special positions in that kingdom, perhaps on the line of
generals, governors and mayors. Eventually the discussion spilled over, and they
brought the matter to Jesus.
"Who amongst us will be given the highest position in your
kingdom?" they asked.
Jesus didn't answer them right away. Instead, he looked around until he
saw a child (Greek = paidurion = a lad or lass, a little boy or girl), then he
walked over to the child, picked her up, and carried her back to where the
disciples were sitting. He stood the child in front of them.
"This child represents the greatest in my kingdom" said Jesus,
"She knows she is but a child, she is not filled with thoughts of
self-promotion, and she accepts her place in the world. This is how the people
of my kingdom ought to be too.
"You disciples must change your thinking! Begin with repentance,
then follow through by changing your worldly thinking until it conforms with
God's way of looking at things." (1Sam.16:7)
"The standards and values in God's kingdom are exactly the opposite
of those in the world. Instead of trying to climb the social ladder, you must go
the other way, and do the humblest of tasks, which attract little or no
attention. See this child? She helps her mother and father with everyday jobs
round the house. She doesn't try to run for mayor, or aim at being the next
president! She is content with her place in the home. You must be content too,
and do whatever God gives you to do - and if promotion comes, do that with the
same humble attitude.
"Now, if you are really my disciples, you will be just like this
little child, and when people receive you, and welcome you, it will be the same
as if they are welcoming me. Wherever you go, I will go. Whatever you do or say,
it will be like me doing and saying it."
(Jesus talked about people "humbling themselves" but really,
only Jesus ever "humbled Himself" - Philippians 2:7,8. We can only
follow the pattern.
Also note, the Church is here portrayed as a humble body of believers,
not a power-seeking mega-organisation with his hands into political, military
and international control.)
18:6-9
Attacks against Christians
Beginning with the example of a little child, Jesus transferred the
principle of humility and contentment found in that child to the heart of a true
Christian. Now he warned against those who try to destroy believers.
"Anyone" said Jesus, "Who deliberately tries to hurt, or
deceive, or destroy a Christian is due for a terrible punishment! God will not
allow these attacks against his children to go unpunished.
"But, unfortunately, these attacks will come, and many Christians
will fall, brought down by the enticements, and trials, and mockery thrown at
them.
"Most of these attacks against my followers will come from the
world, because Satan controls the world, and he hates me. I'd like to tie him to
a rock and drop him in the sea, along with all his subjects, but that will not
be necessary because his day is coming.
"I said 'most' of these attacks, because there is another, less
obvious area from which enticements to sin will come. I am speaking of your own
selves.
"You all have weaknesses, and sinful failings. Some of you will have
the 'wandering eye' - always watching the ladies. Some of you will have secret
longings, or unfulfilled dreams, which will take your mind off the job. Some of
you will have strong desires for things which are not part of the kingdom plan .
. .I could get specific but I'll spare you the embarrassment.
"The best thing to do, when these self-centred enticements come
along, is to cut them out of your life. Remove them like a surgeon removes an
arm or a leg. Amputate the lust, or greed, or pride, or whatever causes you to
wander from the Christian life.
"Think of it this way : you have a choice. You can either go through
life living the full Christian life, or you can hobble through, with whatever
doesn't belong to it dragging along behind.
"And be warned! There are many would-be Christians who refuse to
give up some worldly pleasure, rather than repent and come into God's kingdom.
They keep their pleasure, but they go to hell."
18:10-14
The lost sheep
Referring yet again to the child, Jesus taught another aspect of
Christianity, this time showing the care and attention which God the Father, and
the Son, and the angels - Heb.1:14, all show towards a Christian.
(Some Bibles say that little ones have "their angels". Their
angels = their servants. There is no basis for the idea that every child has its
own personal guardian angel.)
"It is not my will" said Jesus, "That anyone should be
missing from the kingdom of God. I want everyone to be there!"
"Let me tell you a story to illustrate what I mean. Suppose there
was a farmer, who had 100 sheep. One day, when he was counting them into the
sheepfold, he noticed that one was missing. Immediately he sets off, into the
mountains, and hunts for that wandering sheep until he finds it.
"That is how God, the Great Shepherd feels about Christians
("little ones") who wander away from the kingdom. Christians who begin
to give up their faith, or who fall to temptation, or who slip back into
worldliness, are like wandering sheep, and God will do everything in his power
to bring them back to himself."
18:15-20
Keeping Christian fellowship healthy
"So here are some rules, which will help you to stay strong
Christians" said Jesus, "And help to prevent you from becoming
wandering sheep.
"There are two main rules : discipline and forgiveness.
"The first rule works this way. If you have a situation where two
Christians fall out because one of them does or says something unacceptable, the
offended party must go and try to discuss the problem with the offender. This is
the offended Christian's responsibility. The matter should be handled privately
between the two parties, and an attempt must be made to set things right. There
must be no general discussion, or gossip, about the matter.
"If this fails, the second step is to bring other Christians into
the matter. Let them go with the offended party and discuss whatever was said or
done, in the hope that the offender will admit guilt and ask for forgiveness.
(Deut.19:15) As the Law of God says, "Let everything be backed up by
several credible testimonies."
"The aim of all these procedures is to gain the offender back into
the fellowship. Do your utmost to keep the offending member from going away.
Remember the lost sheep? The shepherd searched all night for that one - so you
must try as hard as you can to keep your Christian fellowship together.
"But sometimes all your efforts will fail. The offender will part
company, with anger, or pride, or resentment. At this stage you are not to treat
them with any less love than any other unsaved person. They must not be
permitted to take part in your Christian fellowship, but they must not be pushed
away from normal Christian compassion and care.
(Unfortunately today the worldly court system is often better than the
Christian assembly at supporting a charge with clear supporting testimony
(rather than gossip). Also Christians often forget the command that they are not
to take fellow Christians to a civil court - 1Cor.6:1-8 - to sort out their
disputes, when it is to the local Christian assembly that they should go.)
"People who do not live as true believers, must not be treated as
true believers. (There are many inconsistent, worldly Christians - and they are
'living dangerously', because they have entered the domain of Satan - 1Cor.5:5.
Believers should treat such people with courtesy, but not condone the sin, or
have fellowship with them. On the other hand, the moment repentance is seen,
immediate re-fellowship should be offered.)
Jesus now showed the way the Church could exercise authority in this
matter.
"If a Christian fellowship prayerfully decides to discipline a
fellow Christian, God will acknowledge their decision, and the same goes for any
prayerful decision to release a fellow Christian from discipline.
"Even if it is a matter of only two or three Christians who do this.
A Christian fellowship does not have to be huge to be effective. Two believers
is enough. God will honour, and act on behalf of only two Christians, if they
are single-minded about their decisions."
(Interestingly, it was believed by the Jews that "Wherever two are
assembled to study the Law, the Shekinah is with them" - and here is Jesus
saying that wherever two, or three, are gathered in His name, He is with them.)
Prayer to get things done must be made with certain provisions :
1.
In conformity to God's revealed will - 1John 5:14,15
2.
In confident faith - James 1:6-8
3.
In sincerity - Heb. 10:22 on.)
18:21-35
The unforgiving servant
Peter had been thinking about this matter of forgiveness, and it bothered
him. He didn't like the idea of having to go through the stages of reconciling a
fellow Christian over and over again. Surely, he thought, there must be a
cut-off point, when the offending Christian is told to go away?
"Lord" said peter, "How many times should I forgive
someone? Seven times?"
"No" said Jesus, "The number is unlimited! This is exactly
how God works. He forgives every sinner every time, for their entire life!
"Let me illustrate this with a story. There was a certain king who
decided to call in all the people who owed him money, and get them to pay up.
For a while all went well, and the money was pouring in, but then along came a
man who owed the king ten million dollars! The king demanded that the man pay,
but of course he could not.
"Then I will sell your wife and children" said the king,
"And you shall spend the rest of your life as a slave!"
"Please! No!" cried the poor man, falling down in tears,
"Give me a little more time and I will pay you the money!"
The king felt sorry for him, and, instead of agreeing with the terms he
said : "I have decided to forgive you the entire debt!"
Gratefully the man left the king's court-room and went home, but his
gratitude soon faded, being replaced with greed. He saw one of his servants, who
owed him a few dollars and he rushed up to him. Grabbing the man by the neck he
started to throttle him.
"Pay up!" he yelled.
The servant dropped to the ground.
"I'm sorry" he said, "I have no money at the moment, but
if you give me a little time, I will repay what I owe!"
"No way!" said the man, "You're off to prison, and you can
stay there till you, or someone else, repays your debt!"
The other servants saw all this, and they were outraged by the injustice.
They sent word to the king, asking for some redress and when he heard about what
had happened he was furious!
"Get that scoundrel here!" he shouted.
Soon the man was standing, trembling, in front of the king.
"I've never seen such wickedness!" said the king, "You
came in here begging for mercy, and I forgave you your debt of ten million
dollars . . . and then you went out and threw a man into prison because of a
handful of small change! You pathetic little worm! You deserve to die, but I'm
sending you to the dungeon instead. I think a little torture might help to drive
some sense into that head of yours - and you can stay there till your debt is
paid!"
Jesus waited for the impact of the story to sink in, then he said :
"God is your King. When you came to him for forgiveness, you had a
debt so large you would never have paid it, yet when you asked for mercy, God
forgave you the entire debt. Now, what happens when your fellow Christian asks
for forgiveness? Do you refuse? If you do, you will feel the chastening of a bad
conscience for the rest of your life."
There are three stages to forgiveness :
1.
When wronged, we should forgive "from our hearts" right away -
Eph.4:32 . This frees us from a bitter or resentful spirit.
2.
We cannot verbally or outwardly forgive someone until they ask for
forgiveness - Luke 17:3. Saying to an unrepentant person that you forgive them
is foolish.
3.
As soon as we are asked to forgive, we are obligated to do so -Luke 17:4.