True Greatness: Humility, Influence, and Care in Christ

Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is the title of the message today. I want you to know as your pastor, I have a lion inside my lungs. Okay? I just want you to know that. So, you know, hopefully uh that lying comes out and you don't fall asleep this morning. Except uh some of you didn't get much sleep last night. I heard I just heard various people talking. There is a king in the Bible by the name of Nebuchadnezzar. How'd you like to have gone to kindergarten? Had to spell that one, right? Nebuchadnezzar. and he believed that he was the greatest. It says there in Daniel 4:30, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built? By my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty." Thought he was something. [00:41:15]

You know, people seem to be bent towards wanting to be the greatest. And as we approach Matthew chapter 18, we encounter a moment in the life of the disciples who were still being influenced by worldly ambition. And they asked Jesus a question rooted in status and comparison. Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And if you were to go over into the parallel gospel of of Mark chapter 9 33 and 34, you would discover that it was while the disciples were traveling to Capernium that they were arguing amongst themselves as who would be the greatest, who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [00:44:11]

So, we're going to discover that Jesus is going to take this concept of greatness and he's going to flip it on its head. And in this passage, it's going to provide us what Jesus says about greatness. So, are you ready to receive what Jesus teaches us about greatness? There's three words in the text or in this passage of scripture that I see. The first is humility. Look, if you would, at verses 1-5. At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child to him and set him at the midst of them and said, [00:44:56]

"Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whosoever humbles himself as a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives me." What answer do you think the disciples were expecting from Jesus? Peter, you're gonna be the greatest. Then next to Peter, James, and then John. And then he just goes through the disciples. No, Jesus didn't do that. They were thinking that he would talk about power and position and prestige, but Jesus redirects their thinking. [00:45:30]

Their question reveals a human tendency. Most people crave for status and recognition. So, let's not be too hard on Jesus's disciples. Mankind today still struggles with the idea of greatness, especially in our western culture. I mean, we hear things like, well, I want to become the greatest social influencer, or I want to become the greatest actor in Hollywood, or I want to become the greatest athlete in the world of sports. How does Jesus respond to the disciples question? Well, take a look at verse two. If any then Jesus called a little child to him and set him in the midst of them. [00:46:32]

Then Jesus says in verse three, "It surely I say to you, unless you are converted and become as a little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." It seems to me that Jesus speaks about getting into heaven before he answers the question as to who's going to be the greatest in heaven. You got to be on the inside. How do you get to heaven? Jesus speaks about being converted. Do you know the word means to turn or to turn around? It implies a deliberate change of direction or perspective. It speaks of repentance and humility. That's where salvation begins. Salvation begins here. [00:47:40]

As I read these verses, I believe Jesus was making it very clear that it's not greatness from a human perspective, but about trusting from a spiritual perspective. Next, Jesus said, "You must become as little children." The Greek word there for little children means young child, perhaps toddlers. And what do we know about children? Well, let me give you a list of some of their characteristics. They're needy. They're very needy. Children cannot survive without the help of their parents. They want to be held. There's not a child alive who doesn't long to be comforted, to have the security of loving arms around them. [00:48:36]

And then finally, and I think this is the most important. I think this is the truth Jesus was trying to drive home to his disciples. They are trusting. They display faith. You put a child up on a deck and you say to them, "Jump to me." And they will jump. You put an adult up there and say, "Jump to me." You're going, "No way." Warren Wearsby writes, "Child lilikeness is not childishness. A child is teachable, humble, and dependent. The disciple must become like that." Like that. So what about the disciples question? So then, who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? [00:49:33]

Therefore, in light of what I've just said, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Then Jesus says, "Whoever humbles himself," which means to simply be at a point where you recognize you need God in your life. You need a savior. That word humble means to bring low to make oneself low in rank of importance. See this is where greatness begins. It starts when we begin to put others ahead of ourselves. Other people become more important. It has been said that humility is an intentional act. It's not forced humiliation but chosen loneliness. [00:50:21]

As I contemplated these words of Jesus, I couldn't help but to think that maybe Jesus might have been saying something like this. Just imitate me. Just imitate me. Walk even as I walk. I mean, think about this. Did not Jesus humble himself as a little child? Philippians 2 5-8 says he took off the robe in heaven, his kingly robe and he became a man. He put on flesh. He was born as a child. It has been said that humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. Isn't that what Jesus also did? [00:51:24]

In Mark 10:45 it says Jesus did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. You see that is the mark of true greatness. humility, putting yourself here and others up here. Look at verse five. Whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives me. Jesus connects the way we treat little children, the humble other believers is how we treat him. And the word receive there means to accept or to welcome or to take into one's presence. In a culture where children were often pushed aside and neglected and seen as property, Jesus is saying, "No, that's not how you treat little children. [00:52:04]

Blameless. Look at verses 6-9. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses, for offenses must come. But woe to that man by whom the offense comes. If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cast it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the everlasting fire. [00:53:37]

You see these verses that we discover here talk about real greatness is in protecting little children. Protecting little children. Those who have humbled themselves and received Jesus Christ as their savior. These little ones need protection from those who would like to cause them to sin. That's what it says there in verse six. And the Greek word cause there means to trip up or to cause to stumble. We get our word scandal from that. The scandal here is to be the reason why the scandal here is to be the reason why a person would reject Jesus Christ as their savior. [00:54:20]

And what he's saying is don't be responsible for anyone rejecting the person of Jesus Christ. Not by your word, not by your behavior or any other way. Don't be responsible for anybody, any little child saying, "Well, I don't want that Jesus that you serve." You see, if we can live in open sin, the world looks at us and says, "What do you have that I would want anyway? Jesus says it'd be better for this person if a millstone was hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. [00:54:53]

I would beg of you not to be the cause of anyone refusing to receive salvation because of your pride. Your pride, your unwillingness to humble yourself before an almighty God. I think this passage is telling us also in verses eight and n to deal with your sin immediately. to deal with your sin. When a when a person comes face to face with the reality of their sin, they should want to take care of it. That is the mark of Christianity. One guy said, "We need to deal ruthlessly with our sin." Ruthlessly. Sin is not something that you trifle with. It is not a toy. It is a poison that kills. [00:56:00]

You see, your sin may be responsible for keeping another person out of heaven. Do you really want that on you? Good question to ask ourselves. It has been said, be killing sin or sin will be killing you. And I might add, and killing others. Killing others. And finally, don't miss in these two verses the two destinies. Jesus says, "The person who deals with their sin will enter life, but the one who refuses to deal with their sin will be cast into everlasting fire or hell fire." And those are not my words. Those are the words of Jesus Christ. [00:56:54]

Greatness is found in humility. being blameless, protecting little ones, but failing to embrace humility, failing to embrace blamelessness, failing to protect the little ones can lead to serious spiritual consequences. None of us want to be responsible for someone rejecting Jesus Christ and going to the later destiny. Here's what the Apostle Paul pinned to the Philippian believers that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world. [00:57:50]

Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hund sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the 99 and go into the mountains to seek the one that is strained? And if he should find it, assurely I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the 99 that did not go astray. [01:01:45]

See, in those verses, Jesus speaks of the value of every little one. The value of every little one. And he says to his disciples, take heed. Which means, pay attention because what I'm about to say is vitally important for you to hear. So, I would say to you as your pastor, take heed. It's important that you hear what I'm about to say. Don't miss Jesus's teaching here. First, he says, "Do not despise one of these little ones." That word despise means to look down upon, to look at someone as insignificant or to see them as someone beneath you. [01:02:27]

In other words, angels share inside information with the father about every little one, every little child. Some Bible teachers believe that this is where the idea comes from for guardian angels. That every little child has a guardian angel that watches over them. In Hebrews 1:14, it says, 'Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation. The Jews believed that every nation had an angel that was watching over the nation. They picked this up from Daniel chapter 10 and Daniel chapter 12. [01:03:16]

If you despise a little child, their angel makes the father instantly aware of it. In other words, if you mess with God's creation, a created little one, you mess with that child and you're the cause of that child rejecting God the Father. God knows it. And you don't mess with God, you're going to lose every time. Every time. RC Sproul pinned, "The angels have constant access to the father. Your treatment of the lowly is reported instantly in heaven." Instantly. [01:03:54]

You see, Jesus is salvation for every lost little one. I was there. I was there. I was a lost little one. I'm so thankful that I didn't come in contact with someone who who convinced me that Jesus wasn't important. The Bible says that no one can come to the father except through Jesus Christ. John 14:6. The Bible says in Acts 4:12 that there is no other name given among men under heaven whereby we must be saved. It is Jesus Christ. DL Moody said the worth of one soul in the eyes of God is immeasurable. [01:04:52]

So then, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? According to Jesus, it's not the one with status, success, or spiritual swagger. It is the one who humbles themselves like a child, who refuses to cause others to stumble, who deeply values and protects the little ones, the vulnerable, the lowly, the overlooked. That means greatness in God's kingdom is available to anyone. But it comes with a cost. It requires that we lay down pride, that we pick up humility. It means refusing to compare ourselves with others, but instead becoming childlike in our faith, dependent upon Christ, obedient to his voice. [01:11:08]

And let us not forget this that greatness in God's kingdom is marked by care. The good shepherd searches for the one. He rejoices even when one lost soul is found. It has been said that our Lord had that kind of compassion. And shouldn't we? I I I sometimes think as a pastor that we have lost the drive for evangelism, for fulfilling the great commission, for reaching our friends, our family. Somehow we've lost that. We need to ask God to give that compassion, that care back to us. [01:12:21]