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Little Children

March 16, 2008

 

The disciples disputed over greatness
Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
 
Mark 9:34 “…they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.”
 
Luke 9:46 And an argument arose among them as to which of them might be the greatest (NAS). 
 
The kingdom of heaven = the kingdom of God
Matthew 19:23-24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  
 
Interchangeable terms
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
 
Heaven is often substituted for God
Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
 
Jesus Christ is not against having greatness in the kingdom
Matthew 5:19 "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
 
Greatness is achieved in a certain way
2 Timothy 2:5 And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.(NAS)
 
Become as a little child
Matthew 18:2-3 And Jesus called a little child [Gk. paidion] unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 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.
 
Kingdom exclusion: outer darkness and Gehenna fire
Matthew 8:11-12 And I (Jesus) say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell gehenna fire.
 
We need to grow up
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
 
Put away childish things
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man (mature, full grown), I put away childish things. 
 
Be not children in your understanding
1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. (NAU)
 
The mind of greatness
Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
 
1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
 
Descending into greatness
Mark 9:35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first [most important, the greatest], he shall be last of all [least important, the smallest] and servant of all."
 
Follow the steps of Christ
Philippians 2:6-7 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
 
Paul became as a little child
1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
 
Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
 
Humble yourself
Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
You shall be exalted
Matthew 23:12 "And whosoever shall exalt himself [now in this age] shall be abased [reduced in rank in the coming kingdom]; and he that shall humble himself [now in this a – as a little child]shall be exalted. [promoted in rank in the coming kingdom]"
 
Jesus was as a little child
Matthew 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such [as this kind] little child [the least or small] in my name receiveth me.
 
He was rich yet He became poor
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 
 
Receiving “the least” you have done it unto Jesus
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
 
The least now shall become great in the kingdom
Luke 9:48 and (He) said unto them [His disciples], Whosoever shall receive this little child [the least, the small one, no rank – the humble in spirit] in my name receiveth [present tense] me [Why? Jesus is like the little child in his attitude – He is lowly in heart Mt.11:29; He humbled himself, Phil.2:8]: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth [present tense] him [God the Father] that sent me: for he that is least [Gk. micros – small, little in rank or influence, insignificant, unimportant – as the little child] among you all, the same is great [in the kingdom]
 
Little ones live by faith
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones [Gk. micros – small or little in rank or influence] which believe [present active participle – faith] 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.  
 
He that continually believes on Jesus hath age-lasting life
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth [present active] on me hath age-lasting life (glory and honor and immortality – Rom.2:7).
 
To believe in the present tense is the work of God
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe [present active] on him whom he hath sent.
 
“Little children” are Disciples of Christ
John 13:33-35 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews,  Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
 
John 21:4-5 “…Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, [Little children] have ye any meat? They answered him, No.   
 
The kingdom belongs to those like the little children
Mark 10:13-16 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such [of such kind, such as this, like such] is the kingdom of God.
 
(WNT)  Jesus however said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of the Heavens belongs."
 
(NLT)  But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children."
 
The kingdom is message for the humble
Mark 10:15-16 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God [its message, its conditions, its commandments, its warnings] as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.  
 
To receive is to believe
Acts 8:12,14  But when they believed Philip preaching the gospel, the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 14 And the apostles in Jerusalem hearing that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them;
 
A humble spirit with the lowly
Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
A teachable spirit
Psalm 25:9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
 
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit [the humble in spirit] : for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  
The kingdom message is like “the least” of all seeds
Matthew 13:31-32 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
 
It is like the small substance of leaven
Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven [a very small substance, a little], which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened [enlarged].