Mark, tells us that it was while the disciples were journeying back to Capernaum that they had began squabbling about pre-eminence in Christ’s kingdom. As I have said repeatedly, the kingdom of Heaven is a multifaceted subject. You and I are currently living in one aspect of that kingdom – the rule of God over His creation. This part of Christ’s kingdom has been around since the beginning. Some people are citizens of that kingdom, by salvation through grace, but most are merely residents – often rebellious, disgruntled residents. Although Christ often speaks about this aspect of His kingdom, the disciples couldn’t really grasp it. To them the kingdom of Heaven meant the reign of Christ upon the earth. To them the kingdom of Heaven meant the thousand year Millennial kingdom.
It seems strange that the disciples would still be thinking about the Millennium in the light of Jesus’ declaration of His upcoming death – His “exodus.” He told them of His decease – of His suffering and death in Jerusalem. I have no idea how well the disciples had grasped that idea, but apparently if they have got it at all, they were thinking that there would be a short skirmiish of some sort and the Millennium would begin shortly after that. It is impossible to say exactly what they were thinking in that regard. But obviously, they were still thinking that this Millennial aspect of the Kingdom was just up the road.
I can imagine that Peter believed he would be the greatest in the kingdom to come. After all, Christ had been talking to him when He spoke about His church prevailing over the gates of hell. Then he was one of only three who witnessed the transfiguration. And just a few moments ago, Jesus had miraculously given to HIM, not to anyone else, a coin with which to pay his temple tax. Surely Peter should be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I wonder if the rest of the disciples were worried that Peter’s position was unassailable. I say that because in Matthew 20 we seem to read of an attempt to overthrow Peter’s position. “Then came to (Jesus) the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons (John and James), worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.”
It seems that everyone’s conception of the Millennium was carnal and earthly. There undoubtedly will be graded dignities and positions, but they will be dispensed by God’s will, not by man’s accomplishments. We will study this subject in more depth when we get to chapter 20, but Jesus will reply to Mrs. Zeb and the disciples in much the same way that He does here. “And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
This morning we considered this scripture in a somewhat allegorical way. Now let’s consider it more precisely. The lessons are far different and perhaps somewhat surprising.
Christ shows us the conditions of entrance and eminence in His kingdom with a living example.
The disciples were sure that they would be in the kingdom – of that there was no doubt in their minds. The only real question was who would hold the highest offices Jesus’ answer was like a splash of cold water – “Are you even sure that you’ll be in the kingdom?”
I wonder how often Jesus was surrounded by little children. We know that it occurred from time to time. I suggested this morning that this little child was probably one of Peter’s children. That is just a guess on my part; there is no proof that he had children, but he definitely was married. There is a fanciful tradition that this child was an eventual martyr named Ignatius. Whoever this little girl or boy was, you can be sure that he was a perfect illustration for the lesson.
As long as the disciples were quarreling about greatness, the very question of their entrance was in jeopardy. Does Christ ever teach that children are innocent? I don’t believe so. Neither does he teach that in order to enter His kingdom, we must be innocent. But this child, by his very nature, was a child – lowly, modest, making no claims of importance. Small children don’t really care about honors; they only care whether or not they are loved. And that is the way that WE are supposed to be. The kingdom of heaven is entered through the eye of the needle, and we must be made very small to get through. Have you ever met a child who humbled himself? I am not sure that I have. They are either humble or they are not. Generally speaking, children are humble by nature. And that must be one of the characteristics of God’s saints.
The Lord doesn’t deny that there will be ranks in His kingdom – there is a kind of nobility. Christ says that to be ranked highly, we must be made lowly. We rise by sinking. The more conscious we are of our unworthiness and weakness, the more ready we are to receive the Lord’s glory. As I have read, “Rivers run in the hollows; the mountain-tops are always dry.” But remember that lowliness which makes itself lowly for the sake of eminence will not be blessed. The desire to be foremost must be thrown out in order that it may be fulfilled.
Christ is not talking about salvation but entrance and position in the Millennial Kingdom. When this question is answered, the Lord Jesus moves on.
What are our duties toward these little ones?
This is where it is easy to get confused in this chapter. Notice the words “one such little child” in verse 5. “Whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe 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.” Jesus is not talking about Peter’s child, but rather the people who have been made child-like.
There is a blessedness in RECOGNIZING and WELCOMING Christ-likeness or Christian child-likeness. And why? Because only the person who has such qualities will recognize those qualities in someone else. Our admiration of something is often an indication of our aspiration for those things. Test yourself by thinking of someone and asking yourself what you admire in that person? Is it a good, Christlike thing or is it worldly and carnal? Is it that person’s good looks? Is it his money or his ability to make money? His strength? The more we admire in worldly, ungodly people, the more we prove ourselves to be worldly.
“Whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.” When Jesus says, “In my name” it is like “for the sake of me” or “for the sake of my character.” “In my name” refers to both the receiver and the received. Do we receive others as representatives of Christ, and do we as people of Christ receive other saints? There is great blessing in fellowship with other believers. My heart grieves for those saints out there in the American wilderness or elsewhere, who have no opportunity for Christian fellowship. But our blessedness is not merely in receiving and enjoying one of Christ’s little ones. As we enjoy other saints, we also fellowship with Christ who is the source of that other person’s child-likeness. Let’s say that one of our people plays a beautiful hymn on his french horn, or she sings a wonderful song of praise. As you appreciate and admire that talent, you not only grow nearer to that person, but you also grow musically, and you worship the Creator of that talent. “Whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”
But the opposite of receiving that child of God is our causing him to stumble. Remember that Christ is not talking about Peter’s child – the subject is God’s child. Christians can fall morally – perhaps the reference to children is especially appropriate, but it’s not just the spiritually immature who might fall. Have you, through your example, ever encouraged someone to sin? Of course not! Has one Christian ever discouraged another Christian in some way. Here were the disciples arrogantly arguing about pre-eminence. Their carnality and selfishness could have easily stifled the spiritual growth of another disciple. How much of the life of the average Christian could be condemned on this principle? What you are doing – what you believe is Biblically proper. But like these disciples your debate, your goals, your expectations, are filled with pride or arrogance. Maybe it’s your apathy, or your apparent apathy. Would it help or hinder a lowly believer to live beside me?
There are some evil people in this world who might deliberately try to bring others down. When I was in Bible school, I was taught to despise some of the good and glorious doctrines of the Bible. According to the teachings of Christ, it were better for those teachers that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea than to offend one of these little ones which believe on Christ, and who are trying to believe the Bible. Have you ever met a professing Christian who tried to share his racial or his denominational hatred? It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Notice that the Lord goes on to talk about the honor and dignity of Christ’s little-ones in verse 10.
Again, the Lord isn’t talking about human children, but spiritual children. Has there ever been a day when the children of God need to be encouraged more than today? Satan and the world have never been more furious against us. When the world wants all the birds in its backyard to be drab and colorless sparrows, there is the Christian goldfinch or saintly blue bird standing out in the crowd. And the sparrows hate his presence.
Are there any saints of God worshiping Christ among the Presbyterians? Are there any true Christians attending any of our local mega-churches, or wanna-be mega-churches? What about the other Baptist churches in our area. Sure we criticize their pastors for not teaching the whole counsel of God. And we criticize those Christians for not being more Biblical themselves. We believe that every true child of the Lord ought be members of our church. But the fact is, they are not. And yet, they are children of God, and we have an obligation to treat them as such. “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones.”
Take heed because every true child of God have spiritual guardians. “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” I don’t know that we will ever fully understand in this world, to what extent the saints of God are protected. Is there an heavenly secret service detail surrounding us 24 hours a day? Possibly. Is our angelic protection detail constantly representing us before Christ and the Father? Absolutely. We might get ourselves into trouble being a little too curious about these things. There is not a great deal revealed, but we catch tiny glimpses from time to time. “To which of the angels said (God the Father) at any time, sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” In Heaven, angelic guardians represent the saints of God who live among us. And your treatment of that other believer of God is being registered before the Son of God. I would guess that this will be another thing brought up again at the bema – the Judgment Seat of Christ.
That child of God who attends the “Cowboy Church” or the one who rides around on his Christian Harley-Davidson, may have as much theological instruction as a gnat. He may, or may not, be as worldly a tree stump. But if, as he says, his faith has been humbly placed in Christ Jesus, then he is your Christian brother. And brother, he has as much angelic protection as you – as inconceivable as it may appear. We both have the incredibly high honour of angels guarding us, reporting us and reporting for us.
If by some foolish argument we hope to occupy high seats in the kingdom of Heaven, we must look on other saints more highly than we do ourselves.