Today, on the radio, I heard someone discussing the verse in Matthew Chapter 18 when the disciples asked Jesus who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. As you will see below, Jesus clearly replied it was little children.
Matthew 18:1-5
1) At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2) He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3) And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4) Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5) And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
1) At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2) He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3) And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4) Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5) And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
As a parent of two young children, I began to make a short list of some of the traits of my children and why Jesus would want us to change and be like them.
My children, like most, are very trusting and tend to believe most everything that we share with them. Even if we are teasing with them or hiding things under their pillow as they sleep at night, little children will trust and believe their parents. What an amazing quality that most of us unfortunately ‘outgrow’ as we get older.
They trust us that when we drop them off in their Sunday school class or at school, that we will indeed pick them up. They believe us when we tell them that these older people are their Grandparents. They don’t ask us for proof or demand that we show them “beyond a reasonable doubt” that we are telling them the truth. They have an inherent faith in us that we are giving them the facts.
Why would Jesus want us to be this way? Now that we are older, we are conditioned to seek the scientific truth about the world around us. The world tells us that there is proof that we have evolved from apes and that the Earth is not only 5,000 years old, but rather multi-billion years old. How are we as adults going to be able to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with our science books demanding that all the mysteries of the scientific world be proven to us? My guess is that a 6 year old entering into the Kingdom of Heaven would not ask (or care) about the scientific proof that we tend to demand.
Most mature Christians will discuss things like faith and believing in Jesus to a new believer. These are good things. Remember to have the spiritual maturity of a little child when you are faced with solving the scientific mysteries of the world.
As I approach 40 years old, one quality of my children that I so envy is their ability to fall asleep fast. Typically, most of us are kept awake at night with the stresses of the day we just completed or the worries of things that will come tomorrow.
I was reviewing the Lord’s Prayer with my son this week and we spent a fair amount of time on the verse that says “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). I was relating the meaning behind this to him stating that he does not need to worry about the things he need tomorrow or next week or next year, but just about the things he needs today. Our Heavenly Father will provide for us everything we need to get through today.
The innocence in his face spoke directly to my heart. Without saying a word, he said, “Dad, why would I worry? Everyday of my life so far, you have given me everything that I have ever needed and more!”
That was an ‘ah-ha’ moment for me. He trusts in me, his earthly father to provide him what he needs everyday. So, clearly for us, we should have the same innocent comfort in our Heavenly Father.
Jesus wants us to have that same unshakable trust in Him that our children do in us.
Trusting & Believing
They trust us that when we drop them off in their Sunday school class or at school, that we will indeed pick them up. They believe us when we tell them that these older people are their Grandparents. They don’t ask us for proof or demand that we show them “beyond a reasonable doubt” that we are telling them the truth. They have an inherent faith in us that we are giving them the facts.
Why would Jesus want us to be this way? Now that we are older, we are conditioned to seek the scientific truth about the world around us. The world tells us that there is proof that we have evolved from apes and that the Earth is not only 5,000 years old, but rather multi-billion years old. How are we as adults going to be able to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with our science books demanding that all the mysteries of the scientific world be proven to us? My guess is that a 6 year old entering into the Kingdom of Heaven would not ask (or care) about the scientific proof that we tend to demand.
Most mature Christians will discuss things like faith and believing in Jesus to a new believer. These are good things. Remember to have the spiritual maturity of a little child when you are faced with solving the scientific mysteries of the world.
Sleeping Without Worry
As I approach 40 years old, one quality of my children that I so envy is their ability to fall asleep fast. Typically, most of us are kept awake at night with the stresses of the day we just completed or the worries of things that will come tomorrow.
I was reviewing the Lord’s Prayer with my son this week and we spent a fair amount of time on the verse that says “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). I was relating the meaning behind this to him stating that he does not need to worry about the things he need tomorrow or next week or next year, but just about the things he needs today. Our Heavenly Father will provide for us everything we need to get through today.
The innocence in his face spoke directly to my heart. Without saying a word, he said, “Dad, why would I worry? Everyday of my life so far, you have given me everything that I have ever needed and more!”
That was an ‘ah-ha’ moment for me. He trusts in me, his earthly father to provide him what he needs everyday. So, clearly for us, we should have the same innocent comfort in our Heavenly Father.
Jesus wants us to have that same unshakable trust in Him that our children do in us.
The Desire to Learn
I can remember when our first-born was 16 months old and we were encouraging and teaching him to take those precious first steps. When he did, we celebrated as if he just scored the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. We were overjoyed, as was he.
I would guess that the little children in the days of Jesus were like the little children of today. Spending an overwhelming amount of their time learning and being educated. Think about how time much a little child spends learning everyday. Plus, how much we as parents and teachers celebrate the things that they learned. A little child is eager to learn. I would conclude that this trait is something that Jesus would want us to continue as adults.
I can only imagine the angels in Heaven celebrating when we memorize a passage of scripture or come together in a Bible study group. Think about the amount of joy it must bring our Heavenly Father when we thirst for the knowledge that can be found in His Holy Bible.
Forgiving One Another
We’ve all seen it when our little children are hurt or upset by one of their peers. It is very common to see a toddler be overcome with tears when their playmate yanks the lollipop from their hands. However, have you noticed that within minutes, if not seconds, the two children who caused so much pain to each other are now cheerfully playing and interacting with one another?
Little children have the instinctive desire to forgive one another quickly. Ephesians 4:32 states “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgive each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Even my 9 year old is so fast to forgive me when I have forgotten to do something for her or if let her down for some reason or another. It warms my heart to know that Jesus does the same of us.
As we age and learn on a daily basis that the people of this world will hurt you, steal from you, gossip about you and find all sorts of ways to let you down. Jesus knows first hand that the people of this world will turn their backs on you and crucify you whenever they can. All of us are equipped with the ability to forgive each other. Do it in a way a little child does it to their fellow friends and classmates.
Change and Become Like Little Children
I can image that when the disciples asked their question of who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, they were a little disappointed that Jesus didn’t tell them that they were. Jesus told them to change and become like little children.
If you don’t have little children in your house or if they have all grown up and become more like us, then I encourage you to volunteer one Sunday in the Sunday school. Watch and mentally take notes as to why their behavior and outlook on the world is something we as mature Christians need to adopt.
Jesus mentioned little children several times in the Gospel. I encourage you to think more about how you can change and be more like little children and become the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Additional Verses On The Topic
Matthew 18:6
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Matthew 19:13-14
13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Mark 10:13-16
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
