Matthew 18:1 - 14

I am always struck by how much Jesus packs into his teaching. Consider this episode where he responds to a question about greatness.

There is simplicity in his straightforward answer. We must turn and become like a child. It sounds simple. I must not confuse simple with easy. 

Turning means I need to change direction, the direction of my attitudes and behaviors. I must orient them to and for God. I must, like a child, trust in Jesus more than myself. 

There is also seriousness in his simple answer. 

Just because it is simple, I must not brush past what Jesus is saying. He is not being quaint with this teaching. 

Note the warning. He points out that the world provides occasions for my stumbling. And while he exclaims “woe to the world”, he puts an exclamation point on just how serious sinning is for me. He says I should “cut-off and pluck-out” those things in my life that cause me to stumble.

He reinforces God’s seriousness.

The parable of the lost sheep proclaims that God searches high and low for the one lost sheep. There is no rationalizing on God’s part. God does not say, “Well, I’ve got 99% of them.” No, God is serious about this work.

But there is more.

Jesus goes beyond simplicity. He goes beyond seriousness. 

He reveals a severity to all of what he teaches.

The stakes are high. Failure has severe results. 

Consider the words for the one who causes someone who is trying to have child-like trust to stumble. It would be better to have huge millstone around your neck and thrown into the sea. Read closely verse 7. 

7 “Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!

Note that statement that in this world there will be occasions for stumbling. Yet here again is the millstone. 

Note the severity of succumbing to the temptations and occasions of stumbling.

9 If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.

Gehenna—HELL awaits.

Does this mean there is no grace—ABSOLUTELY NOT.

The context here is HUGE. The disciples, that would be followers of Jesus who have been saved by grace, are asking about being the greatest.

Now I know he has not gone to the Cross. I know their understanding of grace versus law has yet to be developed. I know the Holy Spirit has not been poured out. BUT they are his followers, and they are asking “who is the greatest”.

Just because I am saved by grace does not mean I cannot behave this way. I am a prideful human.

God’s love abounds. His mercy and grace flow over us. He freely offers himself and calls us to come and follow. 

Yet we must understand the seriousness of all at stake—it is eternity for those who would come to know Jesus—through His followers.

How do you process all of his teaching today?