Matthew 18 "Who is the Greatest?"

SOAP Journal based on Matthew 18 “Who is the Greatest?” 

S = Matthew 18:1- 5 “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying,

“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

² And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³ and said,

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…”

O = The disciples were jockeying for a better pole position, trying to determine by what metrics greatness was measured in the Heavenly Kingdom.  Why? Not to help others but to achieve greatness. They, like people today, know what needs to be done to be seen as great in the world. They were wondering if Jesus’ kingdom would be the same. It most certainly was not, is not, and will not be like the kingdoms of the world. First, children were considered a gift from God but by they no means were considered “great” in the sense of leadership, power, and prestige. This would have given them theological whip-lash. Secondly, the appeal to hospitality would culturally have been very powerful. Yet it turned their values on its head. Instead of receiving kings, judges, politically connected people, or religious leaders in Jesus' name Jesus told them to receive a child. Could it be that children are emissaries from Christ himself? Sometimes what our kids say is a message from God to us!

A = Am I striving to be great by the world’s metrics—money, power, popularity, influence, Google searches, Facebook friends/Twitter followers, etc.? Why does greatness matter to me? I think it doesn’t matter to me, but it probably matters more than I am aware of. I wonder if a desire to be great in the kingdom comes because people want to please themselves or because they desire to please God? God doesn’t want us to approach him on a performance basis so we are to come humbly and openly in love like a child that has not yet been taught by a fallen world to stop trusting and stop loving. Verse 6 is a powerful reminder to us of how much God values those children.

(1) How can I humble myself like a little child?

• I can live more dependently upon my Heavenly Father, trusting him enough to honestly bring my cares and concerns to him in humbly expectant prayer.
• I can live with less disbelief in God’s nearness and power.
• I can approach Jesus without reservation, for his desire is to bless me.

(2) How do I make room in my life to “receive” a child in Jesus’ name?

To receive a child “In Jesus’ name” means to receive a child in the way that Jesus would. If I am going to do this then I will be determined…

• I can learn how Jesus treated and related to children…and do the same.
• I can take time to honor and respect children instead of dismissing them or acting like they are an inconvenience.
• I can look for others, the voiceless, the powerless, the marginalized ones in our culture, and “welcome them to my table.”

P = O Lord, your love for the little children is a window into your love for us all—thank you for that example. May I see that my efforts are not very effective without your help, but that you desire for me to come to you, to be blessed by you, and to walk with you. This week may I not allow anything to distract me from your loving care for me and may I always leave the assigning of greatness to you…and content myself to trust you as the psalmist did in writing Psalm 131:

¹O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
    my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
    too great and too marvelous for me.
² But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
    like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child is my soul within me.

³ O Israel, hope in the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Amen.