Matthew 18:4-6–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation

Posted by Seth on Apr 12, 2010 in Bible Study, Daily Devotions |

Matthew 18:4-6–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation

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Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Matthew 18:4-6 wherein we see the seriousness of leading well the little ones.

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Jesus loved the world’s little people. It wasn’t just that He thought they were all cute in their mini sandals, button noses, and tussled hair. He held them up as pictures of kingdom greatness! Their unassuming nature, eagerness to learn, love of hugs, and dependence upon their parents for virtually everything stood as a portrait for what we should look like as we stand before Father God. Jesus even goes so far as to say that having a welcoming spirit toward children is a way of actually welcoming Him. It’s as if He was saying, “Anyone who is a friend of Junior is a friend of Mine.”

But Jesus felt just as strongly about the danger of misleading children (or any who are of humble position, which are likely to be included in Jesus’ “little ones” language used here). We’ve seen on movies or heard in the news about kids that are pulled into a gang or used to do the dirty work of someone else. Everything about those occurrences is completely upside-down and downright wrong. Kids and all who are weaker are meant to be protected, to be told the truth, and to have good examples put before them. When the opposite is done, Jesus doesn’t find it amusing. We know this because it isn’t all that normal for Him to give “go drown yourself” type of advice to anybody, but that’s pretty much what he says here to anyone who would “cause one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin.” This should hit parents, teachers, older siblings and pretty well any person of influence right between the eyes. Raising children, in whatever capacity, is a big deal and something we’ll give an account for. As my own kids grow, I can’t believe how often I realize after saying or doing something that I would otherwise have thought little of suddenly become exposed for what it really is: sin. This is revealed when they repeat those words or actions that are all but God-glorifying. Jesus isn’t in heaven chuckling when that happens. Now, we know that our children will grow up and be accountable to God one day for their own lives. But it should scare us to millstone-fastened-around-the-neck-death to think about the potential we have to lead little ones into the ultimate sin of unbelief as they see our doctrine at odds with our practice. My oh my, how we need the grace of God in our lives and in theirs. And dear oh dear, how we need (under the same covering of grace) to be hard after holiness…pursued and displayed.

If we really love the Jesus-loving little ones like Jesus loved them, we’ll be doing all that we can to know our Lord well enough to reflect Him to them. Let us lead them in and to the truth today.

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