The greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 18:1-10

1 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, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin, it would be better for him to heave a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in depth of the sea. 7 "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eyes causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. it is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.  10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.





Thinking and understanding


The disciples, each desiring the highest seat in heaven, asked Jesus who among them was the greatest. Jesus unexpectedly responded by saying that they must change their nature. The nature he spoke of was the humility of lowering oneself to the level of a child(1-4); it was the humility of depending on Jesus , just as children depend on adults. Jesus said that those who received such humble people also received him, and that those who caused them to stumble would suffer God wrath(5-7). Also, those who were humble must themselves cut of all the things that caused them to stumble(8-9)



Who is Jesus?

Jesus is the greatest in, and the Lord of, heaven. In response to the disciple's question, Jesus said that the disciples must lower themselves to become like children and that those who worshipped him like child were the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus himself lived like this, and through the highest service of giving life as a offering , he ascended to the highest seat. Are we living in the manner demonstrated by Jesus?



What lesson is God teaching us?

Sin makes not just us but also others around us stumble. We must firmly and thoroughly eliminate sin, with a keen understanding of its fearsome consequences. what are the things that keep making you fall into sin?How can we identify and pluck these things out of our lives.?
(Daily Bible, 03,04/ 2019)