December 26, 2010
Morning Service

Matt. 16:21-28

 

Review:

1.                  Beginning in chapter 16 Jesus told the people that it was an wicked, and adulterous generation that needed a sign to recognize the authority from God.

2.                  In chapter 16 Jesus taught His disciples to beware of the doctrines of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

3.                  Then He establishes the foundation of His church.  He ask Peter “who do you say that I am?”  Peter replies, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

4.                  Then Jesus told Peter “for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in Heaven. 

5.                  Then Jesus told Peter upon this rock, or upon this confession of Who I Am, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Jesus also told Peter that He would give to him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.”

6.                  After this study, and in our next study we went back and re-visited this church that Jesus said He would build.  We looked at the structure, the authority, the worship, the giving, and we saw how the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy, and Titus in all of these aspects.  Then we said that this is the church we are striving to be.

7.                  Then we finished chapter 16, and part of 17.

·                     Jesus told of His upcoming death.

·                     The rewards for denying all, and following Him.

·                     Then He told His disciples of the coming Kingdom, and said that some of them that were there would not die until they saw Him coming in His kingdom.

·                     Then we believe in chapter 17 at the transfiguration, that this act explains that statement.

·                     Jesus tells them that John Baptist was the fulfillment of the prophecy that Elijah must first come before the Messiah.

·                     Jesus then teaches them about faith, and the importance of prayer, and fasting.

8.                  Again Jesus tells His disciples that He must be betrayed, and killed, and that on the third day He would rise. 

9.                  Jesus closes chapter 17 by telling His disciples that it was only right that they pay the temple tax.  Then provided the money by a miracle.  Piece of money in a fishes mouth.  Quite a feat.

 

This morning as we continue in chapter 18 of Matthew Jesus deals with two very common issues, humility, and offences.

 

Mat 18:1-10 KJVR  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  (2)  And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,  (3)  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  (4)  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

·                     Except you be converted.  Converted means to change.  Change your way of life to that of a little child.

·                     Now what is it about children that would make Jesus say this?

1. First of all I believe it is because  - Children are, to a great extent, destitute of ambition, pride, and haughtiness.              FIRST LESSON – HUMILITY.
2. They are characteristically humble and teachable. By requiring his disciples to be like them, he did not intend to express any opinion about the native moral character of children, but simply that in these respects they must become like them.
3. They must lay aside their ambitious views and their pride, and be willing to occupy their proper station - a very lowly one. Mark says Mar_9:35 that Jesus, before he placed the little child in the midst of them, told them that “if any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all.”

 

 

4. That is, he shall be the most distinguished Christian who is the most humble, and who is willing to be esteemed least and last of all. To esteem ourselves as God esteems us is humility, and it cannot be degrading to think of ourselves as we are; but pride, or an attempt to be thought of more importance than we are, is foolish, wicked, and degrading.

(5)  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 

·                     So, anyone with these attributes should be received as Jesus Himself.

 

NEXT LESSON - OFFENCES

(6)  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 

·                     I think that is pretty straight forward, and plain.  Serious results for mistreating someone with these characteristics.   Now notice.

(7)  Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! 

·                     We certainly should do our best to never offend anyone.  Offences are going to happen, but we don’t want it to be us who offend.

·                     Jesus deals with how we should handle offences a little further into this chapter.  Right now He is showing us the seriousness of making an offence.

(8)  Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 

·                     This is a very hard saying.  I don’t believe any of us could do this.  However, I believe that it is the punishment in some countries for stealing, to cut off a thief’s hand.

(9)  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 

·                     Jesus wants His disciples to know that this is a very serious sin.  The punishment for this sin is as severe as it gets. 

(10)  Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

·                     Again, Jesus is letting us know that His Father knows all that goes on.  This passage indicates that their angels do always behold the face of God.  An angel is a messenger from God.  This is another very difficult saying to understand.  The importance of this statement is that Jesus wants us to understand that it is very serious to treat people with these attributes in a mean manner.

 

HUMILITY – OFFENCES.

 

DO THE ONE, BUT NOT THE OTHER.

 

LORD WILLING NEXT SUNDAY MORNING WE WILL SEE HOW WE ARE TO HANDLE THESE OFFENCES THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

 

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY PLEASE HELP US TO STRIVE FOR THE SPIRIT OF HUMILITY, AND TO OVERCOME THE DESIRE TO OFFEND ANYONE.   AMEN.