Even the disciples displayed the baser qualities of being a fallen being. In Matthew Ch 18, they were discussing (Arguing???) about which of them would be most honored in the coming kingdom.
Matt 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
[NASB]
One could understand if our Lord despaired of building leadership through whom He would teach the world to serve God.
Or, He could have written fire and brimstone sermon to scorch their deserving back-sides.
But our Lord was a master of using the world around him to illustrate great truths.
Here He used a child.
Matt 18:2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,
Matt 18:3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 18:4 Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 18:5 And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;
Matt 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
[NASB]
Take consider the lesson presented:
Matt 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
[NASB]
One could understand if our Lord despaired of building leadership through whom He would teach the world to serve God.
Or, He could have written fire and brimstone sermon to scorch their deserving back-sides.
But our Lord was a master of using the world around him to illustrate great truths.
Here He used a child.
Matt 18:2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,
Matt 18:3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 18:4 Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 18:5 And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;
Matt 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
[NASB]
Take consider the lesson presented:
- A good disciple comes when called.
- A good disciple stays where the Lord places Him.
- The Lord will honor the good disciple.
- The Lord does not say that no one will harm the disciple
- But the Lord does say that those that helps the disciple will be honored in turn
- And those who hinder the disciple will experience calamity.