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 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.
Temptations to Sin
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 eye 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.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
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. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Many people today seem to really like this passage. Not so much because it tells us not to tempt someone else into sin, but because it tells us we can act like children. Humble yourself like a child, who in our context is worshipped as the Lord of the house. Have you ever watched parents giving into their children.
At the time of Christ, Children were thought of as worthless parts of society. They could do nothing to benefit society. Yes, some may have been treasured in their parents eyes. But even then it was more because they were heirs to their inheritance. These children were to be molded into adults, through struggle, hardship, and pain.
Modern society sees these children not as resilent and strong but as weak, pure, and innocent. I might be inclined to think that way about an infant. But not so much a three year old. They can become need and minipulative, just like the rest of us.
You might want to become a child and think you are innocent. But you will only find sins more suductive. You needed to be hardened by life. You need to struggle for survival. Then you will truly take up your cross and follow Jesus. This is what it means to be childlike. God expects you to know all the answers, but provides you with not enough information. Thus, he provides his son as the sacrifice for your short comings.
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