Jesus Welcomes Two Children by the Sea of Galileeby PastorDaniel
18:5Matthew 18:5
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
To receive one such little child in Christ's name is to receive Christ himself, and in receiving him to receive the One who sent him. The little ones so received are both literal children and youth who belong to Christ, and humble believers in Jesus, especially those new in faith and weak in experience who need childlike guidance. To receive them is to welcome and value them and to serve Christ in them, meeting them with compassion and earnest labor to uplift and save rather than neglecting, despising, discouraging or condemning them. The saying was given when the disciples were contending over greatness and expecting an earthly kingdom, to show that greatness in Christ's spiritual kingdom is measured by childlike humility and lowly service rather than rank, position or outward display. Causing such believing little ones to stumble or treating them with contempt brings grave accountability under the wrath of God, so believers are to treat one another and the erring and needy with tenderness, courtesy and love and place no stumbling block in their way.
Words and Historical Setting
Whoever welcomes one such little child in Christ's name welcomes Christ himself, and welcoming Christ is welcoming the One who sent Him. The little child in this welcome is not limited to a literal child, but includes believers in Jesus generally, and in particular those new in faith and weak in experience, who are precious to Christ, redeemed at the cost of His life, and to be helped and blessed, encouraged through the struggle against sin, and treated tenderly and courteously rather than harshly, unkindly, ambitiously, or with indifference, contempt, condemnation, discouragement, or stumbling blocks. Such receiving is done with Christ's humility and care, valuing what alone is greatness in God's sight.
It was spoken to disciples contending over who should be greatest and which of them should occupy the highest place of honor in the kingdom of God, while expecting an earthly kingdom with earthly display and splendor, wealth, position, and rank. Christ set a little child in the midst as an object lesson of the character of the kingdom He was to set up on earth and as the pattern for His servants. In that setting the word is the most striking and positive corrective to ambition, striving for supremacy, seeking the highest place, status-seeking, self-seeking desire to be superior to others, and setting any leader up as superior, teaching that humility like a child is essential to entering heaven and that humble service, not rank, defines greatness.
It belongs inseparably with the call to be turned and converted and become as little children in humility in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. It belongs with the promise that whoever humbles himself as a little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven, showing that greatness is measured by childlike humility and reception of the humble, because Christ's kingdom is not of this world. It stands joined to the solemn warning against causing, harming, or offending one of these little ones who believe in Him, which is treated as a grave wrong to be read with a humble heart softened by penitence and prayer and taken personally. It thus places great responsibility on church members toward souls young in faith and limited in experience, to guard influence in word and action, to not neglect them or mislead them by sowing doubt and unbelief, and to treat Christ's people with gentleness and compassion because harshness toward them wounds Christ.
Receiving a child in Christ's name does not require physically crawling like a child or literally imitating children by crawling on the floor. Humility is shown through a Christlike life, with meekness and gentleness expressed in a dignified way, with readiness to help others, kind words, and unselfish acts.
The verse stands within the instruction of the whole eighteenth chapter of Matthew, which is Christ's answer to who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven and a lesson His disciples must heed to guide conduct and daily dealings, so that mere profession without doing His Word is like a counterfeit coin without the right ring. That chapter gives relief and courage and hope, calls for going forward in faith and working directly to the point, taking the case to the Lord Jesus in prayer, believing He hears, confessing sins and repenting and walking humbly with God to find pardon, and acting as one whom the Lord has corrected in order to purify and save. It is to be carefully studied in connection with correcting faults and seeking to save those in danger of being ruined by them, defines the organized church's duty toward the erring and those who fall into error and sin rather than leaving dealing with wrongdoing to individual judgment or independence, requires meeting humanity to uplift the degraded and fallen and outcast instead of despising little ones or lording over God's heritage, and must be learned, understood, read and practiced especially by teachers and brought into practical life, for without such conversion to become humble as little children no one will enter the kingdom of heaven or become laborers together with God.
Identity of Little Ones
The little ones are literal children and youth, who belong to Christ as His own property and are subjects of His kingdom. Welcoming a child for Christ's sake is welcoming Christ Himself, so how children are treated decides how Jesus Himself is received. Gospel teaching is therefore to be made simple enough for children to understand, and children are to receive greater attention, with parents treating them with Christlike gentleness. Those in places of responsibility bear a charge for the youth under their care, to be reformed and united as workers together with God under Christ as the one head, practicing compassion, tenderness, perfect love, earnest prayer with them, and sanctified use of ears, eyes and tongues. The little ones are not children only, but also include people whose experience of God is childlike.
The little child also stands for believers in Jesus generally, including humble, believing disciples who seek to follow Him. The term is not limited to a literal child or to babies, but embraces those who believe. Such humble believers, represented by a little child, are to be welcomed and valued for Christ's sake rather than treated with contempt, harmed, discouraged, or condemned through ambition and striving for supremacy. To receive such a believer in Christ's name is to receive Christ Himself.
In particular the little ones are those new in the Christian life, new in faith and weak in experience, inexperienced in following Christ and in seeking the things of heaven, needing childlike guidance in seeking heaven's kingdom. They are little children in Christ rather than those young in years, weak and trembling souls, weak brethren with many defects and objectionable traits of character and with difficult struggles. They carry a great responsibility for church members, who are to guard influence in word and action, teach the way of truth by instruction and example, help and bless them, and treat them with love, tenderness and courtesy rather than harshness, unkindness, neglect, contempt, discouragement, injustice, or misleading by sowing doubt and unbelief. They are the special charge of the angels of God.
Such believers are marked by childlike character, with the child's simplicity displaying the humility that should mark God's children. That character is humility, meekness and lowliness, teachability, docility, submissiveness, dependence on God, trustfulness, godly fear, freedom from selfishness, hypocrisy, unkindness and guile, and a contrite spirit. The little child illustrates the humility and teachability required of Christ's followers, and such lowly believers are to be welcomed, loved, and met with Christlike influence, not despised or caused to stumble. Humility like a little child is the measure of greatness in the kingdom of heaven and the rebuke to striving for supremacy and to setting any leader up as superior.
They include the least and weakest, who are precious to Christ, redeemed at the cost of His life and at infinite cost, and who must not be treated with indifference or contempt. What is done for the least and weakest of His children is regarded as done for Him, and even the least and weakest receive God's special care. They are under the special charge of angels, whose angels in heaven always behold the face of the Father. The humble follower who practices Christ's virtues is honored in the kingdom of heaven, and Christ's servants are called to humbly minister even to those they might consider beneath them and to encourage and help one another through the struggle against sin rather than place stumbling blocks in the way.
Meaning of Receiving Christ
To receive such a one in his name is to receive Christ himself, and to receive and care for them is to receive and serve him, so that what is done for the least and weakest of his children is regarded as done for him. Receiving in this sense is receiving a believer with Christlike humility and care, and receiving a humble or lowly person, even a humble servant who does not follow the plans of others, with the added truth that receiving Christ is receiving the One who sent him. Every person is precious, redeemed at the cost of his life and at infinite cost, and must not be treated with indifference or contempt, but encouraged and helped through the struggle against sin rather than given stumbling blocks. In the setting of rivalry for greatness this calls for humility rather than status-seeking, warns against injuring or hindering such ones, and calls servants to humbly minister willingly to those they might consider beneath them or inferior.
Receiving means valuing what alone is greatness in God's sight, set forth when a little child was placed in the midst as an object lesson of the character of the kingdom to correct dispute over who would be greatest and expectation of an earthly kingdom. That greatness is not earthly display or splendor, wealth or position, outward splendor or authority or rank, which are of no weight with him, but spiritual excellence of character bearing the semblance of Christ's spotless character and likeness. Greatness in his spiritual kingdom is shown in true conversion, making believers as a little child, eagerly desiring to take his hand to be led in safe paths, cherishing a submissive spirit willing to wear his yoke and learn his meekness and lowliness, walking wisely in a perfect way and changed into his likeness, with pride, ambition, and desire for worldly honor and position overcome.
To receive them is to welcome and value humble, believing little ones rather than treat them with contempt. It means meeting humanity to uplift the degraded and fallen and outcast instead of despising little ones or lording over God's heritage, showing compassion with earnest labor and persevering effort to save that which is lost. It means not selfishly neglecting them, holding them in contempt, despising them, judging and condemning them, discouraging them, misleading them with doubt, or doing them any injustice, but treating his people with gentleness, compassion, care and tenderness, especially the erring and vulnerable. This lesson of the eighteenth chapter of Matthew must be learned and brought into practical life, for without it no one will enter the kingdom of heaven, and harming those who believe must not be done.
This is because he identifies his interest with the souls he has purchased at infinite cost, whose angels in heaven always behold the face of the Father and who are his special charge. Any injustice done to them is the same as if done to Jesus himself, and to depreciate or hurt one of his followers, or to treat them unkindly or harshly, is counted as treatment of Jesus and wounds Christ in that person. The little ones include not only children but also people whose experience of God is childlike, weak and trembling souls, weak brethren with many defects and objectionable traits, and even the least and weakest receive his special care.
Call to Childlike Humility
Greatness in Christ's spiritual kingdom, which is not of this world, is measured by childlike humility and by reception of the humble, and humble service rather than rank defines who is greatest. The saying was given as a striking corrective to disciples contending over who should occupy the highest place of honor, rebuking striving for supremacy and a self-seeking spirit that seeks to be superior to others as a great hindrance to spirituality. It forbids setting any leader up as superior, for Christ set a little child in the midst as the pattern, and whoever humbles himself as a little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Such lowly believers are to be welcomed and not despised, caused to stumble, or treated as unimportant, because receiving one humble, childlike believer in Christ's name is receiving Christ himself.
Entrance into the kingdom requires turning, conversion, and becoming as little children in humility, and without such conversion no one will enter. That conversion means a humble opinion of self, an end to all strife for supremacy, teachability as a little child, and a heart softened by penitence and prayer that lets God's Spirit work, and it is necessary to become laborers together with God. It must be read personally and taken to heart as an important lesson for the present time, especially by teachers, and practiced in guarding influence in word and action toward souls young in faith and limited in experience. Such a little child is one converted to learn the way of the Lord, and those who would be saved must accept salvation in the Lord's appointed way and not their own.
Such character eagerly desires to take Christ's hand to be led in safe paths, cherishes a submissive spirit willing to wear Christ's yoke and learn His meekness and lowliness to find rest, walks wisely in a perfect way, and is changed into Christ's likeness. It values what alone is greatness in God's sight, spiritual excellence of character bearing Christ's likeness, while earthly display, splendor, wealth, position, and desire for worldly honor are overcome by conversion and count as nothing with Him. Meekness and lowliness help in receiving and practicing His words, while pride, ambition, self-sufficiency, standing on dignity, fancying one's own judgment and capabilities superior, and inward and open strife to be first must be cleansed from the soul, for they hinder the work, grieve Christ, and block the manifestation of His power and grace until removed. Without a converted, humble, self-denying, yielding, submissive spirit like a little child, a person is not in sympathy with Christ and does not know Him by experimental knowledge.
Childlike humility is not literal imitation of children by crawling on the floor, but is shown through a dignified Christlike life. It is expressed in meekness and gentleness, readiness to help others, kind words, unselfish acts, and self-denial that brings sympathy with Christ and experimental knowledge of Him. In the home this requires having the Spirit of Christ abide so that every member takes the cross and follows Jesus.
The one who humbles his heart as a little child before God receives reward, forgiveness, reception by God, and rest. Free grace is the only hope, and salvation must be accepted in the Lord's appointed way.
Warning Against Harming Believers
To cause one of the believing little ones to stumble is a grave wrong that brings grave accountability, with woe upon the world and upon the offender, and places the offender under the wrath of God, so that it would be better for such a one to be drowned in the depths of the sea with a millstone about the neck than to harm them, lead them into spiritual impurity or sin, or control and oppress them. This warning belongs with the call to be converted and become as little children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, and with the promise that whoever humbles himself as a little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven, showing that greatness is measured by childlike humility and reception of the humble because Christ's kingdom is not of this world. It was given as the most striking and positive corrective to disciples contending over which of them should occupy the highest place of honor, teaching that entrance requires turning and becoming as little children in humility. The little child illustrates the humility and teachability required of followers, who are to be loved and to exert a Christlike influence toward one another, and the lesson is for the present time, to be read with a humble heart softened by penitence and prayer and taken personally.
Not even the weakest and feeblest is to be despised, treated with indifference or contempt, or caused to stumble, because every such person is precious, redeemed at the cost of His life, and their angels always behold the face of the Father in heaven. The little child represents disciples who are meek and lowly, docile and submissive, humble and childlike in learning the way of the Lord, humbling self in submission to the yoke and learning meekness and lowliness of heart to find rest, and such lowly believers are to be welcomed, cared for, encouraged and helped through the struggle against sin rather than having stumbling blocks placed in their way. Striving for supremacy is rebuked and setting any leader up as superior is forbidden, because a little child was set in the midst as the pattern, and the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is whoever humbles himself as a little child. Without such conversion no one will enter the kingdom, and those who would be saved must accept salvation in the Lord's appointed way and not their own, with free grace as the only hope.
Neglecting this instruction to treat one another with Christian humility rather than striving for the highest place leads to the lowest place. Inward, concealed strife for supremacy and open strife to be first must be cleansed from the soul temple, for self-sufficiency, standing on dignity, and fancying one's own judgment and capabilities superior hinders the work and grieves Christ, and power and grace cannot be manifested through workers until this unsanctified element is removed. Hindering rather than helping those who need help is not acting in His lines, and the way such persons are treated is a matter of spiritual danger.
Application to Daily Life
Welcoming a little one in Christ's name is welcoming Christ himself, and the little ones include not only children but those new in faith and weak in experience, who are to be helped and blessed. They are precious to Christ, redeemed at the cost of His life, and must not be treated with indifference, contempt, harshness or unkindness. Believers are to treat one another and Christ's followers, especially the erring, vulnerable and needy, with tenderness, courtesy, love and Christlike influence, with care, sympathy, gentleness and compassion. They are to encourage and help one another through the struggle against sin rather than place stumbling blocks in one another's way, or harm them and turn them away, since harshness toward them wounds Christ. Such care is to be shown with prayer and loving guidance rather than harshness or rejection, because help is needed by those who are difficult as well as by children.
Teachers and all workers are to humble themselves, become as a little child in mind and spirit, put themselves in the child's place and on the child's level, and be converted to become laborers together with God. Love, tenderness, forbearance and self-control win love and influence for good, with deep interest, most earnest prayer together with the youth, compassion and perfect love, and sanctified ears, eyes and tongues when Christ is formed within. Harsh, passionate, arbitrary rule is forbidden, with no shaking or bruising of children, no rejection, humiliation, discouragement, cutting off, or controlling and oppressive treatment. Correction must be gentle and private, with prayer and talk that shows Christ's will and binds the child to the heart, remembering that trials are great to the child, forgiving as Christ forgives, and seeking to save those Satan seeks to lead astray rather than offending them. Christ is present in the child, so children are to be corrected with love, patience and gentleness that does not humiliate but awakens love, since harshness can make a child stubborn. Children are to receive greater attention, youth as Christ's property are to be received, educated and trained in His name, and gospel teaching is to be simple enough for them to understand.
Receiving a little child in Jesus' name is receiving Jesus, with the child presented as an object lesson of the humility required to enter heaven and of the greatness of the humble in heaven's kingdom. Parents should therefore treat their children with Christlike gentleness, valuing their souls and avoiding harsh words and painful discipline. The first work in the Christian home is to have the Spirit of Christ abide so every member takes the cross and follows Jesus. Parents are to lead their children to Christ by teaching Christ's precepts and training them to be workers together with God, in a converted, humble, self-denying, yielding and submissive spirit like a little child, without which there is no sympathy with Christ and no experimental knowledge of Him.
The instruction of Matthew 18 governs those in positions of responsibility and trust and shows how the work is to be done by all workers and stewards in advancing the cause. They are not to be lords over God's heritage nor rule as kings, nor use position as liberty to speak impatiently or boastfully or act in an overbearing, selfish, impatient manner, since failure there imperils the progress of the cause and sets a misleading example before all within their influence. They are to be men of wisdom able to give counsel that protects and strengthens God's people, to hate every vestige of selfishness, to show they are not narrow-minded, and to set an example that may be safely followed, honoring the standard Christ uplifted and never letting it trail in the dust by scolding, fretting, and acting like spoiled children. Self is to be kept under the control of the great Teacher, the truth properly represented in all its lines, the Bible studied with intense interest and practiced so less human wisdom is seen and more of God's wisdom, saving time and strength. The gospel ministry is to be respected rather than disparaged or given an inferior position, and the Lord's servants as teachers of men, women and children are to be given ample room to do their appointed work. Believers should not draw apart from one another, and a humble, Christlike person is to be received and welcomed with respect, encouragement and service rather than criticism, belittling, seeking to undermine, or disparaging a fellow servant, since such conduct dishonors God.
What is done for the least and weakest of His children is regarded as done for Him, for Christ identifies Himself with them. Christ's servants are therefore to humbly minister even to those they might consider beneath them or inferior, willingly receiving and caring for those in need as receiving and serving Him. This requires turning from self toward sympathy and love for others, with thorough conversion, singleness of purpose and purity of motive, personal effort for those outside Christ, and unselfish love that lays aside pride, self-seeking and contention. It calls those who bear His name into real, genuine union with Him in ministerial service, working together with God and with angels to bring men to repentance. Courtesy, kindness, mercy and unselfish love are to replace harshness, severity, dictatorial control, self-superiority, pride, contention and sharp dealings for advantage, whether toward the ignorant, the oppressed, the weak in faith, or toward fellow workers such as restaurant workers, who are to be treated carefully and tenderly.
The whole eighteenth chapter of Matthew gives relief and courage and hope, and must be understood in order to turn wholeheartedly to the Lord and avoid being ensnared by satanic influence amid dissension and refusal to accept reproof. It calls for going forward in faith and working directly to the point, taking the case to the Lord Jesus in prayer and believing He hears, confessing sins and repenting and walking humbly with God to find pardon, and acting as one whom the Lord has corrected in order to purify and save. Converted church members are to awake from timidity, to win souls, to enlighten the ignorant and relieve the oppressed, and to receive and strengthen those weak in the faith instead of annoying and perplexing them, while the work of preparation goes on and angels wait for human agencies to work.
To receive one such little child in Christ's name is to receive Christ himself, and in receiving him to receive the One who sent him.
The little ones so received are both literal children and youth who belong to Christ, and humble believers in Jesus, especially those new in faith and weak in experience who need childlike guidance.
To receive them is to welcome and value them and to serve Christ in them, meeting them with compassion and earnest labor to uplift and save rather than neglecting, despising, discouraging or condemning them.
The saying was given when the disciples were contending over greatness and expecting an earthly kingdom, to show that greatness in Christ's spiritual kingdom is measured by childlike humility and lowly service rather than rank, position or outward display.
Causing such believing little ones to stumble or treating them with contempt brings grave accountability under the wrath of God, so believers are to treat one another and the erring and needy with tenderness, courtesy and love and place no stumbling block in their way.
Words and Historical Setting
Whoever welcomes one such little child in Christ's name welcomes Christ himself, and welcoming Christ is welcoming the One who sent Him. The little child in this welcome is not limited to a literal child, but includes believers in Jesus generally, and in particular those new in faith and weak in experience, who are precious to Christ, redeemed at the cost of His life, and to be helped and blessed, encouraged through the struggle against sin, and treated tenderly and courteously rather than harshly, unkindly, ambitiously, or with indifference, contempt, condemnation, discouragement, or stumbling blocks. Such receiving is done with Christ's humility and care, valuing what alone is greatness in God's sight.
It was spoken to disciples contending over who should be greatest and which of them should occupy the highest place of honor in the kingdom of God, while expecting an earthly kingdom with earthly display and splendor, wealth, position, and rank. Christ set a little child in the midst as an object lesson of the character of the kingdom He was to set up on earth and as the pattern for His servants. In that setting the word is the most striking and positive corrective to ambition, striving for supremacy, seeking the highest place, status-seeking, self-seeking desire to be superior to others, and setting any leader up as superior, teaching that humility like a child is essential to entering heaven and that humble service, not rank, defines greatness.
It belongs inseparably with the call to be turned and converted and become as little children in humility in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. It belongs with the promise that whoever humbles himself as a little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven, showing that greatness is measured by childlike humility and reception of the humble, because Christ's kingdom is not of this world. It stands joined to the solemn warning against causing, harming, or offending one of these little ones who believe in Him, which is treated as a grave wrong to be read with a humble heart softened by penitence and prayer and taken personally. It thus places great responsibility on church members toward souls young in faith and limited in experience, to guard influence in word and action, to not neglect them or mislead them by sowing doubt and unbelief, and to treat Christ's people with gentleness and compassion because harshness toward them wounds Christ.
Receiving a child in Christ's name does not require physically crawling like a child or literally imitating children by crawling on the floor. Humility is shown through a Christlike life, with meekness and gentleness expressed in a dignified way, with readiness to help others, kind words, and unselfish acts.
The verse stands within the instruction of the whole eighteenth chapter of Matthew, which is Christ's answer to who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven and a lesson His disciples must heed to guide conduct and daily dealings, so that mere profession without doing His Word is like a counterfeit coin without the right ring. That chapter gives relief and courage and hope, calls for going forward in faith and working directly to the point, taking the case to the Lord Jesus in prayer, believing He hears, confessing sins and repenting and walking humbly with God to find pardon, and acting as one whom the Lord has corrected in order to purify and save. It is to be carefully studied in connection with correcting faults and seeking to save those in danger of being ruined by them, defines the organized church's duty toward the erring and those who fall into error and sin rather than leaving dealing with wrongdoing to individual judgment or independence, requires meeting humanity to uplift the degraded and fallen and outcast instead of despising little ones or lording over God's heritage, and must be learned, understood, read and practiced especially by teachers and brought into practical life, for without such conversion to become humble as little children no one will enter the kingdom of heaven or become laborers together with God.
Identity of Little Ones
The little ones are literal children and youth, who belong to Christ as His own property and are subjects of His kingdom. Welcoming a child for Christ's sake is welcoming Christ Himself, so how children are treated decides how Jesus Himself is received. Gospel teaching is therefore to be made simple enough for children to understand, and children are to receive greater attention, with parents treating them with Christlike gentleness. Those in places of responsibility bear a charge for the youth under their care, to be reformed and united as workers together with God under Christ as the one head, practicing compassion, tenderness, perfect love, earnest prayer with them, and sanctified use of ears, eyes and tongues. The little ones are not children only, but also include people whose experience of God is childlike.
The little child also stands for believers in Jesus generally, including humble, believing disciples who seek to follow Him. The term is not limited to a literal child or to babies, but embraces those who believe. Such humble believers, represented by a little child, are to be welcomed and valued for Christ's sake rather than treated with contempt, harmed, discouraged, or condemned through ambition and striving for supremacy. To receive such a believer in Christ's name is to receive Christ Himself.
In particular the little ones are those new in the Christian life, new in faith and weak in experience, inexperienced in following Christ and in seeking the things of heaven, needing childlike guidance in seeking heaven's kingdom. They are little children in Christ rather than those young in years, weak and trembling souls, weak brethren with many defects and objectionable traits of character and with difficult struggles. They carry a great responsibility for church members, who are to guard influence in word and action, teach the way of truth by instruction and example, help and bless them, and treat them with love, tenderness and courtesy rather than harshness, unkindness, neglect, contempt, discouragement, injustice, or misleading by sowing doubt and unbelief. They are the special charge of the angels of God.
Such believers are marked by childlike character, with the child's simplicity displaying the humility that should mark God's children. That character is humility, meekness and lowliness, teachability, docility, submissiveness, dependence on God, trustfulness, godly fear, freedom from selfishness, hypocrisy, unkindness and guile, and a contrite spirit. The little child illustrates the humility and teachability required of Christ's followers, and such lowly believers are to be welcomed, loved, and met with Christlike influence, not despised or caused to stumble. Humility like a little child is the measure of greatness in the kingdom of heaven and the rebuke to striving for supremacy and to setting any leader up as superior.
They include the least and weakest, who are precious to Christ, redeemed at the cost of His life and at infinite cost, and who must not be treated with indifference or contempt. What is done for the least and weakest of His children is regarded as done for Him, and even the least and weakest receive God's special care. They are under the special charge of angels, whose angels in heaven always behold the face of the Father. The humble follower who practices Christ's virtues is honored in the kingdom of heaven, and Christ's servants are called to humbly minister even to those they might consider beneath them and to encourage and help one another through the struggle against sin rather than place stumbling blocks in the way.
Meaning of Receiving Christ
To receive such a one in his name is to receive Christ himself, and to receive and care for them is to receive and serve him, so that what is done for the least and weakest of his children is regarded as done for him. Receiving in this sense is receiving a believer with Christlike humility and care, and receiving a humble or lowly person, even a humble servant who does not follow the plans of others, with the added truth that receiving Christ is receiving the One who sent him. Every person is precious, redeemed at the cost of his life and at infinite cost, and must not be treated with indifference or contempt, but encouraged and helped through the struggle against sin rather than given stumbling blocks. In the setting of rivalry for greatness this calls for humility rather than status-seeking, warns against injuring or hindering such ones, and calls servants to humbly minister willingly to those they might consider beneath them or inferior.
Receiving means valuing what alone is greatness in God's sight, set forth when a little child was placed in the midst as an object lesson of the character of the kingdom to correct dispute over who would be greatest and expectation of an earthly kingdom. That greatness is not earthly display or splendor, wealth or position, outward splendor or authority or rank, which are of no weight with him, but spiritual excellence of character bearing the semblance of Christ's spotless character and likeness. Greatness in his spiritual kingdom is shown in true conversion, making believers as a little child, eagerly desiring to take his hand to be led in safe paths, cherishing a submissive spirit willing to wear his yoke and learn his meekness and lowliness, walking wisely in a perfect way and changed into his likeness, with pride, ambition, and desire for worldly honor and position overcome.
To receive them is to welcome and value humble, believing little ones rather than treat them with contempt. It means meeting humanity to uplift the degraded and fallen and outcast instead of despising little ones or lording over God's heritage, showing compassion with earnest labor and persevering effort to save that which is lost. It means not selfishly neglecting them, holding them in contempt, despising them, judging and condemning them, discouraging them, misleading them with doubt, or doing them any injustice, but treating his people with gentleness, compassion, care and tenderness, especially the erring and vulnerable. This lesson of the eighteenth chapter of Matthew must be learned and brought into practical life, for without it no one will enter the kingdom of heaven, and harming those who believe must not be done.
This is because he identifies his interest with the souls he has purchased at infinite cost, whose angels in heaven always behold the face of the Father and who are his special charge. Any injustice done to them is the same as if done to Jesus himself, and to depreciate or hurt one of his followers, or to treat them unkindly or harshly, is counted as treatment of Jesus and wounds Christ in that person. The little ones include not only children but also people whose experience of God is childlike, weak and trembling souls, weak brethren with many defects and objectionable traits, and even the least and weakest receive his special care.
Call to Childlike Humility
Greatness in Christ's spiritual kingdom, which is not of this world, is measured by childlike humility and by reception of the humble, and humble service rather than rank defines who is greatest. The saying was given as a striking corrective to disciples contending over who should occupy the highest place of honor, rebuking striving for supremacy and a self-seeking spirit that seeks to be superior to others as a great hindrance to spirituality. It forbids setting any leader up as superior, for Christ set a little child in the midst as the pattern, and whoever humbles himself as a little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Such lowly believers are to be welcomed and not despised, caused to stumble, or treated as unimportant, because receiving one humble, childlike believer in Christ's name is receiving Christ himself.
Entrance into the kingdom requires turning, conversion, and becoming as little children in humility, and without such conversion no one will enter. That conversion means a humble opinion of self, an end to all strife for supremacy, teachability as a little child, and a heart softened by penitence and prayer that lets God's Spirit work, and it is necessary to become laborers together with God. It must be read personally and taken to heart as an important lesson for the present time, especially by teachers, and practiced in guarding influence in word and action toward souls young in faith and limited in experience. Such a little child is one converted to learn the way of the Lord, and those who would be saved must accept salvation in the Lord's appointed way and not their own.
Such character eagerly desires to take Christ's hand to be led in safe paths, cherishes a submissive spirit willing to wear Christ's yoke and learn His meekness and lowliness to find rest, walks wisely in a perfect way, and is changed into Christ's likeness. It values what alone is greatness in God's sight, spiritual excellence of character bearing Christ's likeness, while earthly display, splendor, wealth, position, and desire for worldly honor are overcome by conversion and count as nothing with Him. Meekness and lowliness help in receiving and practicing His words, while pride, ambition, self-sufficiency, standing on dignity, fancying one's own judgment and capabilities superior, and inward and open strife to be first must be cleansed from the soul, for they hinder the work, grieve Christ, and block the manifestation of His power and grace until removed. Without a converted, humble, self-denying, yielding, submissive spirit like a little child, a person is not in sympathy with Christ and does not know Him by experimental knowledge.
Childlike humility is not literal imitation of children by crawling on the floor, but is shown through a dignified Christlike life. It is expressed in meekness and gentleness, readiness to help others, kind words, unselfish acts, and self-denial that brings sympathy with Christ and experimental knowledge of Him. In the home this requires having the Spirit of Christ abide so that every member takes the cross and follows Jesus.
The one who humbles his heart as a little child before God receives reward, forgiveness, reception by God, and rest. Free grace is the only hope, and salvation must be accepted in the Lord's appointed way.
Warning Against Harming Believers
To cause one of the believing little ones to stumble is a grave wrong that brings grave accountability, with woe upon the world and upon the offender, and places the offender under the wrath of God, so that it would be better for such a one to be drowned in the depths of the sea with a millstone about the neck than to harm them, lead them into spiritual impurity or sin, or control and oppress them. This warning belongs with the call to be converted and become as little children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, and with the promise that whoever humbles himself as a little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven, showing that greatness is measured by childlike humility and reception of the humble because Christ's kingdom is not of this world. It was given as the most striking and positive corrective to disciples contending over which of them should occupy the highest place of honor, teaching that entrance requires turning and becoming as little children in humility. The little child illustrates the humility and teachability required of followers, who are to be loved and to exert a Christlike influence toward one another, and the lesson is for the present time, to be read with a humble heart softened by penitence and prayer and taken personally.
Not even the weakest and feeblest is to be despised, treated with indifference or contempt, or caused to stumble, because every such person is precious, redeemed at the cost of His life, and their angels always behold the face of the Father in heaven. The little child represents disciples who are meek and lowly, docile and submissive, humble and childlike in learning the way of the Lord, humbling self in submission to the yoke and learning meekness and lowliness of heart to find rest, and such lowly believers are to be welcomed, cared for, encouraged and helped through the struggle against sin rather than having stumbling blocks placed in their way. Striving for supremacy is rebuked and setting any leader up as superior is forbidden, because a little child was set in the midst as the pattern, and the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is whoever humbles himself as a little child. Without such conversion no one will enter the kingdom, and those who would be saved must accept salvation in the Lord's appointed way and not their own, with free grace as the only hope.
Neglecting this instruction to treat one another with Christian humility rather than striving for the highest place leads to the lowest place. Inward, concealed strife for supremacy and open strife to be first must be cleansed from the soul temple, for self-sufficiency, standing on dignity, and fancying one's own judgment and capabilities superior hinders the work and grieves Christ, and power and grace cannot be manifested through workers until this unsanctified element is removed. Hindering rather than helping those who need help is not acting in His lines, and the way such persons are treated is a matter of spiritual danger.
Application to Daily Life
Welcoming a little one in Christ's name is welcoming Christ himself, and the little ones include not only children but those new in faith and weak in experience, who are to be helped and blessed. They are precious to Christ, redeemed at the cost of His life, and must not be treated with indifference, contempt, harshness or unkindness. Believers are to treat one another and Christ's followers, especially the erring, vulnerable and needy, with tenderness, courtesy, love and Christlike influence, with care, sympathy, gentleness and compassion. They are to encourage and help one another through the struggle against sin rather than place stumbling blocks in one another's way, or harm them and turn them away, since harshness toward them wounds Christ. Such care is to be shown with prayer and loving guidance rather than harshness or rejection, because help is needed by those who are difficult as well as by children.
Teachers and all workers are to humble themselves, become as a little child in mind and spirit, put themselves in the child's place and on the child's level, and be converted to become laborers together with God. Love, tenderness, forbearance and self-control win love and influence for good, with deep interest, most earnest prayer together with the youth, compassion and perfect love, and sanctified ears, eyes and tongues when Christ is formed within. Harsh, passionate, arbitrary rule is forbidden, with no shaking or bruising of children, no rejection, humiliation, discouragement, cutting off, or controlling and oppressive treatment. Correction must be gentle and private, with prayer and talk that shows Christ's will and binds the child to the heart, remembering that trials are great to the child, forgiving as Christ forgives, and seeking to save those Satan seeks to lead astray rather than offending them. Christ is present in the child, so children are to be corrected with love, patience and gentleness that does not humiliate but awakens love, since harshness can make a child stubborn. Children are to receive greater attention, youth as Christ's property are to be received, educated and trained in His name, and gospel teaching is to be simple enough for them to understand.
Receiving a little child in Jesus' name is receiving Jesus, with the child presented as an object lesson of the humility required to enter heaven and of the greatness of the humble in heaven's kingdom. Parents should therefore treat their children with Christlike gentleness, valuing their souls and avoiding harsh words and painful discipline. The first work in the Christian home is to have the Spirit of Christ abide so every member takes the cross and follows Jesus. Parents are to lead their children to Christ by teaching Christ's precepts and training them to be workers together with God, in a converted, humble, self-denying, yielding and submissive spirit like a little child, without which there is no sympathy with Christ and no experimental knowledge of Him.
The instruction of Matthew 18 governs those in positions of responsibility and trust and shows how the work is to be done by all workers and stewards in advancing the cause. They are not to be lords over God's heritage nor rule as kings, nor use position as liberty to speak impatiently or boastfully or act in an overbearing, selfish, impatient manner, since failure there imperils the progress of the cause and sets a misleading example before all within their influence. They are to be men of wisdom able to give counsel that protects and strengthens God's people, to hate every vestige of selfishness, to show they are not narrow-minded, and to set an example that may be safely followed, honoring the standard Christ uplifted and never letting it trail in the dust by scolding, fretting, and acting like spoiled children. Self is to be kept under the control of the great Teacher, the truth properly represented in all its lines, the Bible studied with intense interest and practiced so less human wisdom is seen and more of God's wisdom, saving time and strength. The gospel ministry is to be respected rather than disparaged or given an inferior position, and the Lord's servants as teachers of men, women and children are to be given ample room to do their appointed work. Believers should not draw apart from one another, and a humble, Christlike person is to be received and welcomed with respect, encouragement and service rather than criticism, belittling, seeking to undermine, or disparaging a fellow servant, since such conduct dishonors God.
What is done for the least and weakest of His children is regarded as done for Him, for Christ identifies Himself with them. Christ's servants are therefore to humbly minister even to those they might consider beneath them or inferior, willingly receiving and caring for those in need as receiving and serving Him. This requires turning from self toward sympathy and love for others, with thorough conversion, singleness of purpose and purity of motive, personal effort for those outside Christ, and unselfish love that lays aside pride, self-seeking and contention. It calls those who bear His name into real, genuine union with Him in ministerial service, working together with God and with angels to bring men to repentance. Courtesy, kindness, mercy and unselfish love are to replace harshness, severity, dictatorial control, self-superiority, pride, contention and sharp dealings for advantage, whether toward the ignorant, the oppressed, the weak in faith, or toward fellow workers such as restaurant workers, who are to be treated carefully and tenderly.
The whole eighteenth chapter of Matthew gives relief and courage and hope, and must be understood in order to turn wholeheartedly to the Lord and avoid being ensnared by satanic influence amid dissension and refusal to accept reproof. It calls for going forward in faith and working directly to the point, taking the case to the Lord Jesus in prayer and believing He hears, confessing sins and repenting and walking humbly with God to find pardon, and acting as one whom the Lord has corrected in order to purify and save. Converted church members are to awake from timidity, to win souls, to enlighten the ignorant and relieve the oppressed, and to receive and strengthen those weak in the faith instead of annoying and perplexing them, while the work of preparation goes on and angels wait for human agencies to work.