It is very interesting that it is Matthew that remembers this accountâ¦
Matthew 17:23-18:14 Becoming a kid again They are coming back now from up north, they are heading Home, Jesus made Capernaum home, at Simon peters house. Nice to get home from a long trip. So they make it to .. Capernaum.. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AHH, he’s back The normal time for paying the annual tax was in the spring. But it is now late summer of early autumn. Jesus has been long gone from Capernaum, and because of his absence. The tax men may have supposed that he is now delinquent in his obligation. Maybe we can trap him on this one..
It is very interesting that it is Matthew that remembers this account… He was Matthew the Tax collector..this was HIS TAX OFFICE THAT ASKED THIS.. LOTS OF DRAMA HERE Matthew always remember this point.. he is the only one that cant mention his name without the “tax collector” I think he never forgot where he came from.. ------there is another point they are trying to make.. JESUS would be consider by the crowd as RABBI.. he is called that often by his disciples.. but the Religious leaders did not consider his a Rabbi, Rabbis Did not have to pay this Temple tax.. just as today the Orthodox Jews do not pay taxes. ------------------------
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The question is phrased in such a manner that a positive answer to their question is expected1 “you are going to pay the tax” At the heart of the issue may be Jesus loyalty to the temple. Will he allow him of to be further seen as being somehow anti-temple ? after all, his first public action was to tear up the temple market, the bazaar of Annas. It was still an open question .
They that received the half-shekel (οἱ τα διδραχµα λαµβανοντες [hoi ta didrachma lambanontes]). This temple tax amounted to an Attic drachma or the Jewish half-shekel, about one-third of a dollar. Every Jewish man twenty years of age and over was expected to pay it for the maintenance of the temple. But it was not a compulsory tax like that collected by the publicans for the government. “The tax was like a voluntary church-rate; no one could be compelled to pay” (Plummer). The same Greek word occurs in two Egyptian papyri of the first century A.D. for the receipt for the tax for the temple of Suchus (Milligan and Moulton’s Vocabulary). This tax for the Jerusalem temple was due in the month Adar (our March) and it was now nearly six months overdue. But Jesus and the Twelve had been out of Galilee most of this time. Hence the question of the taxcollectors. The payment had to be made in the Jewish coin, half-shekel. Hence the money-changers did a thriving business in charging a small premium for the Jewish coin, amounting to some forty-five thousand dollars a year, it is estimated. It is significant that they approached Peter rather than Jesus, perhaps not wishing to embarrass “Your Teacher,” “a roundabout hint that the tax was overdue” (Bruce). Evidently Jesus had been in the habit of paying it (Peter’s). 2 THE Temple at Jerusalem was a costly place to run. There were the daily morning and evening sacrifices which each involved the offering of a year-old lamb. Along with the lamb were offered wine and flour and oil. The incense which was burned every day had to be bought and prepared. The costly hangings and the robes of the priests constantly wore out; and the robe of the High Priest was itself worth a king’s ransom. All this required money. So, on the basis of Exodus 30:13, it was laid down that every male Jew over twenty years of age must pay an annual Temple tax of one half-shekel.
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Keener, C. S. (1997). Vol. 1: Matthew. The IVP New Testament commentary series (Mt 17:24). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press. 2 Robertson, A. (1997). Word Pictures in the New Testament. Vol.V c1932, Vol.VI c1933 by Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. (Mt 17:24). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems. 2
Exodus 30:13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The halfshekel shall be an offering to the LORD. The price involved was the double-drachma or didrachma, the equivalent of about two days’ wages.3 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------25 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Peter automatically , as if conditioned by a lifetime of submitting to synagogue authority, answers, “yes of course he does” Could it be in his heart he was wondering.. DOES HE,, DO WE… -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Then the sons are exempt. The point is that kings don’t tax their own family, they tax all the others. This, however, is God’s tax so God’s Son is not obligated in paying it. This seems to be the logic here though it is not directly stated. However, the underlying principle has already been stated, “One greater than the temple is here” (12:5,6). Temple worship will soon by abandoned with the worship of Christ who fulfilled what the temple services were all about. For peter to give the temple tax, since it is given to God, is in reality giving the tax to Christ, who is in the father. The taxes, or contributions, therefore, are not to be received from Christ, since they are in the final analysis all offered to Him, therefore, as the royal son, Christ should not be expected to pay the tax. Matthew 17:25-26 (GNB) 25 “Of course,” Peter answered. When Peter went into the house, Jesus spoke up first, “Simon, what is your opinion? Who pays duties or taxes to the kings of this world? The citizens of the country or the foreigners?” 26 “The foreigners,” answered Peter. “Well, then,” replied Jesus, “that means that the citizens don’t have to pay.
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New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Mt 17:24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 3
Matthew 17:25-26 (YLT) 25 And when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, ‘What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth—from whom do they receive custom or poll-tax? from their sons or from the strangers?’ 26 Peter saith to him, ‘From the strangers.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Then are the sons free; Thus Jesus, the Son of God, is not personally obligated to pay tribute for the support of God’s house.4 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jesus picked his battles -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cast in a hook: Peter was a professional fisherman who used nets, however when in Bathsidia was discovered they found fishing hooks so they have termed the house the house of the fisherman. When excavation on peters home in Capernaum they found again, hooks. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This was a mutual conversation, they were arguing on the road about who was going to be the greatest. Mark 9:33-37 33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
Luke 9:46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 4
Pfeiffer, C. F., & Harrison, E. F. (1962). The Wycliffe Bible commentary : New Testament (Mt 17:25). Chicago: Moody Press. 4
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” N The opening phrase “at that time” ties this event to the previous teaching (17:24–27). The disciples wondered about this coming kingdom of which Jesus would be the king. In addition, Jesus’ talk of his coming death probably made them wonder how they were to run the kingdom in his absence. In Jewish culture, a person’s rank was of considerable importance (see Luke 14:7–11 for an example); thus, the disciples were naturally curious about their position in the coming kingdom. Jesus’ teaching in 5:19 had indicated that there would be distinctions (“least” and “great”) in the kingdom of heaven. Mark explains that this question had caused an argument among the disciples (Mark 9:33–34). This question also may have been fueled by the special privileges given to Peter, James, and John at various times, most recently their trip with Jesus to the mountain and then their silence about what had happened there (17:1–9). Matthew characteristically abbreviates the story in order to focus on the teaching. The situation became an occasion for Jesus to teach about true greatness and the role of competition in the coming kingdom. 5
“How to be Miserable” Author Unknown Think about yourself. Talk about yourself. Use “I” as often as possible. Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others. Listen greedily to what people say about you. Expect to be appreciated. Be suspicious. Be jealous and envious. Be sensitive to slights. Never forgive a criticism. Trust nobody but yourself. Insist on consideration and respect. Demand agreement with your own views on everything. Sulk if people are not grateful to you for favors shown them. Never forget a service you have rendered. Shirk your duties if you can. Do as little as possible for others. Its not all about YOU.. its all about ME….. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Children loved Jesus Notice there was most of the times a crowd around Jesus.. the KIDS LOVED HIM.. this says a lot about his personality ..
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Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew. Life application Bible commentary (351). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers. 5
Think about in a mall kids wait to sit on Santa’s Lap.. ( back east last year – Look daddy Santa ) Kids are so HONEST .. (MOM WHY DO YOU WEAR MAKEUP – DOESN’T WORK DOES IT ) Children are so open to the gospel …. Dr. Jim Slack, head of demographics for the Southern Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, recently shared the results of a Gallup Survey: nineteen out of twenty people who became Christians did so before the age of twentyfive. At age twenty-five, one in 10,000 will become believers; at thirty-five, one in 50,000; at forty-five, one in 200,000; at fifty-five, one in 300,000; at seventy-five, one in 700,000.6 ( our heart for children’s ministry ) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------There are two things here, 1- be converted = the word is to turn around – The phrase are converted translates an aorist passive of strephō, which elsewhere in the New Testament is always translated with an idea of “turning” or “turning around.” It means to make an about face and go in the opposite direction. Peter used a form of the term twice in his message shortly after Pentecost, as he called his hearers to “repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away” and declared of Jesus that “God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways” (Acts 3:19, 26). The term is used repeatedly in the boo k of Acts to speak of conversion (11:21; 15:19; 26:18, 20). Paul used the word when speaking of the Thessalonian believers, who had turned “to God from idols to serve a living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9). Conversion is the other half of repentance. Repentance is being sorry for sin and turning away from it; conversion is the expression of will that fully turns from sin to the Lord. Psalm 51:13 alludes to these two halves of the turning when it declares, “and 6Hughes, R. Kent, Preaching the Word: Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior, (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books) 1997.
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sinners will be converted to Thee.” Jesus’ use here of the passive voice indicates that the disciples could not be converted from sin to righteousness by their own efforts but needed someone else to turn them around. Although the response of a person’s will is required, only God has the power to convert.
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There has to be a change in our lives---You can change, you are have a new start, you can find hope.. 2- become as a child = not childish , but Child like
To be converted requires people to become like children, Jesus explained. A little child is simple, dependent, helpless, unaffected, unpretentious, unambitious. Children are not sinless or naturally unselfish, and they display their fallen nature from the earliest age. But they are nevertheless naive and unassuming, trusting of others and without ambition for grandeur and greatness.8 How does this happen.. you must HUMBLE YOURSELF.. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The verb behind humbles is tapeinoō, which has the literal meaning of making low In God’s eyes, the one who lowers himself is the one who is elevated; the one who genuinely considers himself to be the least is the one God considers to be the greatest. “The greatest among you shall be your servant,” Jesus told the self-righteous Pharisees. “And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matt. 23:11–12). The person who is not willing to humble himself as Jesus “humbled Himself” (Phil. 2:8) will have no place in Jesus’ kingdom. For self-righteous Jews who exalted themselves so highly as to think God was pleased with them for their own goodness, this was a shattering blow.9 Firstly, there is the child’s humility.
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MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew (101). Chicago: Moody Press. MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew (101). Chicago: Moody Press. 9 MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew (101). Chicago: Moody Press. 8
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This is the main emphasis of the whole passage. A child does not wish to push himself forward neither does he wish for prominence. It is only as the child grows up and gets involved in a competitive world that his instinctive humility is left behind. The follower of Christ must learn to humble himself before the Lord so that God can lift him up (James 4:10).
You think about a Child there is total trust ( taking our kids on the table and saying JUMP ) Psalm 50:15 Call upon Me ( trust me ) in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Jesus told us in Matthew 6:25-34 “ So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life— whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Very simply he was saying “Trust God” Paul reinforces that in Hebrews 13:5 Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.”
As we grow we tend to grow jaded, suspicious and layered in our thinking and living. That jaded attitude can ruin us if unchecked. A child trust.. they also have a SENSE OF WONDER
All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten
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"Most of what I really need to know about how to live, And what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, But there in the sandbox at nursery school These are the things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together. Be aware of wonder…………………. And it is still true, no matter how old you are when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together." 10 Coming to Jesus is child like faith Notice how important this is.. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. 6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I am very sure God wants us to treat each other with Love.. The word offend means “to cause to stumble”; that is, to lead into sin. Jesus warns against it in strong language! It seems to me that what He is doing in this section is making the evangelism of children a divine imperative. He gives top priority to winning the children to Christ. I commend anyone who is working with children today. There is nothing as important as that.11
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by Robert Fulghum
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:99). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 9
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.” N As in 18:5, these little ones refers not just to children but to Jesus’ “little ones”—the disciples. Children are trusting by nature. They trust adults; and because of that trust, their capacity to trust in God grows. God holds parents and other adults who influence young children accountable for how they affect these little ones’ ability to trust God. To cause a child or any fellow disciple to sin or fall away from the faith means to purposely put a “stumbling block” in the way to make him or her trip and fall. Jesus warned that anyone who turns believers away from him will receive severe punishment. Jesus’ words warn believers that they must not only teach the truth, but live it. If anyone causes young people or new Christians to doubt or fall back into sin, this is a grievous sin with terrible consequences. If they stumble because of wrong teaching, that is a stumbling block as well. Those guilty of such actions or attitudes are putting a stumbling block before other believers. Jesus graphically described the harsh consequences of such sin. A millstone was a heavy, flat stone used to grind grain. There were two common kinds of millstones in use at this time. One was relatively small and was operated by a person. One was large and was connected to an ox or donkey that would walk in a circle, causing the stone to roll and crush the grain. The Gospel writers used the word for the huge animal-operated millstone. To have a millstone tied around one’s neck and then be dumped into the sea meant certain death by drowning. Even the horror of such a death was minor compared to what this person would face in eternity.
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This is very serious business to We khow Jesus loves children but it is not just children that he is talking about , it is those who are baby Christians.. it is sad that the cult prey on baby Christians.. maybe its because we don’t have a lot of follow up.. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It is better to be a disciple and to enter eternal life (cf. 10:17, 30) in God’s future kingdom (9:47), and to do so maimed, minus earthly possessions that have been renounced, than to be an unbeliever. An unbeliever retains his allegiance to this world, refuses eternal life with God on His terms, and so will be thrown into hell (geennan; vv. 45, 47).
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Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew. Life application Bible commentary (353). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers. 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The reason the “little ones” should not be despised is because their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. Some have seen in these verses the concept of guardian angels. These words neither prove nor condemn the concept. Seeing God’s face means having access to God, so these angels are ministering angels (see Hebrews 1:14)13 Here is where we get the understanding that each child has a guardian angel. Paul points out that when we get to heaven, we will actually judge angels (I Corinthians 6:3). I wonder if part of that might include asking the angel who was “assigned” to you, “Where were you when that baseball hit me in the head?!”14 Guardian angels Helpers Gen. 24:7; Heb. 1:1–14 Protectors Ps. 91:11; Matt. 18:10 Aided apostles Acts 5:17–19; Acts 8:26 15
Do People Have Individual Guardian Angels? Scripture clearly tells us that God sends angels for our protection: “He will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Ps. 91:11–12). But some people have gone beyond this idea of general protection and wondered if God gives a specific “guardian angel” for each individual in the world, or at least for each Christian. Support for this idea has been found in Jesus’ words about little children, “in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 18:10). However, our Lord may simply be saying that angels who are assigned the task of protecting little children have ready access to God’s presence. (To use an athletic analogy, the angels may be playing “zone” rather than “man-on-man” defense.)7 When 13
Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew. Life application Bible commentary (356). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers. 14 Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (145). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. 15 Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's quick reference topical Bible index. Nelson's Quick reference (265). Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers. 7
7. Another possibility is that “angel” in Matt. 18:10 and in Acts 12:15 (where the disciples think that Peter’s “angel” is knocking at the gate) means not an angelic being but the “spirit” of the person who has died: for a defense of this view see B.B. Warfield, “The Angels of Christ’s “Little Ones,”’ in Selected Shorter Writings ed. John E. Meeter (Nutley, N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1970), 1:253–66; also D.A. Carson, “Matthew,” EBC 8:400–401. 11
the disciples in Acts 12:15 say that Peter’s “angel” must be knocking at the door, this does not necessarily imply belief in an individual guardian angel. It could be that an angel was guarding or caring for Peter just at that time. There seems to be, therefore, no convincing support for the idea of individual “guardian angels” in the text of Scripture.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------He loves you and is going after you.. if you are lost he is here , this might be the very one moment that he has appointed …
This analogy provides some interesting insights into our Lord. First, it tells me that His love is absolutely unconditional. Notice that although the lost sheep was one who had strayed, the shepherd didn’t say, “That dumb sheep was off wandering where he
The problem with this interpretation is that not one clear example has been found where the word angel (Gk. ἀνήρ, G467) means “spirit of a person who has died.” Warfield (pp. 265–66), followed by Carson, quotes two supposed examples from extrabiblical Jewish literature, 1 Enoch 51:4 and 2 Baruch 51:5, 12. But these texts are not convincing: 1 Enoch 51:4 simply says, “And the faces of [all] the angels in heaven shall be lighted up with joy” (R.H. Charles, The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament 2 vols. [Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913], 2:219), but does not say that people will become angels. 2 Baruch 51:5 states that the righteous will be transformed “into the splendor of angels” (Charles, 2:508), but this simply means that they will have brightness like the angels, not that they will become angels. In two related passages, 2 Baruch 51:12 states that the righteous will have excellency “surpassing that in the angels,” and 2 Baruch 51:10 says that “they shall be made like unto the angels” (Charles, 2:509), but these texts do not say that people will become angels, either. Moreover, since no extant Greek text is available for any of these three passages (1 Enoch is an Ethiopic text with some Greek fragments and 2 Baruch is a Syriac text), they are not useful for determining the meaning of the Greek word ἀνήρ. Warfield also cites Acts of Paul and Thecla ed. Tischendorf, p. 42, para. 5, ad finem, as saying, “Blessed are they that fear God, for they shall become angels of God,” but the text dates from the late second century A.D. (ODCC p. 1049) and is an unreliable source of information about what the early church believed or what the New Testament teaches. 16 Grudem, W. A. (1994). Systematic theology : An introduction to biblical doctrine (399). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House. 12
shouldn’t be. Why wasn’t he with the rest of the flock? Well, maybe he’ll learn a lesson out there.” No, his love was independent of the obedience of the sheep. So, too, whether you are staying or straying, God’s love for you is absolutely unconditional. Then why not stray? Because there are problems out there: wolves, poisonous weeds, and all kinds of dangers that could bruise and break us. Slowly but surely, we’re learning that it’s safest to stay close to the Shepherd. Second, His love is individual. He loves each of us as if there were only one of us. I tend to think, “Lord, You have millions and millions of sheep. Billy’s always talking to You and working on the next crusade. Mother Teresa, while alive, was up at four o’clock in the morning talking with You daily. And then there’s me—the dumb sheep who’s strayed.” But I’m beginning to understand that the Lord sees people individually. He would have sent His prophets and apostles and recorded the Scriptures just for me. He would have sent His Son just for me. He would have died just for me. Finally, His love is emotional. When He finds the wandering, straying sheep, what does He do? Does He rebuke him? Lecture him? Shake him? Skin him? No, the Word says He rejoices. When we wander away, and the Lord comes after us and finds us, there follows an emotional outburst not of anger but of joy. He gathers the straying sheep in His arms and rejoices greatly because He loves him deeply. Keep in mind that this illustration is all in answer to the question: Who is the greatest? Jesus said, “Check out this little child.” That’s the key. You’ll not only enter the kingdom, but you’ll be elevated within the kingdom as you continue to humble yourself. Humility confuses a lot of us because we mistakenly think it means thinking less of ourselves. It doesn’t. Humility is not a matter of thinking less of yourself. It’s a matter of not thinking of yourself at all. There’s a big difference. My saying, “I can’t sing. I can’t play guitar. I can’t fix my car. I can’t do anything,” is not humility. It’s pride because it’s egocentric. I’m talking and thinking about me, me, me. When the Lord called him, Moses said, “No one will listen to me because I stutter.” “Who made your mouth, Moses?” asked the Lord. “I will be with you. Quit stuttering about yourself and look to Me” (see Exodus 4:10–12).
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Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (145). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. 13
It is very interesting that it is Matthew that remembers this account… He was Matthew the Tax collector..this was HIS TAX OFFICE THAT ASKED THIS.. LOTS OF DRAMA HERE Matthew always remember this point.. he is the only one that cant mention his name without the “tax collector” I think he never forgot where he came from.. ------there is another point they are trying to make.. JESUS would be consider by the crowd as RABBI.. he is called that often by his disciples.. but the Religious leaders did not consider his a Rabbi, Rabbis Did not have to pay this Temple tax.. just as today the Orthodox Jews do not pay taxes. ------------------------
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The question is phrased in such a manner that a positive answer to their question is expected1 “you are going to pay the tax” At the heart of the issue may be Jesus loyalty to the temple. Will he allow him of to be further seen as being somehow anti-temple ? after all, his first public action was to tear up the temple market, the bazaar of Annas. It was still an open question .
They that received the half-shekel (οἱ τα διδραχµα λαµβανοντες [hoi ta didrachma lambanontes]). This temple tax amounted to an Attic drachma or the Jewish half-shekel, about one-third of a dollar. Every Jewish man twenty years of age and over was expected to pay it for the maintenance of the temple. But it was not a compulsory tax like that collected by the publicans for the government. “The tax was like a voluntary church-rate; no one could be compelled to pay” (Plummer). The same Greek word occurs in two Egyptian papyri of the first century A.D. for the receipt for the tax for the temple of Suchus (Milligan and Moulton’s Vocabulary). This tax for the Jerusalem temple was due in the month Adar (our March) and it was now nearly six months overdue. But Jesus and the Twelve had been out of Galilee most of this time. Hence the question of the taxcollectors. The payment had to be made in the Jewish coin, half-shekel. Hence the money-changers did a thriving business in charging a small premium for the Jewish coin, amounting to some forty-five thousand dollars a year, it is estimated. It is significant that they approached Peter rather than Jesus, perhaps not wishing to embarrass “Your Teacher,” “a roundabout hint that the tax was overdue” (Bruce). Evidently Jesus had been in the habit of paying it (Peter’s). 2 THE Temple at Jerusalem was a costly place to run. There were the daily morning and evening sacrifices which each involved the offering of a year-old lamb. Along with the lamb were offered wine and flour and oil. The incense which was burned every day had to be bought and prepared. The costly hangings and the robes of the priests constantly wore out; and the robe of the High Priest was itself worth a king’s ransom. All this required money. So, on the basis of Exodus 30:13, it was laid down that every male Jew over twenty years of age must pay an annual Temple tax of one half-shekel.
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Keener, C. S. (1997). Vol. 1: Matthew. The IVP New Testament commentary series (Mt 17:24). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press. 2 Robertson, A. (1997). Word Pictures in the New Testament. Vol.V c1932, Vol.VI c1933 by Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. (Mt 17:24). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems. 2
Exodus 30:13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The halfshekel shall be an offering to the LORD. The price involved was the double-drachma or didrachma, the equivalent of about two days’ wages.3 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------25 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Peter automatically , as if conditioned by a lifetime of submitting to synagogue authority, answers, “yes of course he does” Could it be in his heart he was wondering.. DOES HE,, DO WE… -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Then the sons are exempt. The point is that kings don’t tax their own family, they tax all the others. This, however, is God’s tax so God’s Son is not obligated in paying it. This seems to be the logic here though it is not directly stated. However, the underlying principle has already been stated, “One greater than the temple is here” (12:5,6). Temple worship will soon by abandoned with the worship of Christ who fulfilled what the temple services were all about. For peter to give the temple tax, since it is given to God, is in reality giving the tax to Christ, who is in the father. The taxes, or contributions, therefore, are not to be received from Christ, since they are in the final analysis all offered to Him, therefore, as the royal son, Christ should not be expected to pay the tax. Matthew 17:25-26 (GNB) 25 “Of course,” Peter answered. When Peter went into the house, Jesus spoke up first, “Simon, what is your opinion? Who pays duties or taxes to the kings of this world? The citizens of the country or the foreigners?” 26 “The foreigners,” answered Peter. “Well, then,” replied Jesus, “that means that the citizens don’t have to pay.
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New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Mt 17:24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 3
Matthew 17:25-26 (YLT) 25 And when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, ‘What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth—from whom do they receive custom or poll-tax? from their sons or from the strangers?’ 26 Peter saith to him, ‘From the strangers.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Then are the sons free; Thus Jesus, the Son of God, is not personally obligated to pay tribute for the support of God’s house.4 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jesus picked his battles -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cast in a hook: Peter was a professional fisherman who used nets, however when in Bathsidia was discovered they found fishing hooks so they have termed the house the house of the fisherman. When excavation on peters home in Capernaum they found again, hooks. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This was a mutual conversation, they were arguing on the road about who was going to be the greatest. Mark 9:33-37 33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
Luke 9:46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 4
Pfeiffer, C. F., & Harrison, E. F. (1962). The Wycliffe Bible commentary : New Testament (Mt 17:25). Chicago: Moody Press. 4
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” N The opening phrase “at that time” ties this event to the previous teaching (17:24–27). The disciples wondered about this coming kingdom of which Jesus would be the king. In addition, Jesus’ talk of his coming death probably made them wonder how they were to run the kingdom in his absence. In Jewish culture, a person’s rank was of considerable importance (see Luke 14:7–11 for an example); thus, the disciples were naturally curious about their position in the coming kingdom. Jesus’ teaching in 5:19 had indicated that there would be distinctions (“least” and “great”) in the kingdom of heaven. Mark explains that this question had caused an argument among the disciples (Mark 9:33–34). This question also may have been fueled by the special privileges given to Peter, James, and John at various times, most recently their trip with Jesus to the mountain and then their silence about what had happened there (17:1–9). Matthew characteristically abbreviates the story in order to focus on the teaching. The situation became an occasion for Jesus to teach about true greatness and the role of competition in the coming kingdom. 5
“How to be Miserable” Author Unknown Think about yourself. Talk about yourself. Use “I” as often as possible. Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others. Listen greedily to what people say about you. Expect to be appreciated. Be suspicious. Be jealous and envious. Be sensitive to slights. Never forgive a criticism. Trust nobody but yourself. Insist on consideration and respect. Demand agreement with your own views on everything. Sulk if people are not grateful to you for favors shown them. Never forget a service you have rendered. Shirk your duties if you can. Do as little as possible for others. Its not all about YOU.. its all about ME….. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Children loved Jesus Notice there was most of the times a crowd around Jesus.. the KIDS LOVED HIM.. this says a lot about his personality ..
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Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew. Life application Bible commentary (351). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers. 5
Think about in a mall kids wait to sit on Santa’s Lap.. ( back east last year – Look daddy Santa ) Kids are so HONEST .. (MOM WHY DO YOU WEAR MAKEUP – DOESN’T WORK DOES IT ) Children are so open to the gospel …. Dr. Jim Slack, head of demographics for the Southern Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, recently shared the results of a Gallup Survey: nineteen out of twenty people who became Christians did so before the age of twentyfive. At age twenty-five, one in 10,000 will become believers; at thirty-five, one in 50,000; at forty-five, one in 200,000; at fifty-five, one in 300,000; at seventy-five, one in 700,000.6 ( our heart for children’s ministry ) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------There are two things here, 1- be converted = the word is to turn around – The phrase are converted translates an aorist passive of strephō, which elsewhere in the New Testament is always translated with an idea of “turning” or “turning around.” It means to make an about face and go in the opposite direction. Peter used a form of the term twice in his message shortly after Pentecost, as he called his hearers to “repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away” and declared of Jesus that “God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways” (Acts 3:19, 26). The term is used repeatedly in the boo k of Acts to speak of conversion (11:21; 15:19; 26:18, 20). Paul used the word when speaking of the Thessalonian believers, who had turned “to God from idols to serve a living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9). Conversion is the other half of repentance. Repentance is being sorry for sin and turning away from it; conversion is the expression of will that fully turns from sin to the Lord. Psalm 51:13 alludes to these two halves of the turning when it declares, “and 6Hughes, R. Kent, Preaching the Word: Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior, (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books) 1997.
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sinners will be converted to Thee.” Jesus’ use here of the passive voice indicates that the disciples could not be converted from sin to righteousness by their own efforts but needed someone else to turn them around. Although the response of a person’s will is required, only God has the power to convert.
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There has to be a change in our lives---You can change, you are have a new start, you can find hope.. 2- become as a child = not childish , but Child like
To be converted requires people to become like children, Jesus explained. A little child is simple, dependent, helpless, unaffected, unpretentious, unambitious. Children are not sinless or naturally unselfish, and they display their fallen nature from the earliest age. But they are nevertheless naive and unassuming, trusting of others and without ambition for grandeur and greatness.8 How does this happen.. you must HUMBLE YOURSELF.. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The verb behind humbles is tapeinoō, which has the literal meaning of making low In God’s eyes, the one who lowers himself is the one who is elevated; the one who genuinely considers himself to be the least is the one God considers to be the greatest. “The greatest among you shall be your servant,” Jesus told the self-righteous Pharisees. “And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matt. 23:11–12). The person who is not willing to humble himself as Jesus “humbled Himself” (Phil. 2:8) will have no place in Jesus’ kingdom. For self-righteous Jews who exalted themselves so highly as to think God was pleased with them for their own goodness, this was a shattering blow.9 Firstly, there is the child’s humility.
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MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew (101). Chicago: Moody Press. MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew (101). Chicago: Moody Press. 9 MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew (101). Chicago: Moody Press. 8
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This is the main emphasis of the whole passage. A child does not wish to push himself forward neither does he wish for prominence. It is only as the child grows up and gets involved in a competitive world that his instinctive humility is left behind. The follower of Christ must learn to humble himself before the Lord so that God can lift him up (James 4:10).
You think about a Child there is total trust ( taking our kids on the table and saying JUMP ) Psalm 50:15 Call upon Me ( trust me ) in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Jesus told us in Matthew 6:25-34 “ So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life— whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Very simply he was saying “Trust God” Paul reinforces that in Hebrews 13:5 Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.”
As we grow we tend to grow jaded, suspicious and layered in our thinking and living. That jaded attitude can ruin us if unchecked. A child trust.. they also have a SENSE OF WONDER
All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten
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"Most of what I really need to know about how to live, And what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, But there in the sandbox at nursery school These are the things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together. Be aware of wonder…………………. And it is still true, no matter how old you are when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together." 10 Coming to Jesus is child like faith Notice how important this is.. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. 6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I am very sure God wants us to treat each other with Love.. The word offend means “to cause to stumble”; that is, to lead into sin. Jesus warns against it in strong language! It seems to me that what He is doing in this section is making the evangelism of children a divine imperative. He gives top priority to winning the children to Christ. I commend anyone who is working with children today. There is nothing as important as that.11
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by Robert Fulghum
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:99). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 9
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.” N As in 18:5, these little ones refers not just to children but to Jesus’ “little ones”—the disciples. Children are trusting by nature. They trust adults; and because of that trust, their capacity to trust in God grows. God holds parents and other adults who influence young children accountable for how they affect these little ones’ ability to trust God. To cause a child or any fellow disciple to sin or fall away from the faith means to purposely put a “stumbling block” in the way to make him or her trip and fall. Jesus warned that anyone who turns believers away from him will receive severe punishment. Jesus’ words warn believers that they must not only teach the truth, but live it. If anyone causes young people or new Christians to doubt or fall back into sin, this is a grievous sin with terrible consequences. If they stumble because of wrong teaching, that is a stumbling block as well. Those guilty of such actions or attitudes are putting a stumbling block before other believers. Jesus graphically described the harsh consequences of such sin. A millstone was a heavy, flat stone used to grind grain. There were two common kinds of millstones in use at this time. One was relatively small and was operated by a person. One was large and was connected to an ox or donkey that would walk in a circle, causing the stone to roll and crush the grain. The Gospel writers used the word for the huge animal-operated millstone. To have a millstone tied around one’s neck and then be dumped into the sea meant certain death by drowning. Even the horror of such a death was minor compared to what this person would face in eternity.
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This is very serious business to We khow Jesus loves children but it is not just children that he is talking about , it is those who are baby Christians.. it is sad that the cult prey on baby Christians.. maybe its because we don’t have a lot of follow up.. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It is better to be a disciple and to enter eternal life (cf. 10:17, 30) in God’s future kingdom (9:47), and to do so maimed, minus earthly possessions that have been renounced, than to be an unbeliever. An unbeliever retains his allegiance to this world, refuses eternal life with God on His terms, and so will be thrown into hell (geennan; vv. 45, 47).
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Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew. Life application Bible commentary (353). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers. 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The reason the “little ones” should not be despised is because their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. Some have seen in these verses the concept of guardian angels. These words neither prove nor condemn the concept. Seeing God’s face means having access to God, so these angels are ministering angels (see Hebrews 1:14)13 Here is where we get the understanding that each child has a guardian angel. Paul points out that when we get to heaven, we will actually judge angels (I Corinthians 6:3). I wonder if part of that might include asking the angel who was “assigned” to you, “Where were you when that baseball hit me in the head?!”14 Guardian angels Helpers Gen. 24:7; Heb. 1:1–14 Protectors Ps. 91:11; Matt. 18:10 Aided apostles Acts 5:17–19; Acts 8:26 15
Do People Have Individual Guardian Angels? Scripture clearly tells us that God sends angels for our protection: “He will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Ps. 91:11–12). But some people have gone beyond this idea of general protection and wondered if God gives a specific “guardian angel” for each individual in the world, or at least for each Christian. Support for this idea has been found in Jesus’ words about little children, “in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 18:10). However, our Lord may simply be saying that angels who are assigned the task of protecting little children have ready access to God’s presence. (To use an athletic analogy, the angels may be playing “zone” rather than “man-on-man” defense.)7 When 13
Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew. Life application Bible commentary (356). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers. 14 Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (145). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. 15 Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's quick reference topical Bible index. Nelson's Quick reference (265). Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers. 7
7. Another possibility is that “angel” in Matt. 18:10 and in Acts 12:15 (where the disciples think that Peter’s “angel” is knocking at the gate) means not an angelic being but the “spirit” of the person who has died: for a defense of this view see B.B. Warfield, “The Angels of Christ’s “Little Ones,”’ in Selected Shorter Writings ed. John E. Meeter (Nutley, N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1970), 1:253–66; also D.A. Carson, “Matthew,” EBC 8:400–401. 11
the disciples in Acts 12:15 say that Peter’s “angel” must be knocking at the door, this does not necessarily imply belief in an individual guardian angel. It could be that an angel was guarding or caring for Peter just at that time. There seems to be, therefore, no convincing support for the idea of individual “guardian angels” in the text of Scripture.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------He loves you and is going after you.. if you are lost he is here , this might be the very one moment that he has appointed …
This analogy provides some interesting insights into our Lord. First, it tells me that His love is absolutely unconditional. Notice that although the lost sheep was one who had strayed, the shepherd didn’t say, “That dumb sheep was off wandering where he
The problem with this interpretation is that not one clear example has been found where the word angel (Gk. ἀνήρ, G467) means “spirit of a person who has died.” Warfield (pp. 265–66), followed by Carson, quotes two supposed examples from extrabiblical Jewish literature, 1 Enoch 51:4 and 2 Baruch 51:5, 12. But these texts are not convincing: 1 Enoch 51:4 simply says, “And the faces of [all] the angels in heaven shall be lighted up with joy” (R.H. Charles, The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament 2 vols. [Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913], 2:219), but does not say that people will become angels. 2 Baruch 51:5 states that the righteous will be transformed “into the splendor of angels” (Charles, 2:508), but this simply means that they will have brightness like the angels, not that they will become angels. In two related passages, 2 Baruch 51:12 states that the righteous will have excellency “surpassing that in the angels,” and 2 Baruch 51:10 says that “they shall be made like unto the angels” (Charles, 2:509), but these texts do not say that people will become angels, either. Moreover, since no extant Greek text is available for any of these three passages (1 Enoch is an Ethiopic text with some Greek fragments and 2 Baruch is a Syriac text), they are not useful for determining the meaning of the Greek word ἀνήρ. Warfield also cites Acts of Paul and Thecla ed. Tischendorf, p. 42, para. 5, ad finem, as saying, “Blessed are they that fear God, for they shall become angels of God,” but the text dates from the late second century A.D. (ODCC p. 1049) and is an unreliable source of information about what the early church believed or what the New Testament teaches. 16 Grudem, W. A. (1994). Systematic theology : An introduction to biblical doctrine (399). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House. 12
shouldn’t be. Why wasn’t he with the rest of the flock? Well, maybe he’ll learn a lesson out there.” No, his love was independent of the obedience of the sheep. So, too, whether you are staying or straying, God’s love for you is absolutely unconditional. Then why not stray? Because there are problems out there: wolves, poisonous weeds, and all kinds of dangers that could bruise and break us. Slowly but surely, we’re learning that it’s safest to stay close to the Shepherd. Second, His love is individual. He loves each of us as if there were only one of us. I tend to think, “Lord, You have millions and millions of sheep. Billy’s always talking to You and working on the next crusade. Mother Teresa, while alive, was up at four o’clock in the morning talking with You daily. And then there’s me—the dumb sheep who’s strayed.” But I’m beginning to understand that the Lord sees people individually. He would have sent His prophets and apostles and recorded the Scriptures just for me. He would have sent His Son just for me. He would have died just for me. Finally, His love is emotional. When He finds the wandering, straying sheep, what does He do? Does He rebuke him? Lecture him? Shake him? Skin him? No, the Word says He rejoices. When we wander away, and the Lord comes after us and finds us, there follows an emotional outburst not of anger but of joy. He gathers the straying sheep in His arms and rejoices greatly because He loves him deeply. Keep in mind that this illustration is all in answer to the question: Who is the greatest? Jesus said, “Check out this little child.” That’s the key. You’ll not only enter the kingdom, but you’ll be elevated within the kingdom as you continue to humble yourself. Humility confuses a lot of us because we mistakenly think it means thinking less of ourselves. It doesn’t. Humility is not a matter of thinking less of yourself. It’s a matter of not thinking of yourself at all. There’s a big difference. My saying, “I can’t sing. I can’t play guitar. I can’t fix my car. I can’t do anything,” is not humility. It’s pride because it’s egocentric. I’m talking and thinking about me, me, me. When the Lord called him, Moses said, “No one will listen to me because I stutter.” “Who made your mouth, Moses?” asked the Lord. “I will be with you. Quit stuttering about yourself and look to Me” (see Exodus 4:10–12).
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Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (145). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. 13
