92. The little
children- Matt. 18:1-6, Mark 9:33-37, Luke 9:46-48
-As the disciples came to Capernaum they were arguing about
which of them was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven and asked Jesus to
settle the dispute. Jesus knew their prideful heart’s condition and settle the
matter by bringing a small child before them with these words, “Truly I say to
you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the
Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the
greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3-4).” He then relates to them
how anyone who receives a child, receives Him and the One (the Father) who sent
Him. He also warns them that whoever causes one such child to stumble, it would
be better for them to have a heavy millstone (weight) hung around their neck
and be drowned in the depth of the sea (Matthew 18:6). *Application* Jesus was
cutting right to the heart of the matter in exposing motivations and
intentions. Humility is the key for us as believers to be great in the eyes of
the LORD. His authority is what we must submit to and faithfully serve one
another (Galatians 5:13). It is by humble childlike faith that we come to Jesus
and receive what He has for us without pretense or ulterior motives. We must
rely on Him for everything just as a child depends on his/her parents for sustenance
and provision. This is the point Jesus is making to His prideful, self-absorbed
disciples. How about you? How will you pursue greatness in the Kingdom of God?
Verses to Memorize-
Matthew 18:3, Luke 9:48
93. The unmerciful
servant- Matt. 18:21-35
-This passage starts out with Peter asking the Lord how many
times he shall forgive his brother who has sinned against him thinking that
seven times should be sufficient. Jesus extends that to seventy times seven,
which is biblically a number for completion and rest. What He was meaning is
that there should be complete forgiveness against your brother no matter how
many times he sins against you. Then He related a parable of an unmerciful
servant to His disciple.
-There was a king who was owed ten thousand talents (a
talent was worth more than 15 years’ wages of a laborer) by his servant. His
servant begged for patience and forgiveness upon the debt that was owed and
received it with the promise to repay everything in time. The king showed him
compassion, but the servant went out and found one of his fellow slaves who
owed him money (100 denarii, or 100 day’s wages) and began to grab and choke
the slave demanding payback. When the slave asked for mercy and patience himself,
the servant was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he could be
paid back what was owed. The fellow slaves were deeply grieved by this event
and went and reported to their lord all that had happened. Upon hearing of the
servant’s unforgiving spirit, the king summoned him before him and rebuked the
servant for not forgiving and not showing mercy as he had been forgiven and
given patience. The king, moved with anger, handed the servant over to the
torturers until he should repay all he was owed. Jesus then said the Heavenly
Father will do the same to us, if we do not forgive our brother/sister from the
heart (Matthew 18:35). *Application* What debt have you been forgiven by the
Lord of lords and King of kings? How have you extended that grace to others who
have wronged you in this life? It is vitally important as we see here in
Scripture by the words of Jesus to forgive completely from the heart every
single wrong that has been done to us. Just as He commands in His model prayer,
we must forgive as we have been forgiven (Matthew 6:12). Show all the mercy,
grace, compassion, and love our Heavenly Father shows and you will have nothing
to fear.
Verse to Memorize-
Matthew 18:35
No comments:
Post a Comment