In Matthew 18, Jesus likens his disciples to vulnerable little children who are susceptible to the world’s temptations and who must live their lives in needy dependence upon him. Woven into the text are also explicit statements and constant indications about the heart of God for his church. Each of these statements place a weight of responsibility on our shoulders. They tell us that if God’s heart for every one of his little children is so intense, there is no room for us to treat any believer with indifference. Loving the church is an act of reverence, and reverence is a life of holy fear before the Lord. Acting in reverence before God is probably not our first thought when we are thinking about the church, but it is impossible to read through the verses in the first half of Matthew 18 and not be compelled by God’s heart for his children. While seeing God’s heart we hear loud and clear implications about how this must be reflected in our own attitudes toward his church.
Matthew 18:4 “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
- Jesus tells us what God values. God does not value a church concerned with greatness; he values a humble neediness for him.
Matthew 18:5 "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…”
- To welcome/receive/love another believer (depicted by a little child) is to actually welcome Christ himself.
Matthew 18:6 “…but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
- If we are careless in the way we live and act toward the church, we are at risk of leading our own brothers and sisters into sin. We face the awesome judgment of God.
Matthew 18:7 "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!”
- The whole world and any individual who through temptation hurts even one of God’s children will face his wrath.
Matthew 18:10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
- If you treat any other believer with indifference, you are ignoring that God sends his angels from his very throne room to serve his church. You ignore the holy edicts of God in his utmost position of authority and glory.
Matthew 18:14 “So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
- The heart of God is displayed in his very will to protect every single one of his children and bring them to his eternal glorious presence.
Matthew 18:19 “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
- In the context of pursuing a sinning brother or sister, when God’s children come together in rebuking sin or seeking his forgiveness, God is with them and answers them. In the restoration of a sinning child through the loving pursuit of the church, God will never refuse them who turn to him for restoration. This comes from the very throne of God in heaven.
If you have ever thought lightly about the church, you need to think again. God loves his children and expects his children to love each other according to his own heart for his sheep. The very fact that twice in this text we are reminded that this comes from heaven tells us that we must have a sincere reverence before God as we approach his church. What would happen if you reminded yourself of this before the next time you walked through the doors where your church family meets? What would happen if you reminded yourself about this before the next time you spoke about the church?