Good morning. I want to make you a promise. Before we’re done today, I’m going to tell you who the greatest person in [music] the kingdom of heaven is. And I’m going to warn you about the one kind of person that Jesus speaks about with the most shocking, terrifying language you’ve ever heard. It’s not about adultery.
It’s not because of theft or pride. [music] It’s not even about hypocrisy. It’s about something else. And when Jesus describes the consequences, it is so intense. It is sounds like something out of a movie. So, grab your coffee and let’s read the words of Jesus. So, if if you have a Bible with you, uh open up to Matthew 18. I’ I’ve got it open here.
Uh here here’s where the the disciples, they come to Jesus and they ask him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And I’m thinking that that they anticipate Jesus talking about Moses or maybe it’s Elijah or maybe it’s Abraham. And then Jesus does something totally unexpected. He doesn’t point to Peter, who some would say is the is the is the head of the church, the foundation of the church, the rock.
No, he he doesn’t point to John, the disciple that Jesus loved. Jesus doesn’t even point to himself, who arguably is the greatest in the kingdom. He calls a little child. He puts the little child right in the middle. And then Jesus says, he says, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
” And then he says, “Someone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” And then Jesus shifts gears and he says, “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a millstone tied around your neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
” Now, that’s not the kind of imagery that Jesus uses casually. It’s shocking. It’s terrifying. It is arresting. That’s not gentle Jesus, meek and mild. That is Jesus saying, “If you mess with one of my little ones,” and we’re going to talk about who that is in just a minute. You’re messing with me.
