A Brief Commentary on Matthew 18:1-7

Matthew 18 is an excellent guide to conflict resolution, but I would like to comment, briefly, on the first seven verses of this chapter. While there is much more I could say about these verses, particularly with regard to my own childhood, I will refrain, as enough people read this entry that I do not trust. Then again, as usual, I leave the clues to what is on my mind by what I choose to emphasize and remak upon. Those who have an ear, let them hear.

Matthew 18, the first seven verses, read the following way in the (updated) version of the 1560 Geneva New Testament: "The same time the disciples came unto Jesus saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And Jesus called a llittle child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, "Verily I say unto you, except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receive me. But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe me, it were better for him, that a millsotone be hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe be unto the world because of offenses: for it must needs be that offences shall come, but woe be to that man by whom the offence come."

This passage begins, as could be expected, with the human desire for place and position. So it seems much begins in this world, in the struggle for place. The disciples, like any carnal human being, were very concerned about their rank and titles. At times Jesus Christ told them the benefits of their loyal service (ruling over the twelve tribes, dwelling places in the kingdom, blessings a hundredfold for the sacrifices of this life, etc.). However, here, he decides to take a slightly different tack. He shows them a little child and tells them that they will be to be like that (spiritually speaking) in order to enter the kingdom of God.

Much has been made about the humility of children as being the important feature of children, and no doubt that is true. Children are also innocent (though this can change if the conditions of verse six apply, as I will have place to comment on later). Children are teachable, and are highly sensitive to their environment. Too often as Christians we can become ensconced in our own little world, unable to see what is around us. This inhibits our ability to see when what happens around us changes, if we are stuck in a narrow-minded worldview that does not allow for external evidence. We as Christians must always be willing to learn, and must be sensitive to learning opportunities around us. They pop up in unexpected ways.

In the next verse the humility is specifically mentioned, and this part deserves mention as well. Humility is certainly required by us all. But we cannot forget to whom Jesus Christ was speaking. He was speaking to his inner circle. He was speaking through them to the rest of us, of course, but he was speaking to those who were his friends and direct subordinates, so to speak. No one is above the need to be humble--not the highest, nor the lowest. And though failure for the highest to properly set an example does not absolve others from obedience to God, those who lead will be punished much more harshly for setting the bad example, as verse six comments rather bluntly.

Next Jesus Christ comments about receiving children. Why is it so important to receive children, and how should we do so? Children are very natural, in that they say way they think, and they are rather open about what happens with them. They tell others their needs and wants (and confuse the two, of course) rather openly. They also are very honest about how others behave. We receive children as Christ in various ways. For one, we take their problems seriously. If we see that something wrong has happened to a child (and I can speak from rather serious personal experience here), we should take it seriously. We should not give them everything they want, but not to give them everything they need is beyond excuse. Our character is determined by how we treat those who are regarded the least, who can benefit us the least, and who have nothing to offer us besides (maybe) a quick and mumbled thanks. How we treat the least and smallest among us is how we will be judged.

It is at this point that Jesus Christ makes a rather sober comment, and one that has a great deal of resonance in my own personal life. The word offend here seems light. After all, I am (frequently) offended when people cut in front of me in traffic. That said, from the looks of the passage as a whole (and the verse in particular), it would appear that the reason why God takes offense towards children so seriously is that things done in childhood can deeply scar someone for a long, long time. Those who rob children of innocence or who make it difficult for them to trust others will suffer for it in the judgment, for God takes such matters rather seriously. To say too much more at this time and in this place would be ill advised, but the example used by Jesus Christ here is quite graphic. Being drowned at the bottom of the sea with one of the heaviest objects around (think of it like having an SUV tied around your neck and tossed to the bottom of the ocean) is a rather unpleasant fate. To reflect that the actual fate is worse is even less pleasant. Justice is not always a pretty thing.

Finally, the passage closes with a rather ominous verse, one that merits comments in several ways. For one, this seems to be Jesus Christ reflecting on his own upcoming betrayal, as the comment applies just a bit too perfectly to Judas Iscariot (the Gospel of Judas notwithstanding). Nonetheless, it has far more importance than this alone. God's plan involves suffering. Some of us must suffer more than others, in ways that are sometimes difficult to fathom, difficult to explain, and difficult to sort out. There is some higher plan involved, whether that is by design or by what God allows to happen, though both can be accounted, however difficult, as His will. Nonetheless, just beause God wills something does not absolve the human actors of their responsibility for our actions. Though the workings of free will and predestination are quite complicated, the Bible is pretty clear that God works His will through the free will of human beings.

Suffice it to say that much more could be said, but it is late, and I need to sleep this Sabbath morning. There are reasons why I study what I do, and why I focus on those things which I focus on. We all seek to explain our lives, to find some kind of meaning and purpose for what we go through, whether that is good or bad. Anything can be endured as long as it has a purpose and a meaning. So said Victor Frankl, and he was a wise man, who himself suffered much, as have we all, without a doubt.