Matthew 18:1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying,“Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
The disciples may have ask this question out of pride, yet this is a fair question – who will be the greatest in God’s Kingdom? Jesus’ object lesson to answer their question was a little child. The early church fathers said that Jesus picked up the little child of Peter to make His point. Why would he use a small child? Here are five reasons:
- A little child would be the least significant person in the Jewish and Roman cultures.
- A little child doesn’t seek great social status.
- A little child is humble.
- A little child is totally dependent upon others to meet his needs.
- A little child believes whatever he is told (faith).
There are two key lessons to be learned from Matt. 18:1-5. First, salvation demands a child like faith. A person is born again when he humbles himself and believes that Jesus died for his sin personally and rose from the dead. Those who place their trust in Christ will be in the Kingdom. Two, a Christian needs to display a child like humility to be great. Jesus would demonstrate this after He rose from the dead. He did not parade His greatness before His disciples. Instead, He cook them breakfast with His nail scarred hands showing them that even God Himself – the greatest in the Kingdom is humble! Practice and remember, “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:4).