Journey Into Holiness – p.1 “Other’s Oriented Living” Matthew 18:1-14

Our goal: to become holy – like Jesus!

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

If we could grasp what Jesus is saying in His response to this question and if we could apply it to our lives “it would revolutionize our self-concept and our relationships with fellow believers.

The object lesson… (vv.2-4) He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The object lesson… (vv.2-4) Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 18:2-4 (NIV)

The object lesson… (vv.2-4)

"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; - Matthew 23:5-6 (NIV)

The object lesson… (vv.2-4) The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. – Matthew 23:11-12 (NIV)

The object lesson… (vv.2-4) “Unless you change… strepho = turn away. In order to enter the kingdom of heaven, the disciples must “turn away” “from their preoccupation with status” (Bloomberg, 273)

The object lesson… (vv.2-4) “become like children” There are consequences for not doing this: “you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” The consequence is permanent and it is exclusive.

Jesus taught us there are three places where sin is present… The sin among us – (vv.5-6) "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,

Jesus taught us there are three places where sin is present… The sin among us – (vv.5-6) it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. - Matthew 18:5-6 (NIV)

Jesus taught us there are three places where sin is present… The sin among us – (vv.5-6) We must accept others who have become the least. “A life-style characterized by causing others to sin is incompatible with true discipleship”.

Jesus taught us there are three places where sin is present… The sin among us – (vv.5-6) it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Jesus taught us there are three places where sin is present… The sin around us – (v.7) "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! – Matthew 18:7 (NIV)

Jesus taught us there are three places where sin is present… The sin around us – (v.7) The sin that exists in the “world” is inevitable.

Jesus taught us there are three places where sin is present… The sin in us – (vv.8-10) If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

Jesus taught us there are three places where sin is present… The sin in us – (vv.8-10) And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Jesus taught us there are three places where sin is present… The sin in us – (vv.8-10) See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 18:8-10 (NIV)

Jesus taught us there are three places where sin is present… The sin in us – (vv.8-10) Your actions indicate the state of your heart. Jesus tells us that our response to sin should always be the same: we must regard it as serious and capable of landing us in a Christ- less eternity!

Jesus taught us there are three places where sin is present… The sin in us – (vv.8-10) don’t look down on one of these little ones”. To “look down” means despise, so Jesus said don’t despise one of these little ones because all people matter.

The “sheep” illustration… "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?

The “sheep” illustration… "And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. – Matthew 18:10-14 (NIV)

The “sheep” illustration…

Sheep are prone to wander. The shepherd is pro-active about the care of the sheep who wandered off.

Bottom Line: Holiness is living a life that makes much of Jesus by honoring His disciples.

Just starting the journey? You will never enter the kingdom of God unless you live in God dependence.

Following hard after Christ? Take seriously your God-given responsibility to live for the benefit of others. Your continual sinning will lead you to a Christ-less eternity; so stop sinning!

Following hard after Christ? "We have to recognize that sin is a fact, not a defect; sin is red-handed mutiny against God. Either God or sin must die in my life...If sin rules in me, God's life in me will be killed; if God rules in me, sin in me will be killed." - Oswald Chambers

Following hard after Christ? Remember that God cares for the disenfranchised and the marginalized in our world.

Following hard after Christ?