Matthew 18:5-11, Protect the Little Ones

Mt 18 might be called the "little child" sermon, except that it is not a sermon about literal children, but uses little children to illustrate how believers must live in Christ's Kingdom.  In other words, it's the "as a little child" sermon.  We can still learn how to deal with our own children.  If we are to treat young believers “as” little children, then these truths will apply to little children as well as to young followers of Christ.

In this paragraph on “protecting the little ones” the overriding principle is in v5: we are to receive them in Jesus name.  "Receive" is used of taking by the hand, receiving into one's family, receiving favorably, giving ear to, embracing, making one's own, approving.  In this verse and elsewhere (Mt. 10:40-41) this receiving is equated to receiving Christ.  Paul uses a similar but different term in Rom. 14:1,3; 15:7 when he encourages us to receive the weaker brother into the fellowship and into our “circle” of love; in other words, Paul is referring to believers who are “like little children.”  Paul also speaks of this in his instructions to Philemon about ”receiving” the runaway slave Onesimous.  Again, there is a perfect picture of a more mature Christian receiving one who is like a little child in faith.

In order to receive the little ones we are called to be careful not to offend them or cause them to stumble (v6a).  We are not to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which they might trip and fall.  How serious is this matter? 

·        It is immediately followed by a statement that it would be better to die ourselves than to do this (v6b). 

·        This is followed by a “double woe” (v7) where, in essence, Jesus says there is no excuse for causing a little one to stumble.  Offenses are common; they will come.  But the one through whom they come will still be held accountable.

·        This is followed by Jesus’ observation that it would be better to cut off your hand or foot or pluck out your eye than to offend little one (v8-9).  This is the second time Jesus used this language (Mt. 5:29f); in the first it has to do with adultery; here it has to do with causing little ones to stumble.

Does the Bible tell us what causes little ones to stumble?  This would help us to know what to avoid.  That question is answered in the remained of Matt. 18: by failure to value them (v10-14), by failure to properly discipline them and those who cause them to stumble (v15-20), and failure to forgive them (v21-35).  Here are some other observations from elsewhere in Scripture.

Ø Failure to love children equally.  It’s a family problem in Gen. 25:28 and a church problem in James 2:1-12.  We will respect differences in children; but we cannon treat them with prejudice.

Ø Failure to set realistic standards for their maturity level.  Paul uses this in a family context in Gal. 4:1.  In the Church it is the reasons there should be no  novices in leadership (1 Tim. 3:6); the novice is ill prepared for the strong temptations that come with leadership.  In 1 Cor. 14:23-24 it is applied to church order, in not using tongues publicly lest unbelievers be offended.  It is used in Rom. 14:1 and 15:1, as we mentioned earlier, in dealing with the weaker brother.

Ø Failure to rejoice in God’s work in their lives (Pro. 10:1; 15:20).  When you read 1 Thess. 1 note how Paul acknowledges God’s work in producing marks of maturity.

Ø Failure to walk consistently with the Lord (i.e. living hypocritically before little ones; Ps. 103:17).  That is why Paul reproves Peter in Gal. 2:12-14, lest Peter’s example be a problem for young Gentile believers.

There is much here for our edification.  Let us submit ourselves to the Lord.