The Humble Child
Matthew 18:1-14
January 4, 2015
Matthew 18:1-4
At that time the disciples came to
Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a
child, he put him in the midst of them and
said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn
and become like children, you will never
enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever
humbles himself like this child is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Biblical Humility
• Not desiring to grasp position or
selfishly advance yourself.
(Philippians 2:6)
• Not thinking of yourself more highly
than you ought. (Romans 12:3)
• Quick to listen, slow to speak.
(James 1:19)
• Teachable, in submission. (Prov 12:1)
The Humble Child
• Verse 4: “Whoever humbles himself like
this child…”
• Verse 5: “…one such child…”
• Verse 6: “…one of these little ones who
believe in me…”
• Verse 10: “…one of these little ones…”
• Verse 14: “…one of these little ones…”
Three Lessons From Jesus
Regarding the Humble Child
1.Be one.
2.Welcome one.
3.Rejoice over one.
Matthew 18:1-4
At that time the disciples came to
Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a
child, he put him in the midst of them and
said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn
and become like children, you will never
enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever
humbles himself like this child is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:8,9
And 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 crippled or
lame than with two hands or two feet to
be thrown into the eternal fire. And if
your eye causes you to sin, tear it out
and throw it away. It is better for you to
enter life with one eye than with two eyes
to be thrown into the hell of fire.
The Parable of the
Pharisee and the Tax Collector
The Pharisee: “God, I thank you that I am
not like other men…”
The Tax Collector: “God, be merciful to
me, a sinner!”
Jesus: “This man went away justified,
rather than the other. For everyone who
exalts himself will be humbled, but the one
who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 18:5-7
Whoever receives one such child in my
name receives me, but whoever causes
one of these little ones who believe in me
to sin, it would be better for him to have a
great millstone fastened around his neck
and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Woe to the world for temptations to sin!
For it is necessary that temptations come,
but woe to the one by whom the
temptation comes!
Three Lessons From Jesus
Regarding the Humble Child
1.Be one.
2.Welcome one.
3.Rejoice over one.
Matthew 18:10-14
See that you do not despise one of these
little ones. For I tell you that in heaven
their angels always see the face of my
Father who is in heaven. What do you
think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and
one of them has gone astray, does he not
leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and
go in search of the one that went astray?
Matthew 18:10-14
And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he
rejoices over it more than over the ninetynine that never went astray. So it is not the
will of my Father who is in heaven that one
of these little ones should perish.
Three Lessons From Jesus
Regarding the Humble Child
1. Be one (the greatest in the Kingdom
continue to be humble).
2. Welcome one (and by doing so
welcome Jesus).
3. Rejoice over one (and celebrate with the
Father over His glorious work).