1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
-Good question. In some ways its seems like a selfish question or worldly type question, but Jesus takes them seriously and answers it. He doesn't put down "greatness" in the kingdom of heaven, but teaches what it means to be great. You'd think he could say, "why are you so prideful thinking of yourself and your own greatness?" But I suppose greatness for God is good.
2He called a little child and had him stand among them.
-Child is the illustration used to shoe who is the greatest. Not the child itself, but the attitude it represents.
3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
-Jesus first goes over how to enter the kingdom of heaven. Maybe with the idea of, "lets get you into heaven first."
-So what is required: change to become like children. [4] keys in on humility being super important about children.
-There is NO entrance into heaven without this type of change first. Pretty serious motivation to change.
4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
-So what's so humble about children. or whats so great about humility.
-Children: They can't do much outside themselves. They know they're in need.
-Humility: Christ humbled himself to become a man. [Phil 2:5-11]
5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
-Not only does Christ welcome child like humility into his kingdom, people welcoming child like humility welcome him. None should ever be to great to love even the least.
6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, 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.
-On the flip side of the coin, if someone leads a child(or maybe someone younger or less mature) into sin it leads to terrible consequences.
-More awareness to be extremely aware of our actions and influence on others. This is not just a message for teachers, but for anyone that could possibly influence.
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!
-Very direct warning here. If this is you, repent!
-Jesus is a realist about sinning. He knows it will happen just because of the circumstance the world is in.
8If 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. 9And 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.
-This is how much we should avoid sinning. Not literally cutting off body parts, but we should be extreme in our fight to get away from sin. There's no toying around with the issue of sin.
-Of course, all this conversation stems from the question who is the greatest in heaven. So sin limits greatness.
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