Matthew 18:1-14 | Isaiah 41:17-20 | Mark 10-12
Be like children. Don’t be like those who hurt them.
Seems simple enough. And it is when we only think of the worst of those who hurt children. You know who they are. We’d never commit such atrocities, right?
But truth be told, Jesus’ verbiage here is “…cause them to trip up and fall into sin.” Anyone who has worked with children or who has had children or who has been in the same room as a child knows how innocent they are. It’s easy enough to lead them astray even if you don’t mean to. Take care.
But “little ones” could be thought of as more inclusive than just those of young age. There are all sorts of people all around who are of a particular innocence, frailty, or susceptibility to the things of injustice. Christ’s words of protection are sharp here.
So be kind. Be patient. Keep things simple.
Matthew 18:1-14
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Then he called a little child over to sit among the disciples, and said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
“As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone hung around their necks and be drowned in the bottom of the lake. How terrible it is for the world because of the things that cause people to trip and fall into sin! Such things have to happen, but how terrible it is for the person who causes those things to happen! If your hand or your foot causes you to fall into sin, chop it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter into life crippled or lame than to be thrown into the eternal fire with two hands or two feet. If your eye causes you to fall into sin, tear it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter into life with one eye than to be cast into a burning hell with two eyes.
“Be careful that you don’t look down on one of these little ones. I say to you that their angels in heaven are always looking into the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If someone had one hundred sheep and one of them wandered off, wouldn’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides and go in search for the one that wandered off? If he finds it, I assure you that he is happier about having that one sheep than about the ninety-nine who didn’t wander off. In the same way, my Father who is in heaven doesn’t want to lose one of these little ones.
Isaiah 41:17-20
The poor and the needy seek water, and there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the Lord, will respond to them;
I, the God of Israel, won’t abandon them.
I will open streams on treeless hilltops
and springs in valleys.
I will make the desert into ponds
and dry land into cascades of water.
I will plant in the desert cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees;
I will put in the wilderness cypress, elm, and pine as well,
so that they will see and know
and observe and comprehend
that the Lord’s hand has done this,
and the holy one of Israel has created it.
Prayer
God -
I do not want to be the cause of injustice or sinfulness. If there are ways or means in my life by which I am causing others to stumble, make me aware. Keep me from instigation unless I be an instigator of love or peace. Keep me from saying hurtful words. Keep me from destructive behaviors, either against myself or others.
Make me to be an instrument of your compassion.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.