Words of Jesus Part 15

• Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
• 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
• 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

It is so important to retain humility. The temptation of mankind to exalt one person above another is so great. Money, education, background, and even experiencing blessings from God can cause us to exalt self and think we are above someone else. We must avoid this at all costs. If we could just remember that it is God that gives and equips, we are just His believers. We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, be vessels of that Holy Spirit, yes but must under the authority of God in humility and truth as a child is to a teacher or parent. We do have authority given to us by Jesus our Christ but we have nothing that no other believer can receive.

• Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
• 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

All we have to do is study church history to discover those that came before us have not kept the scriptures on this point. Many have attempted to dominate and rule over the church even to the point to put to death those that disagree. This is not the will of God.

• Matthew 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
• 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

The worse thing we could do was offend a child and cause them to depart from the Lord. Or offend anyone especially a new believer and cause them to stumble and fall away from God.

• Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

We will not be quick to offend if we walk in humility.

• 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

If something in our live causes us to be offensive or something causes us to stumble, we need to remove it. If going to a certain place, doing a certain thing or being around certain people cause us to fall into sin, then avoid those things.

• Matthew 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
• 10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

No one should be beneath our notice. Every little child is just as important as an adult considered highly esteemed.

• Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. Christ comes to same the lowest, weakest one of us.
• 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
• 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
• 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Isn't this the greatest, that one little one whether adult or child is important in God's eyes. The one we think is the less important is so important to God that He let His own Son die on the cross to save them. We can be so wrapped up in the cares of this life that we fail to remember this basic truth of God's word. Every last one of us is important and not one is above another. Someone mentally ill, physically disabled, old, young, man, woman, black, white, poor and rich is equal in the sight of God.

• Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Try to make peace when one has something against you if possible. Yet don't compromise the word of God in doing so.

• Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
• 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

• Matthew 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

• Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

• Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

When we are gathered together in the same mind and one accord, nothing is impossible if what we are seeking is not out of the will of God. God is in the midst of just two or three gathered in His name.

We should take all these verses in consideration before we pray. Come humbly, come with the desire to be used of God to help others find the way to Christ, do not be selfish and self-exalting and agree as touching what need we are praying for. In doing so we will bind or loose according to the will of God and the word. We can agree to forbid or bind evil from entering into our homes and churches and permit the will of God in our homes and churches.

This all is to be done in humility and not in self-exalting which fools us into thinking that God is exclusive to our own group and not to others in another group or church. God never wants us to isolate ourselves to the point that we think we are the only ones with the truth and no one else is worthy bothering about. This is not the gospel neither true love and compassion. Notice Jesus teaches humility before He teaches about the power of binding and loosing.  All these teachings are to be taken together. We shouldn't be going out casting out devils until we learn love, compassion and humility. 

• Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
• 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
• 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
• 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
• 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
• 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
• 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
• 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
• 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
• 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
• 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
• 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
• 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
• 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
• 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

This sums up all these verses. If we walk humbly before God and refuse to exalt ourselves over others, all these errors can be avoided. Humility will cause us to treat others how we want God to treat us. If we are harsh and do not forgive, we an expect that to be God's attitude toward us. If we have compassion, then we can expect God to have compassion on us. The law of sowing and reaping is still in effect. If we have failed in these areas, we need to humble ourselves before God and ask Him to help us to be like Him and not like our former self.

God loves the smallest child, so should we. God loves the one we consider is the least. So should we. God wants to set the captive free. So should we.

Words of Jesus Part 16

Words of Jesus Index