Whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives me

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child to him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this 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 if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

"If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire."

- Matthew 18:1-9

In yesterday's reading (What do you think, Simon?), Jesus spoke to Peter about paying the temple tax (for himself and Peter). He gave us lessons on humility and the avoidance of offense in the community where they made their headquarters, Capernaum. Today Jesus continues with his lessons on humility to the disciples, and on refraining from causing unnecessary offense.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child to him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." My study bible says in a note here: "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom indicates selfish interests having to do with worldly power (see 20:20-24). But Jesus points to a little child (v.2) as the model of the true disciple. For little children have the spiritual attitudes required to enter the kingdom (v. 3): humility, dependence, lowliness and simplicity. Humility, without which there is no virtue at all, is the acknowledgment of divine grace and mercy, and the constant denial of man's achievement." In yesterday's reading, Jesus paid the temple tax, although pointing out to Simon that as Son he should be exempt from such a tax. Jesus does not cause strife or conflict where it was his interest alone that was affected, but chooses to pay the temple tax (with a coin from the mouth of a fish) for himself and Simon in order not to give offense. Today's reading begins on a similar theme about humility and its importance in this mission of the Christ and his disciples. They will, indeed, declare what others do not necessarily want to hear, but it will be for a greater purpose, not a personal worldly sense of power or entitlement. In order to receive the teachings of God the Father, one must be humble enough to do so. We have already reviewed, in the recent readings about faith, that Jesus has taught repeatedly how he will suffer, and that the disciples (especially Peter) refused at first to accept this, and in later reading accepted with great sorrow. Humility, in all of these readings, then, especially in combination with yesterday's, is a key ingredient to the power of the kingdom and membership in it. If we are to be like Christ, if we are to enter into this kingdom and to receive the word of the Father, we must learn humility as a gift of grace.

"Whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives me." I really can't say how deeply I feel this one verse cuts to the heart of so much of what I believe Christianity is all about. If we could take kindness alone, and exemplify it as a virtue, what then would we receive in the vast teachings that Christian spirituality has to offer to the world? If we could take courtesy, and the implications for respect for one another as persons inherent in it, what then would we learn to advocate in terms of how we treat and accept one another? I believe that Jesus is here speaking to his disciples as future leaders of the church: those who come to them as believers ("in my name") must be treated with the courtesy required of them in the Person of Christ himself! What does this teach us about our churches? If the world behaves as it does, at least we are to be examples of the Salt and Light he asked us to be among ourselves! If we are truly his followers, we are to do as he asked and be examples to the world in this respect.

"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." My study bible says, "The little ones are the humble and simple, who may be ignored or offended by more influential members of the Church, against whom Jesus issues severe warnings. Scandals may be inevitable, but those who cause them will be punished by God." His greatest warning, here, then comes to those who will be leaders in the church and cause offense to the "little ones." How sternly we must take this warning to heart! "Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" "Offenses must come" - this is the way of the world - but that does not mean that we are not responsible for causing them, nor that we will not pay the price for it. As teachers, they are responsible for teaching the good things to the children - the "little ones" of the church. So proper teaching, and example, is essential to the future of the church and of our conduct in the church. We are to care for one another at all cost - lest we pay a much higher price.

"If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire." My study bible notes, "The reference to mutilating parts of the body suggests decisive action to avoid sin, not literal amputation (see 5:29). For instance, we cut off relations with friends and others, if they are seriously harmful to the soul." This, again, is the same metaphor about parts of the body that we encounter in the Sermon on the Mount - see If your right eye causes you to sin. We are to change ourselves in this respect -- if we catch ourselves behaving in ways that are offensive to the little ones then we are to change ourselves, in effect, in order to avoid paying the higher price for this behavior. This is our responsibility. So strongly does Jesus emphasize this teaching against giving unnecessary offense that he repeats this metaphor here.

So, Jesus prepares his disciples for their leadership, and teaches them the principles with which the Church must effectively work and govern itself. Number one in priority, in terms of relationships among the members of the church, is the rule of humility for its leadership. All must be treated with a welcome worthy of Christ himself. And the leaders must aspire to be like the humble, like the "little children." What does this teach us about ourselves? And how does this teach us what we must aspire to become in our lives? We are even to 'cut off hand or feet or eye' rather than carry something of ourselves which may cause offense to the little ones. How seriously do we take these words today? And how deeply do they cut to the heart of what it means to practice Christianity? Simple courtesy and kindness teach so much of what it means to be truly a human being, created in the image of God. What must we do - and what must we lose from ourselves - to be more like him in this respect? How can we learn to give a welcome worthy of Christ himself?

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35