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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. 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
Yesterday, we read that while Jesus and the disciples were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful. When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?" He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?" Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."
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, "This question indicates a selfish interest in worldly power. Pointing to a little child as the model of true discipleship, Jesus emphasizes the virtues required for entrance into the kingdom of heaven: humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved. In Orthodox iconography, St. Ignatius of Antioch is depicted as this child. In certain legends of saints, he is the boy who gave the loaves and fishes (John 6:9)."
"Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. 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 explains that the term little ones includes all those who have childlike humility and simplicity; that is, all those who are poor in spirit.
"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." A note here refers us also to Matthew 5:29. It explains that the reference to mutilation is an illustration of decisive action to avoid sin. It doesn't advocate any form of literal interpretation! Also, Jesus' teaching refers to harmful relationships that must be severed for the salvation of all parties (see Luke 14:26; 1 Corinthians 5:5).
As my study bible points out, this is not the only place Jesus makes such references, nor such vivid analogies in order for the disciples (and we who follow) to take the lesson seriously and understand the essential quality of these teachings. My study bible points out that these words are also illustrative of relationships that are poisonous to our spiritual well-being. In some sense, one can see this reflected in certain recovery programs: where a person who is trying to shed a harmful addiction must sometimes separate themselves from "bad company" in order to be healed and to live a better life. These things are essential for us to realize: that God calls us to a certain type of discipline, and particularly to forms of discernment as to just where this "narrow path" is and leads, what His "narrow gate" would have us do as we seek His way. Sometimes it means separation even from the things we think are very important to us. Those things may ultimately be within us, but they are also manifest in things that are external to us, like relationships, or perhaps habits, goals, practices, even a social life or a type of career that we think is good. But it is not really good for us, nor for our spiritual well-being. Most especially in this context of what is good for us, we also take the words of Jesus teaching us about the ways in which we teach others by what we do, especially those who are like "little children." This discernment about separating ourselves from what is not good, not His way, also applies to the need to care for the little ones. Certainly Jesus is speaking to His disciples who will go on to be in charge of the care and expansion of His flock. So, from the examples Jesus teaches us today, what would be possibly the greatest temptation to downfall? That would be the arrogance and selfishness or self-centeredness that might accompany ambition -- that temptation to be the greatest among others. We're warned against a kind of grandiosity that leaves no room for graciousness to those who are dependent or powerless. It is a warning against the kind of thinking that leads us to believe that worldly glory is worth every sacrifice, rather than the love of God. Above all, it seems to be a warning against a type of materialistic thinking that doesn't view the world in conjunction with its Creator, within the love of God as the guide to our relationship to all people and things -- that only sees "the flesh" as St. Paul would put it: Who's going to be the greatest in this kingdom that is coming? It's a misunderstanding of the Kingdom itself, and especially what makes a person great. Humility, in this context, is the most important virtue, because it gives us equanimity, an ability to detach from things we might be, in some sense, "over-addicted to", and allows us to put our relationship to God first, and let that set all things in their proper value and order, fulfilling our souls rather than what we may simply and mistakenly think is good. We are all "little children" who belong to God. That's the best "place" from which to view our own reality.
