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"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
- Matthew 18:10-20
Yesterday, we read that at that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is the 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."
"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven." Jesus continues speaking to the disciples about the "little ones." That is, those people who express the qualities that are "childlike" that He praises. My study bible names them as humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved. St. John Chrysostom, says my study bible, teaches that not only the saints, but all human beings have guardian angels. But the angels of humble people have greater boldness and greater honor before the face of God because of the humility of the person they guard. A note says, "It is not the nature of God, but the weakness of men, that requires the angels' service." Jesus has given stark warnings to those who would harm the little ones, who would "cause offense" or cause them "to stumble." He continues to speak of them here in His most protective manner.
"For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." My study bible points out that unlike earthly shepherds, Christ expresses such value in one sheep that He would leave the others at risk to save it. The ninety-nine sheep represent the righteous who remain faithful (Luke 15:7). Certain Church Fathers also teach that this is an image of the Incarnation. The ninety-nine represent angels in heaven. Christ descended from heaven to pursue the one sheep -- humankind -- who had fallen into corruption on earth. The great love expressed here is that which prompts the disciples, as future bishops in the Church, to understand the urgency of their mission and devotion in His name.
"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." This teaching may seem unconnected to Jesus' discourse in the earlier verses, but it remains consistent in addressing issues of humility, hierarchy, and discipline in the Church. This is the way that we must read it. Jesus gives a formula for Church discipline which is based on mutual correction. It expands in three stages. Sin and correction, in this formula, remain private unless the offender refuses to repent. In this model, all correction is done "with great care and humility," says my study bible, and the highest concern is the salvation of the offender (see 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; Galatians 6:1). We must also keep in mind that correction needs to take place, so the sin doesn't spread to others as well. This is the second of only two times Jesus uses the word church.
"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Jesus speaks of bonds that remain between earth and heaven, giving us a sense once again of a Kingdom that is in our midst and interactive with us, not something far away and remote. In this context, actions involving judgment also become an area of human participation, not the province of a far away legalistic and punishing god. It is an authority here which is given to the apostles and transmitted to the bishops and presbyters they ordained. My study bible says it's an authority given for the sake of the sinner. St. Chrysostom writes of the sinner that "seeing that he is not only cast out of the Church, but that the bond of his sin will remain in Heaven, he may turn and become gentle."
The disciples are being given a model of the Church, the teachings of Christ for the entity which they are to serve as its founding bishops and hierarchs. This model involves first of all humility, and in that vein it is love that must make its bonds and stones and frame and construction. We know the Church to be far more than merely an institution and a material construction in the world. It is a spiritual reality, the Body of Christ, and it includes all those in heaven and earth who are its participants. He reminds us that in heaven the angels of the "little ones" "always see the face of My Father who is in heaven." That is, the angels, too, are participants in this body, this spiritual/material bond of heaven and earth that is called His Church. There is far more than we can imagine bound up in Church, even in liturgical worship alone. But Jesus gives us the pillars and the foundation here, the glue that holds it all together and molds what His idea is of what that must be like. Mutual correction is a way in which we all participate in the work of the Church. He has taught earlier that we must remove the plank in our own eye so that we may see more clearly to remove the speck in another's (in the Sermon on the Mount, see 7:1-6). The teachings in those verses in the Sermon on the Mount apply here to this system of mutual correction in the Church; that would include His subsequent words (in ch. 7) about not giving what is holy to dogs, nor casting pearls before swine, as well as His preface that we will be judged as we judge others. There is a depth of integration here of heaven and earth that is unmistakable, and it occurs over and over again in His many teachings in the Gospel of Matthew. That integration is in His Church, and the fullness of the Church is that very integration of heaven and earth. Let us consider, then, this extraordinary living thing in which we are invited to participate not as observers but as members, as friends, sisters and brothers, in this work of heaven and earth merged into one, the Kingdom in our midst that is both within us and among us. Let us remember that if we love Him, we follow His teachings.
