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

Christ blessing the children - icon in Old Slavonic (from The Kraalspace blog)

 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

Yesterday we read that while they 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 of 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.  Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me."  My study bible says that the question, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" indicates a selfish interest in worldly power.  Perhaps it is because Jesus has already spoken twice about His Passion, death, and Resurrection, and the disciples mistakenly believe that a worldly kingdom under the Messiah is imminent.  In that case, this question indicates a curiosity about future high position.  Jesus points, by contrast,  to a little child as the model of true discipleship.  Thus He emphasizes in response the virtues which are required for entrance into the kingdom of heaven.  My study bible names such virtues of a little child as being:  humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved.  In the tradition of the Church, St. Ignatius of Antioch is thought to be this child and is frequently depicted in icons of this event.  In certain legends of the saints, my study bible says, he is the boy who gave the loaves and fishes (John 6:9).

"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 that little ones include all who have childlike humility and simplicity; that is, all 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."  This is a strong warning to the disciples, who've asked about position and power, regarding the treatment of the "little ones" who will come to them in the Church.  In chapter 5, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke similarly, but in the context of adultery.  He used similar images of cutting off parts of the body as analogous to changing the habits that cause sin (see 5:27-30).   Here, Jesus uses similar analogy, but this time it's applied to habits which cause abuse of power and position, abuse of the "little ones."  He warns of the dire consequences that await those who abuse their positions.  In some sense, similarly to adultery, a hand seeks to grasp what does not belong to it, or to harm one less powerful or important.  A foot goes or strays, or crosses boundaries, into places it does not belong.  An eye covets something that does not belong to it, or looks improperly, with greed or lust.  Altogether Jesus is speaking about decisive action to avoid sin.  My study bible adds that it also refers to harmful relationships that must be severed for the salvation of all parties (see Luke 14:26; 1 Corinthians 5:5).

If we stop and think about it, so often as Jesus gives such warnings, we may notice that they're not really given to people outside of His Church.  They're given to people who ought to know better.  Even when He's criticizing the Pharisees and railing against their hypocrisy, when He's giving His most scathing condemnation of the behavior of the leadership, it is always because they ought to know better.  They are the ones in charge of God's temple, in whose care are the people of God.  Jesus does not express indignation at outsiders, as a matter of course.  In fact,  He's pretty mild even when it comes to those who reject the message of the apostles -- they're to shake the dust off their feet in rebuke, and move on.  Those people who reject have a greater judgment that awaits them (see 10:14-15).  Similarly, when certain Samaritans won't receive Him in their town, Jesus counsels His outraged disciples that they "know not what manner of spirit you are of" and rebukes them for their desire for retribution (Luke 9:51-55).   Similarly, when the disciples see another who casts out demons in Jesus' name, but who is not a part of His immediate circle, Jesus advises that "he who is not against us is on our side" (Luke 9:49-50).  But about His "own" and among the disciples who will be the pillars and cornerstones of His Church, Jesus is scathing in His warnings about habitual behaviors that lead to abuse -- and especially abuse of the littlest ones.  It is those who follow Him about whom He's most concerned, like a parent who really loves a child and wants them to learn and grow into the best they can be.  He warns them of the dangers to them for abusive behavior, how it's preferable to cut off even what seems to be so much a part of us it's like a useful and important part of the body.  A bad habit, a covetous spirit, a desire for power or position or goods we can take inappropriately may seem like something so much a part of us, it even appears as "good."  But Jesus' counsel is to deny ourselves, even to the point where it feels we may be getting rid of one of our hands, our feet, or eyes.  So dangerous is it to commit abuses of power, in His eyes, that He gives the apostles His most dire warnings.  And it's all connected to the question asked about position.  If rank is what we are concerned with, then we're far from the honest and true nature of the kingdom of heaven, for this place must be understood through love, spiritual perception, an acknowledgement of what is truly precious.  If the souls of the littlest ones are not what is truly the most precious gift and treasure of the Church, then those in charge are deeply in the wrong, and fundamentally flawed in their outlook; hence the need for dire measures, a drastic disparaging of that which offends.  Our flaws do not make us the persons that we are, but they can lead us in the wrong direction, and drag us down if favored over discipleship.  Jesus warns that it's better to be lame or maimed than to have the whole of our being dragged into the fire.  His words are the words of love, the ones He reserves for those in whom He has put His trust as His disciples, and given His greatest gifts.  Can we follow?  It is quite remarkable how many icons of the Church feature children.  Most frequently, of course, we are familiar with Mary, the Theotokos (meaning "God-bearer" in Greek) and the Christ child.  Why are children so important?  If we think about it, our faith places the greatest emphasis on the value of the soul, and today's Gospel reading is exemplary in this respect.  So great is the value of the little ones, and the souls that come to Christ, that Jesus reserves His most extreme warnings for those who would abuse or diminish this value of what is precious to Him, leading them to harm.  Let us always keep this understanding of God's great love in our hearts.