Jesus’ followers argue over which of them is more important
Then Jesus was surrounded by his disciples and asked him: ‘Which of the people is the foremost in the kingdom of heaven?’
He called the little child, placed them between them, and said: ‘Listen to me well: if you are at the forefront, you will not get into the kingdom of God at all. I assure you that Only with the humble mind of a child can you enter there and mean something. Anyone who knows how to respect such a tiny person shows respect to me. On whom the faith of one of these little ones would fail, it would be better if they threw him into the sea with a millstone around his neck.
COMMENT: Jesus’ answer to who is the foremost in the kingdom of heaven is the complete opposite of how we look at who is important here on earth. We worship movie and music stars and other VIPs. But who will be the VIP in heaven? – Those who have a humble mind of a child.
Just for fun, what exactly is humility? – ‘Humility is a state of mind that means a sincere realization of one’s own imperfection, narrowness, and dependence on something ‘higher’ (whether it is God, higher principles, or just truth). A person humbly acknowledges the value of others, is open to receiving new information and can admit to mistakes. The opposite of humility is pride, which manifests itself in complacency and a sense of one’s own superiority.”
And in Daniel 12:3 it is written: ‘The wise will shine with the brightness of the sky; Those who bring many to justice will be like stars forever, forever!” Who is wise? The one who knows he needs God! And who will be the biggest star there? – The one who helps others find their way to God!
Jesus warns against temptation
7 Woe to the world that things are happening here for which one loses faith. The temptations are inevitable, but woe betide the one who causes them. Feel free to put aside everything that takes you away from God. Even if it should be your hand or foot, you better cut it off and throw it away. It is better to limp into the kingdom of God than to jump with both feet to ruin. And if your eye tempts you to evil, get rid of it! It is better to get eternal life one-eyed than to come with both eyes to eternal damnation.
Comment: Does God want us to rip out our eye or cut off our leg? Of course not! This is a figurative expression of how important it is to postpone – to get rid of things (and sometimes some harmful relationships) that distract us from God.
Keeping God always in the first place in our lives is of the utmost importance. It’s for our good – when we try, he adds everything else we need. See How we read in the chapter 6, verse 33. Put him first and live as he wishes and he will take care of you.
Jesus warns against contempt for others
10 Be careful not to despise even the simplest person. Believe it, Each one has an angel, who still represents him before God. Comment: Beautiful! We all have at least one angel!
I came to save the lost. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what do you think such a person will do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go looking for the lost one? And when he finds her, he is more happy with her than with the ninety-nine he has left. And just like that, my father doesn’t want the smallest person to perish.
Comment: That’s love! Even one person who does not yet know God is more important to him than us who already know God. If he is willing to look for the lost sheep, shouldn’t we, his followers, be as willing as he is? Someone in our life did it – they found time to talk to us about God. We wouldn’t be here now without these people!
The smallest person is important to God! Do we treat the people we meet on a daily basis? Each person has their own story. When someone is nasty to us, behaves hostilely or arrogantly, they may have a deeper reason for it. We come across such people all around us – on the bus, in the store, at work… Can we be patient with them? Can we remain kind, keep our perspective, not reciprocate with the same behavior? For example, such a person in our surroundings needs to be encouraged, to experience the touch of God’s tenderness, to perceive that life can be lived in a different way, that there is hope, goodness and love… And sometimes it is enough to do this when we realize that he too is fighting just like us, and so we will try A kinder tone…
Jesus teaches how to deal with him who has sinned
15 If he is guilty of you any of the believers, look him up and Talk to him privately. If he admits his mistake, you made the enemy a brother again. If he is adamant, invite one or two more of the believers, to witness the conversation. When you can’t even say, tell the congregation of believers. If he doesn’t obey even them, let him be expelled. Keep in mind that what you decide here on earth will also apply in heaven.
Comment: This is a good principle to deal with people. When we need to correct someone or explain the negative impact of their actions on them or someone else, we first talk to them in person. If that doesn’t help, we’ll take with us another or two believers who can explain it better than us, or to make the person realize that what they’re doing has a negative effect on more people. If that doesn’t help either, you have to say it in front of everyone. It can be applied to the family, to the company and especially among the faithful.
19 And also applies: If two of you join together to pray for any matter, the heavenly Father will hear them. Where two or three have already gathered to act according to my will, there I am with them.”
Comment: That’s one of the most beautiful promises in the whole Bible! Imagine it – where two believers are together, there is Jesus with them! God will answer for whatever he asks! Of course God is with us, even if we only pray alone! God always answers prayer. His answer is often: ‘yes’, or ‘no’, or ‘wait’.
Jesus tells parable of a merciless creditor
21 Then Peter asked him the question: ‘Lord, when my neighbor repeatedly sins against me, How many times should I forgive him? seven times?’ Comment: Seven times sounds like enough, right?
Jesus answered him, “Not seven times, but until seventy times seven times. Comment: 70 x 7= 490!!! – That number basically meant ‘infinity’ in Heb.
The Lord God deals with us like a king who decided to make an account with his subordinates. They were among the first to bring him one who had with him million dollar. However, the man had no money to pay. So the king ordered him and the whole family to sell him into slavery, sell off his property, and thus pay off the debt. But he fell on his knees before the king and begged him: ‘Lord, be patient with me and I will pay for everything!’ The king felt sorry for the man, he released him and even forgave him the whole debt. Comment: It’s us! God forgave us and still forgives everything whenever we ask him.
28 But barely the man came out of the king, he met a man who owed him a small amount. He grabbed him and shouted: ‘Give me back what you owe!’ And he had him locked up in jail until he paid the debt. The witnesses of the event were outraged and went to report it to the king. He summoned the merciless creditor and said to him: ‘You nothing! How much debt I forgave you when you begged me! And you couldn’t forgive your mate such a ridiculous amount?’ And the angry king then had him locked up until he paid his debt to the last penny. Thus my heavenly Father shall act with you if you shall not willingly forgive others.’
Comment: Unfortunately, we sometimes behave too! We forget what Jesus did for us on the cross and what he does for us every day and we treat others mercilessly. God help us to be kind and merciful!
