Threats To God’s Children | Matthew 18:5-9

Scripture

• Matthew 18:5–9

About this sermon

Introduction: The apostle Paul once contrasted the world’s view of the apostles with God’s view of the apostles. To say it another way, a contrast between what the world can see, and the way thing really are. 2 Corinthians 6:8–10 (ESV) 8 …We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. He contrasted earthly appearances with heavenly realities. That same kind of contrast exists with respect to ALL OF GOD’S CHILDREN. The children of God, in the estimation of this world, are NOTHING special. In fact, we are seen as undesirable. Hebrews 11:35–40 (ESV) 35 … Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. The world said, “you aren’t worthy to live among us” and God said to the world, “you aren’t worthy to have them.” But what the Lord of glory reminds us of in these verses, and instructs His disciples about in these verses, is THE SUPREME PRECIOUSNESS OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD TO THEIR KING. So, precious are they to God, that He loves them as He loves His Son. John 17:23–24 (ESV) 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. And those same people are so identified with the Son, that when they are treated well, God is as delighted as if His own Son was treated well, and when they are treated poorly God is as zealous for them as if His own Son was treated poorly. BUT THESE VERSES DECLARE EVEN MORE. They declare that these truths MUST BE BELIEVED by the disciples themselves. GOD’S CHILDREN MUST SEE GOD’S CHILDREN THROUGH THE LENS OF THEIR MUTUAL UNION WITH JESUS CHRIST. GOD’S CHILDREN MUST SEE GOD’S CHILDREN AS GOD’S KING SEES THEM. Both, in how we see ourselves, and in how we see each other, we must recognize how God loves us and has identified us with our Savior. • CHRIST PERSONALLY IDENTIFIES WITH GOD’S CHILDREN FOR THEIR HELP (vs.5) Our Lord begins with an encouraging word. It is encouraging for all those who are envisioned as being received. And it is an encouragement for all those who are envisioned a doing the receiving. Jesus says that to help one of God’s children is to HELP HIM. God saves sinners in union with His Son. God regards redeemed people in union with His Son. Therefore, we are to have the eyes to see that Jesus has so identified Himself with God’s people — that God has so identified His people with His Son — that the treatment of God’s children is regarded by God and His Son as the very treatment of Jesus Himself. “Saul, Saul, why are your persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4) “For as you have done it unto one of these, the least of my brethren, you have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40 (ESV) 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Imagine hearing that the Lord Jesus had a need — would you meet it? Imagine hearing that the Lord Jesus was imprisoned — would you go visit Him? Imagine that the Lord Jesus desired to visit your home — would you have Him in? And the first point that Jesus wishes to drive home to His disciples, is that if you see the children of God rightly, you will see them in their union with Christ. Anyone who is receiving, helping, showing kindness to, one of His brethren, one of the children of God, is someone receiving, helping, showing kindness TO HIM. If we should see the family of God rightly, how would it change our attitude toward each brother and sister in Christ — INCLUDING THOSE IN OUR OWN FAMILY? This is encouraging for each of us as a child of God — to know Jesus loves us like that. To know that God regards us like that. This is encouraging for our BEHAVIOR toward our brothers and sister. Do we have the eyes to see Jesus in our treatment of our brethren?

Topics

• Parenting