Bottom line up front: Less Is More

Text: At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4, ESV)

Context: As I have continued teaching through Matthew’s gospel line-by-line over the past year or so, it is amazing to me how often we find Christ has to humble us. I’ve probably read Matthew’s gospel over 50 times over the last year, trying to be sure I follow the storyline that the apostle lays out. Teaching it verse-by-verse forces me to slow down. When one is a fast reader, it is easy to read right past something that I should not have. And when it comes to Scripture, there’s never a passage to neglect. This is the Book of all books.

About the passage above (Matthew 18:1-4), J.C. Ryle wrote, “Would we know whether we are really converted? Would we know the test by which we must try ourselves? The surest mark of true conversion is humility. If we have really received the Holy Ghost, we shall show it by a meek and childlike spirit” (Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew).

Humility. Not exactly sinners’ default posture, is it? Nope. We like to think we’re better than the next fellow, don’t we? We thrive upon comparison, at seeing the speck in other people’s eyes. Meanwhile, we’ve got logs the size of redwood trees in our own.

But Christ just kept hammering home that non-negotiable: humility.

He says to his disciples that they’ll never enter the kingdom of heaven without it (v. 3).

I remember saying of my father-in-law that he lived the best sermon I ever heard preached. What did I mean? Simply that he was among the greatest and simultaneously humblest men I’ve ever known, respected, and loved. And I have no doubt that he heard a heavenly welcome that went something like this: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”