Day 295 (Matthew 18) — The Bible Recap

Jesus’ disciples bring him a debate about which of them is the greatest, and Tara Lee Cobble notes that the special attention Jesus has shown to Peter, James, and John—his tightest inner circle—likely sparked comparison among the others. It is a natural human response, but Jesus points out that the natural human response is often the opposite of what his upside-down kingdom requires. He says humility is connected to greatness, and without humility, they will not be in the kingdom at all, much less be the greatest there. God values humility, a stark contrast to the ancient view where humility equaled weakness.

Children, Little Ones, and the Danger of Causing Sin

Jesus uses children in his illustrations repeatedly. At the time, children were viewed more like property, so by using them as an example, Jesus shows their value as humans and image bearers. He draws a correlation between children and his disciples, referring to them as "little ones." Some commentators think this phrase refers to all believers; others think it refers to new believers. For whoever it refers to, Jesus indicates that angels watch over them while also being in the presence of God. The word angel means messenger—they are sent to speak and do the will of God.