Jesus Teaches About Greatness in the KOG

Last month we took a look at Jesus instructions to the disciples about the establishment of the church.

The bedrock and foundation of faith…. that Jesus is the son of the living God
His coming death and resurrection… which meant He would soon be leaving them
They would receive the keys of administration to manage the functions of the church… with authority to make decision about applying the law etc.
They too must take up their cross putting to death the old person and becoming a new person.

Jesus ended that session of teaching with a promise… that some of them would see Him in the power and glory of the Kingdom before they tasted death.

Matt 17: 1-13 A Glimpse of Jesus as He Will be In the KOG

Jesus took his three closest disciples (Peter, James, and John) up the mountain… while there they are allowed to see Him in His glorified state… very similar to what we read in the first chapter of Revelation… shining with bright light like the sun etc.

This amazing vision would have provided much needed reassurance from the Father to strengthen Jesus’ resolve to go to Jerusalem and face crucifixion. The vision includes Moses and Elijah who talk to Him about His upcoming death Luke 9:31 (presumably they represent the law and the prophets urging Him on). Also, the voice of the Father speaks affirming Jesus is on the right path… poof then it’s over.

No doubt the memory of this would also help the disciples get through the troubles and trials the church would face after Jesus’ death… likewise we too should think about the glory that awaits as a way to get through the daily grind of trial testing and suffering.

Once again He tells them not to speak of what they have just seen until after He has risen from the tomb. They still do not understand the true nature of the messiah and are not ready to start teaching others about it (Mark 9:10 - They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant).

They also had questions about Elijah showing they are still thinking in terms of national restoration and the conquering victorious messiah. The disciples still did not really understand what Jesus was telling them about the path to glory that comes through enduring trials, suffering and even persecution… they seem to be aware that He is telling them that He is establishing some sort of new community of chosen ones… but how will this community of chosen ones interact with the world? What will their status be? Are they about to become Kings and Priests? What will they have authority over? Who will be in charge?

Matt 17: 14-23 Jesus Example of Patience and Compassion

As soon as Jesus and the three disciples arrive back from the mountain they meet a large noisy crowd. The disciples who had remained behind had tried to heal a demon possessed boy… but they had failed. Scribes and naysayers were disputing with them and then the father of the boy runs up to Jesus seeking His help.

What a way to come off a great spiritual high… But, as always Jesus is patient and compassionate… a perfect example of the principles of loving authority and true greatness He is about to begin teaching at length in chapter 18.

Matt 17:24-27 - Is The Church Subject To Worldly Authority?

Before jumping into the main body of what Jesus has to say about greatness in the KOG Matthew records an interesting interchange with the Jews who collected the temple tax… interesting because it makes a point about the present authority of the church… and its relation to human government.

The temple tax was not a law recorded in OT scripture. It was a law of the Jews (base on an obscure interpretation of Exodus 30:13). Jesus’ point to Peter is… the children of God are not commanded to pay this tax (it’s not required by God’s law)… but so as not to offend we will pay it.

Even though we are children of the most high… we submit ourselves to worldly authority (except where it requires us to disobey God). Jesus has given authority to the church “the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be  bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”... yet the church subjects itself to worldly authority just as He did… waiting for God’s appointed time.

Authority & Greatness in the Kingdom of God

Matt 18:1 – the disciples argue among themselves who was going to be the greatest (ref parallel)…

They believed Jesus was the Messiah who would usher in the KOG… He had talked to them about great authority to come their way… they knew He was on His way to Jerusalem for a showdown with the power that be… that He would be killed but be miraculously resurrected to life… three of the 12 had just seen Jesus revealed in His divine glory… it was enough to make anyone’s head swim with ideas of grandeur… surely the time had come!

But their arguing shows that the disciples do not yet share the mind of God on matters of authority and greatness… perhaps even to the point of eagerly anticipating lording it over others as the kings of the gentile do… a way of thinking Jesus would warn the disciples about again at the final Passover meal (Luke 22:25)

Jesus’ answer to their question “who will be the greatest in the KOG?” takes up the entirety of chapter 18… He first instruct them to redefine “greatness” away from a focus on hierarchy, status, privilege, etc, toward a standard based on how you treat others. Furthermore, this KOG standard was to be the standard for His church.

Jesus teaches using 2 scenarios for how you should treat others:

Warning against offending “one of the little ones” verses 1-14
Instructions on how to deal with those who wrong you verses 15-35

Jesus first warns those who would be great against offending others.

Matt 18:2-4 Humility

You have to change your way of thinking…. If the Word of God was willing to empty himself and come in the form of a working-class carpenter, humbling himself in obedience even unto death… what does that mean for us?... those who are to follow in His footsteps, namely the Church of God.

Children don’t naturally act humble… rather they are humble… of lowly status, utterly dependent upon their parents… not self sufficient. Likewise, we must realize that we are completely dependent… we no power to  save ourselves from death… we are 100% dependent on the mercy of our Father in heaven. We must turn away from preoccupation with status and humble ourselves as if we were a child… and trust our Father.

How does this affect human relationships? Simple: those who think highly of themselves tend to treat others as lowly… a scenario with great potential to create a stumbling block for others in the church.

Matt 18:5-7 Responsibility

You are responsible for the effect you have on the spiritual lives of others. On the positive side, we welcome newcomers who hear and obey our Father in heaven. On the negative side, God is very dis-pleased with those who mess up the spiritual lives of others.

If you are reading the NKJV or the NIV you read the phrase cause to sin. Dubious translation… the word is scandalizo which is usually translated “offend”, “offended” but also “cause to fall away” or “stumble” (very often the result of someone being offended is that they fall away, leave the faith, leave the church)

How do we avoid causing that?

Matt 18:8-9 Self-Denial

If there are parts of your personality that cause stumbling… offense… falling away… you must get rid of them… vanity, love of gossip, playing fast and loose with God’s commands, wrangling over the minutia of scripture, lording it over others, coldness and indifference… etc. These have a very negative effect on others and on you.

This is what Jesus means when He says “whoever loses his life for me will find it”… to be crucified with Christ… to put the old person to death… to walk in the newness of life.

Matt 18:10-14 Respect Kindness and Concern For Others

Care for the individual members not just for the flock… (concept vs. reality) “I love humanity… I just don’t like people very much”... what good is it to say I love the Brethren (in theory)… I respect the Brethren (in theory)… but not love or respect the individual members you come across in the Church.

Remember Jesus is talking to the disciples, the founding members of His Church… He is answering their question about who would be the greatest… Answer: greatness was to be measured in their treatment of others, especially the little ones… the small, the weak, the naïve.

Jesus now addresses our treatment of those who have done wrong to us!

Matt 18:15-17 Discipline

Note the use of the word brother… this is directed toward relationships within the Church. Also, the word translated as sin in the NKJV or the NIV is not the scandalizo we discussed earlier… its harmartano… which truly does mean SIN. We are no longer talking about things that can cause doubt, offense or even falling away. We are talking about when someone has done you wrong.

Some people are hyper-sensitive and seem to find offense everywhere. People might have a quarrel in which both parties share in the blame… That’s not what is being addressed here. This is a trespass where the fault is on the other side.

Question: Isn’t it better to overlook such a sin… to forgive and turn the other cheek?

Forgiveness is too often used as a disguise for weakness or indifference in the face of sin. Notice the phrase “you have won your brother” or “you have gained your brother”. The motive here is not to be correct or to prove yourself right. The motive is to restore a fellow disciple.

When a person repents, forgiveness is available; but without repentance, forgiveness is not given.

But Christ extended forgiveness to people who had not repented. Why? Because they didn’t know any better “forgive them for they know not what they do”… However, these instructions are given to the Church… for people who do know better… and so forgiveness is handled a bit differently.

It’s a simple 4 step plan (the first three steps all seeking repentance):

1. Go to them alone
2. Go to them with reliable people as witnesses
3. Take it to the Church (in hope they may submit to authority & judgment)
4. Excommunicate (forgiveness withheld where there is no repentance)

Matt 18:18-20 Unity

Christ has given the church authority to discipline. However, discipline administered in the name and authority of Christ must also be administered in the spirit of Christ… with unity of mind and purpose. Not at the whim of a powerful individual (the greatest). Only with this unity do we have any confidence that our decisions are acceptable to the Father. Caveat: this principle relates to matters of reconciliation as is not meant to be applied to matters of law or doctrine etc. Nor does it mean we can gather together and successfully ask for whatever we want.

Matthew 18:21-22 Forgiveness & Restoration

Based on the record we have Jesus never actually mentioned forgiveness but it was clearly implied. Peter realizes this and he has a question about the limits of forgiveness.

Traditionally the Rabbis had a three strikes and you’re out policy. So, Peter probably thought he was being very generous here… double that and add one more for good measure… 7 times!

Jesus reply: UNLIMITED forgiveness is available. Always forgive, unless the person refuses to repent (which implies a change of behavior). If there is no repentance, the principle of verses 15-17 come back into play.

Matt 18:23-35 A Parable of Forgiveness

For those who repent God eternally and unconditionally forgives a huge debt against Him. It’s hard to understand believers (fellow servants) who would refuse to grant forgiveness to each other over matters that are trivial in comparison to the mountain of debt God has forgiven us.

By accepting God’s unlimited forgiveness of us… and our sins… we are therefore expected to extend the same forgiveness to others. Not just from the lips but from the heart

Who would be great in the Kingdom of God?

One who learns humility is sober-minded about their responsibility, ready to put away anything in themselves that causes harm, respectful, kind and concerned about others… willing to apply discipline where necessary, working in unity with their brothers, and eager to forgive the repentant person.