Matthew 18:1-6 (NASB)
“18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
The discourse that arose in our gospel was not initiated by Jesus, but by His disciples. This happened after they were already chosen and commissioned to go and perform healing and casting out demons while they were proclaiming that ‘ Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’ (Matthew 10:1-7). But this topic question “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” does not deal in their present status as disciples at that time, but principally with the relations on what they must obtain after knowing from Jesus that the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds as He promised them that some of them will see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matthew 16:27:28) So it is clear that they were concerned on their payment as disciples. In Matthew 19:27-29, Peter asked what will be their reward in relation to this. He said, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.” The disciples interest on their reward continued. Two of them indeed requested to sit one on His right and one on His left in His Kingdom (Matthew 20:21). Their concerns was their ranking in His Kingdom in its fullness, i.e., after the parousia or what we know as the second coming, and the final judgment.
But Jesus began warning them that greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven is measured not by rank or power but by childlikeness. It does not depend on how many persons that they have healed or how many demons they have driven out, but on how they completely depend and trust GOD like a child to his parent. It does not depend on how much they have done, but on how they acknowledge GOD in every work they have done and that they cannot do anything apart from the Vine, Jesus (John 15:4-5). In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus said, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”
The disciples anticipation is not bad, but Jesus remind them that their present age determines their ranking. He said those who are first will be last; and the last, first (Matthew 19:30). This means that humility plays a very important role in serving GOD. The disciples (who are only the ‘resource’ of miracles and wisdom) should not forget or should always teach that everyone should depend on GOD (the ‘Real Source’ of miracles and wisdom). Because the truth is; a servant as the resource, also depend on GOD the Real Source. Their objective will always focus on bringing those people to depend not on the ‘resource’ but on the ‘Real Source’ . Otherwise, if the workers were the one glorified, they cause the stumbling of people who followed them. If people stumble, by worshiping the ‘resource’ then as Jesus said, “It would be better for them to have heavy millstones hung around their necks, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
The greatest mistake or backsliding that a GOD’s servant can do is to take the glory that is due to Jesus Christ. Others make it worse by profiting from the power of healing and their given talent of preaching. Yes, they preach Christ but deny Him in their way of life. They live in luxuries at the expense of the believers of Christ. Their service and worship is in vain because their confession about Christ is on their lips alone not in their heart (Isaiah 29:13 / Matthew 15:8-9).
Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33, “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” This passage means not by confession of mouth alone but more importantly by heart and so in deeds.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory." And after that the servant should say "We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty." (Luke 17:10)
This is how we know who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who remain humble by depending and trusting GOD are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who help and teach the people likewise are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who made it known that Jesus Christ is the only One Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is also the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. In serving GOD, we have to decrease so that Jesus Christ will increase as Saint John the Baptist had done. (John 3:30) Amen
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