Who Is the Greatest?

Right after the news. In Galilee Jesus told His disciples, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up” (Matthew 17:22-23). The disciples “were exceedingly sorrowful.” Exceedingly means very, very much. An argument on the road. Then, on the road, before they came to Capernaum, the disciples argued about something else: “who would be the greatest” (Mark 9:34). Jesus was on His way to give His life. They were arguing about who was most important. Jesus asked. In the house Jesus asked, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” (Mark 9:33). To dispute is to argue. “But they kept silent” (9:34). Most likely they knew the argument was wrong. Jesus knew anyway. Luke says Jesus was “perceiving the thought of their heart” (Luke 9:47). Jesus knew what they were thinking before they said a word. The question. “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1). The kingdom of heaven is God's kingdom, where He rules as King. The disciples wanted to know who would have the top place in it. What we learn. Wanting to be bigger and better than everyone else is called pride. Every heart has it, even the hearts of Jesus' closest friends. Jesus did not send His friends away. He patiently taught them a better way, and He will teach you too.

The setting. Jesus had told the twelve plainly that He would die. In Galilee He said, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up” (Matthew 17:22-23). Mark adds that “they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him” (Mark 9:32). The road (Mark 9:33-34). On the way to Capernaum they argued “who would be the greatest.” When Jesus asked what they had disputed, “they kept silent.” The Lord was walking toward a cross, and His followers were arguing over rank. Meizon (18:1). “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” The Greek word is meizon (say: MAY-zone), greater or greatest. They were not asking whether they would be in the kingdom. They were asking who would rank highest inside it. The kingdom of heaven. In the same sayings Mark and Luke say the kingdom of God (compare Mark 10:15 with Matthew 18:3). It is God ruling as King. He knew their hearts. Luke says Jesus was “perceiving the thought of their heart” (Luke 9:47). Pride does not have to be spoken out loud for the Lord to see it. “For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Pride. Pride is wanting the first place for yourself, above other people and even above God. It showed up in Jesus' closest friends, and it shows up in us when we compare, brag or need to win. For you. Ask Jesus to show you where you want to be first. He knows already, and He does not give up on proud disciples. He teaches them, and He changes them.

Jesus had just told His followers something very important. He said He would be killed and rise again. The followers were very sad. But soon they started to argue on the road. They argued about which one of them was the greatest. Jesus was going to give His life for them. They were thinking about how important they were. Jesus asked them what they were arguing about. They did not answer Him. Jesus already knew what was in their hearts. Wanting to be bigger than others is called pride. Pride is a sin, and every heart has it. Jesus can help us turn away from pride.

Jesus' helpers argued about who was the greatest. Jesus knew all about it. Jesus wants us to love, not to argue.

A child in the middle. “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them” (18:2). In the midst means right in the middle, where everyone could see. Mark adds that Jesus took the child “in His arms” (Mark 9:36). Assuredly. Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you” (18:3). Assuredly means truly. The disciples had asked about the top place, and Jesus was about to answer a bigger question. Converted. “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (18:3). To be converted means to be turned around. The disciples were trying to climb up. Jesus told them to turn and go down low. First things first. They asked who would be greatest in the kingdom. Jesus told them who gets into it at all: only people who turn and become like little children. Like little children. Children do wrong things too (Romans 3:23), so Jesus does not mean kids are perfect. A little child has no title and no power, and no high seat to fight for. That is the low place Jesus calls us to take before God. What we learn. Pride wants to climb. Jesus calls us to turn around, admit we need God and come to Him as His children. Turning from sin to God is called repentance. Everyone who turns to God and trusts Jesus enters His kingdom.

In the midst (18:2). “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them.” Jesus answered the argument with a living picture. Mark says that Jesus “sat down, called the twelve” (Mark 9:35), set the child among them and took him in His arms (9:36). Strepho (18:3). “Unless you are converted and become as little children.” The Greek word is strepho (say: STREF-oh), to turn. The ICB says, “You must change.” The disciples were heading up, toward rank and honor. Jesus told them to turn completely around. Turning is repentance. This turning is what the Bible calls repentance: turning from sin, pride included, to God. Peter later preached, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). By no means (18:3). “You will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” The disciples were asking about rank inside the kingdom. Jesus warned them that without turning they would not enter it at all. Pride does not only spoil greatness. It keeps a person out. Why a child? Not because children never sin, since children are sinners too (Romans 3:23). A little child has no rank to protect and no power to use. He has no seat to fight for. Jesus calls grown men to take that same low place before God. For you. Maybe you have trusted Jesus already. Turning is still a daily thing. Each time pride rises up, turn again, admit your need and come to God as His child.

Jesus answered His followers in a surprising way. He called a little child to come to Him. He stood the child right in the middle of them. Then Jesus said, “I tell you the truth.” He said they must change and become like little children. The followers were trying to climb up high. Jesus told them to turn around. God's kingdom is not for people who push to the top. It is for people who come to God like a child. A little child knows he needs help. We need God's help too. We turn to God and trust Jesus to save us.

Jesus called a little child to Him. Jesus said we must change and be like little children. Jesus helps us change.

The answer. “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (18:4). Jesus answered their question, and His answer turned their idea of greatness upside down. Humbles himself. To humble yourself is to make yourself low. It means you do not think you are better than other people, and you do not push to be first. Jesus said a person humbles himself. It is a choice you make, with God's help. Not putting yourself down. Being humble does not mean saying you are worthless. God made you and loves you. Being humble means you trust God instead of yourself, and you care about others as much as you care about yourself. The least is great. Luke gives Jesus' words this way: “For he who is least among you all will be great” (Luke 9:48). In God's kingdom, the low place is the great place. Jesus did it first. Jesus is the greatest of all, the Son of God. Yet “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). What we learn. You do not have to fight to be first. Let others go ahead. Do the small jobs no one sees. Tell God you need Him. That is greatness in God's eyes.

Tapeinoo (18:4). “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” The word is tapeinoo (say: tah-pay-NOH-oh), to make low. Jesus says a person humbles himself: it is something he chooses to do, not only something he feels. As this little child. Jesus pointed to the child standing in front of them. A little child cannot claim a high seat or demand to be served. The child was not great because of anything he could do. Jesus says that going low is greatness. The question answered. They had asked who is greatest. Jesus did not name Peter, James or John. He named whoever takes the low place. Least is great (Luke 9:48). “For he who is least among you all will be great.” God's kingdom runs the opposite way from the world's. In the world people climb to be great. In God's kingdom the one who goes low is lifted up. Mary sang the same truth: “He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly” (Luke 1:52). Humble, not worthless. Humility is not hating yourself. It is seeing yourself truly: made by God, loved by God and dependent on God. A humble person thinks rightly about himself and spends more time thinking about God and others. The humble Lord. The greatest person who ever lived took the lowest place. “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). For you. Choose the low place on purpose this week: serve when no one notices, let someone else get the credit and pray as someone who needs God.

Jesus told His followers who is really the greatest. It is the person who makes himself humble. Being humble means not thinking you are better than others. Humble people let others go first. They are happy to help, even with small jobs. They know they need God every day. The world says the greatest is the strongest or the richest. Jesus says the greatest is the humble one. Luke says the least person is the greatest. Jesus Himself was humble. He is God's Son, but He came to help us. He can make your heart humble too.

Jesus said the greatest person is humble. Humble people do not act bigger than others. Jesus was humble too!

Receive. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (18:5). To receive someone means to welcome them, make room for them and take care of them. In My name. In Jesus' name means for Jesus' sake, because we belong to Him. We welcome little ones because Jesus loves them. Receiving Jesus. Jesus said that welcoming a child like this is welcoming Him. A kindness to one of His little ones is a kindness to Jesus. And the Father. Luke adds, “and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me” (Luke 9:48). Welcoming Jesus means welcoming God the Father, who sent His Son. The opposite of the argument. The disciples were thinking about their own importance. Jesus turned their eyes to the smallest person in the room. The way to greatness was not climbing over others but caring for them. What we learn. Look for the person others overlook: a younger child, a new kid or someone sitting alone. Welcome them for Jesus' sake. When you do, you are welcoming Jesus Himself.

Receives Me (18:5). “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” To receive is to welcome someone into your life and care, the way you welcome a guest. Jesus ties His own honor to the way His little ones are treated. In My name. To do something in Jesus' name is to do it for His sake and as one who belongs to Him. Welcoming a child in His name is more than being nice. It is love for Jesus shown to someone small. Him who sent Me (Luke 9:48). “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” The line runs from a little child to Jesus to the Father. No one is too small to be treated as if Jesus Himself were standing in front of you. The opposite of rank. The argument on the road was about who deserved honor. Jesus turned the question around: whom will you honor? Greatness in the kingdom shows itself in welcoming people who can give you nothing back. The weakest matter. The disciples were measuring one another by rank. Jesus measured them by how they would treat the weakest person in the room. He still cares how His people treat the ones others overlook. For you. Look around your school, your church and your home for the people who seem least important. Welcome them in Jesus' name, and you welcome Him.

Jesus said one more thing about the little child. He said, “Whoever accepts a little child in my name accepts me.” To accept someone means to welcome them and care for them. In my name means because we belong to Jesus. Being kind to a little child is being kind to Jesus! Luke tells us even more. Whoever welcomes Jesus also welcomes God the Father. Jesus cares about the small and the left out. You can welcome a younger kid at church. You can play with someone who is alone. You can help a little brother or sister. Jesus sees every kind thing you do.

Jesus said to welcome little children. When we welcome them, we welcome Jesus. You can be kind to little ones!