Jesus and the children (Part 1) by Rosie Moore.
In Matthew 18, Jesus’s disciples ask him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus calls a little child and has him stand among them. Then the King of all creation gives his disciples an illustration of kingdom greatness:
“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matt 18:1-6).
Childlike faith.
Why did Jesus choose a child to show his disciples the meaning of kingdom greatness? This would have been an especially offensive analogy in the first century when children had no status or rights.
Anyone who understands original sin will know that children are not (and never were) perfect. As a parent of four, I can confidently say that anyone who thinks their cute little Thandi or Johnny is innocent hasn’t had the child for longer than a day! Children can be as selfish, deceptive and rebellious as adults, and babies and toddlers give new meaning to the word “narcissist!”
But children are also by nature trusting, vulnerable and needy. They are sexually innocent and dependent on adults from the moment of conception. They come into this world naked, helpless, weak and expectant, looking to parents to welcome them into a nurturing family, where they are seen, known and protected.
And generally speaking, with consistent boundaries and training over time, together with generous helpings of love, grace and food, children generally grow up to be a “heritage from the Lord, a reward from him” (Ps 127:3-5). Whether they are adopted or of natural descent, children should always be seen as a blessing and a reward, not a burden.
John Ritenhaugh helps us understand Jesus’s illustration:
“He is not saying that heaven is populated by little children. He means that a child’s attitudes of easy dependence, trust, unpretentiousness, awareness of weakness, lack of knowledge, and submission to parents illustrate what we as converted adults must become toward God. Jesus is not saying every child is like His illustration; He is using one to illustrate an ideal. It is essential that we grasp that we must turn, change, to become like the ideal.”
So, in answer to the question on greatness, Jesus uses a child to illustrate to his self-centred disciples that they are not to be childish — arguing, vying for positions of advantage, competing for promotions or status in the church. Instead, all Christ’s followers are to be childlike, with humble, responsive, sincere hearts that trust in God’s goodness, not their own (Matt 7:11).
Like little children, we must dare simply to ask, trust and obey our heavenly Father in the minutest details. We must remain teachable and attentive, equally eager to receive God’s blessings and fulfill our responsibilities as his children.
More than an illustration.
But this cameo is more than an illustration of faith. It is quite literal too. Jesus was showing how much He loves and values children as precious little people who bear the image of God. This was shocking to Greco-Roman culture, which relegated children to the lowest rung in society. Children were not persons in this world. They were considered possessions and things, to be used by adults as they pleased, and discarded at will.
We cannot miss that Jesus is instructing Christians in every age to nurture and value children. We cannot treat children as nuisances, use them for our convenience or look down on them. They are an integral part of Christ’s upside-down kingdom.
Who is the hindrance?
A bit later, with the child still in front of him, Jesus talks about the spiritual discipleship of children. He uses the picture of a caring shepherd going after the lost and wandering sheep. God doesn’t want any child to remain lost in their sins, because he is concerned about the welfare of all His creatures, including each of ‘these little ones’.
There is no one too small for the eye of God, and no one so little that they slip through the net of his care.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish” (Matt 18:10-14).
But ever the slow learners, the disciples soon forgot what Jesus said about the value of children, because a chapter later we see them shooing children away as pests, as we sometimes do when our children get irritating.
“These kids are hindering kingdom ministry,” they reasoned, “they’re getting in the way of important business!
“No”, said Jesus, “It’s you who are hindering the little children from coming to me! Don’t look down on them.”
And so, Jesus affirmed the parents who brought their children to Him for blessing and prayer. He actually took their children on his lap, blessed them and rebuked his disciples with these famous words:
“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 19:14).
In this counter-cultural cameo, Jesus shows us positively how we need to take care of children. They are not just little things to be sent on errands, ordered around, farmed out to caregivers, or spoilt rotten by parents who are too busy to take care of their real needs. Nor are children distractions or hindrances to kingdom work. Jesus says that we are to welcome children into God’s kingdom and not do anything to hinder them. They are an integral part of his kingdom.
Christ and child abuse.
But Matthew’s two cameos also tell us something else about how God regards anyone who hurts a child or shatters their innocence. The Bible clearly teaches that God holds parents and other adults accountable for how they influence and treat children. So, when people use their stewardship to neglect, abandon, molest, deceive or violate a child’s trust, they are committing a serious offense in God’s eyes.
There is passion in Christ’s tone: “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be drowned in the depths of the sea with a large millstone hung around his neck” (Matt 18:6).
In verse 6, Jesus speaks passionately about the ultimate judgment of those who defile and lead children astray in the dark corners of homes, schools, churches and streets. We cannot miss his fury at those who exploit children.
Knowing that children are impressionable and unable to protect themselves, Jesus’s words of judgment should terrify anyone in a position of power who has thoughts of hurting a child for their own sick pleasure; anyone who watches child pornography, or looks the other way when children are being groomed, bullied or raped.
And I can’t help thinking what a terrible shame it is that we have so many cultural and social norms that encourage child molestation to be swept under the carpet to protect the family or institution. This is a hidden epidemic, far more pervasive, virulent and deadly than any virus.
We don’t need to wonder about the anger of Christ the King when He sees the neglect, abuse, grooming, paedophilia, trafficking and abortions which afflict our society. Statistics in South Africa show us that one in five children will be sexually assaulted. In 2020 alone, more than 600 girls aged 9 and 10 gave birth to a baby. But nobody talks much about this hidden epidemic, only the COVID one.
In next week’s devotion, please join us as we dive a little deeper into the cameos in Matthew 18 and 19 relating to Christ and children, and ask ourselves some practical questions about how we can welcome little ones in Christ’s name.