The disciples have returned to Capernaum. Jesus has been teaching and healing, and He and Peter have paid their dues: the temple tax.
Matthew describes the scene. “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’” (Matthew 18:1). This is not the only time this question comes up in the Gospels. Perhaps the seeds for this conversation were planted by Jesus’ advice in paying the temple tax.
He refers to the kings of the earth and contrasts them with the children, who should not pay tax. The disciples might have been dreaming of an empire. “What will I be in charge of?” “Which region or department will I administer?” “Who will I get to boss around?”
Finally, when they can’t come to a conclusion, they approach Jesus to settle the question once and for all. And Jesus, as He so often does, flips the script. He does something unexpected.
He calls over a child. I imagine it is a child known to them. A family friend, perhaps a nephew or niece of one of the disciples. They’re in their home village after all. Jesus places the child in the centre of the circle and challenges their perception of greatness.
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
I imagine them smiling and nodding, perhaps not quite getting where Jesus is going with that but having heard enough of His teaching to know that He’s very loving and oriented to service. Yes, yes, of course we must be humble and welcome everyone in the kingdom we’re building You Jesus, they might have thought. This child was easy to accept, they knew the parents, shared a common background and had a certain affinity.
But what does it really mean to become like a child? Well, we’ve probably heard people talk about it in church before. A child is innocent. They have a trusting nature, a pliable spirit. We need to have a “childlike faith” is a common description, when reflecting on Jesus’ teachings about children.
Having children now of my own, I’ve come back to this teaching and wondered again what element exactly children display that Jesus was trying to highlight. I’ve seen that my own children can be anything but compliant to my wishes. They can be wilful, independent and stubborn. Those are not bad traits, just human nature that we all share.
Then the other day I was struck with one element of childlike behaviour that we can struggle with. I’ll tell this story with the disclaimer that I’m not the perfect parent. I was frustrated and had lost my temper with my child. I quickly apologised, not for the message I had communicated about what they had done that was wrong, but that I had let my anger get the best of me. They immediately forgave me and told me “I love you Daddy.” I was shocked at how quickly they forgave me.
I’ve seen it with the way they interact with each other as well. My daughter is easily frustrated by her baby brother not sharing (he’s at that age) or being rough (he’s a two-year-old boy) and yet moments later they are hugging and happy. The speed at which a child forgives is almost unmatched. I know I struggle to forgive or not hold a grudge against those who hurt me.
Jesus continues His response to the disciples, warning that those who hurt little ones would be better to be cast into the sea with a millstone. The rest of Matthew’s chapter blends teachings about sin and forgiveness, including Jesus’ injunction to forgive 70 times seven.
The disciples have short memories. In the next chapter of Matthew, they’re turning away children who are being brought to Jesus for blessing. Jesus again commends the kingdom to little children.
May we have longer memories than the disciples. May we forgive and love like little children and move closer to the kingdom this week.
