Introduction

In Mat 18:1-4, we find these words, “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" {2} Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, {3} and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. {4} "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Little children! How do you think of them? Yesterday, I took a moment to look at a picture of our grandson, Will, that was taken a few years ago. He was standing in a field of Blue Bonnets. You could tell he was happy and excited as he raised his hands in celebration and was smiling with a great big smile. As I looked at Will and thought of his joy and excitement as he was enjoying the beauty of God’s creation, I had to think of the verses we just read.

As we begin our study, we need to point out that we are studying “little children.” The NKJV is correct in translating this as “little children.” The original Greek word means little children. Some of the qualities that we are mentioning this morning can be lost as children grow older.

Body

I. The quality that Jesus underlined was humility

A. To be humble is to be submissive.

(1 Pet 5:5-6 NKJV) Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." {6} Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

B. If we are humble, we can admit when we have done wrong.

1. It’s the spirit of David when he was confronted with his sins by Nathan the prophet.

(2 Sam 12:13 NKJV) So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

2. It is the humility of the tax collector who freely admitted being a sinner.

(Luke 18:9-14 NKJV) Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: {10} "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. {11} "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. {12} 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' {13} "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' {14} "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

2. It is the willingness to confess our fault to one another.

(James 5:16 NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

If we are humble, we are teachable.

1. Little children have a quest for knowledge.

As our oldest son, Tim, learned to talk, he soon learned two words which became an import part of his early learning, “What’s that?”

a. As Christians, we need the meek and teachable spirit.

b. We need to take advantage of the opportunities we have to study and learn more of the Word of God and His Will for our lives.

2. As we grow older, so often Tim’s “What’s that?” changes to our “I know!” and learning stops at that moment.

3. We need the humility of the little child who is open to learning and excited about learning.

D. We must be humble to be loving.

(1 Cor 13:4-7 NKJV) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; {5} does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; {6} does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; {7} bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

II. Little children are totally forgiving.

A. They not only forgive, they basically forget.

B. Jesus said we must be forgiving if we are to be forgiven.

(Mat 6:14-15 NKJV) "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. {15} "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

C. When little children are disciplined for wrong doing, they do not hold resentment toward their parents, but are even sweeter if anything.

Conclusion

Matthew 18:2, “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, {3} and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. {4} "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

This morning we’ve looked at being like children with respect to:

Being humble and submissive

Being humble and teachable

Being humble and able to confess our faults

Little children are extremely forgiving, and we need to be.

Will you submit your life to God in humble obedience to Him?

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