A PRAYER TO START
Perhaps one of the more difficult realities for our time and place in history to grasp is, when we find ourselves in the presence of God in Christ we cannot help but feel exposed. The distress of the flaws that we attempt to hide coming into the light, and the erroneous desires that guide our decisions shown for what they are, and the shame of being less than the One to whom we are in company with; is enough to delay many from receiving what Jesus offers. To run from our sin rather than to Christ in our sin ultimately prevents us from knowing the “joy of our salvation”. When we know both our sin and the never ending, never stopping, always and forever love of God in Christ, we can pray with psalmist…
Be gracious to me, O Father,
according to your never ending, never stopping, always and forever love;
in character with your overflowing mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
I have been out of step for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.
What you are after is truth lived from the inside out,
and so you teach me wisdom and conceive in me a new, true life.
Soak me in your laundry and I will come out clean,
scrub me and I will have a snow-white life.
Let me hear joy and gladness as the tune of my life.
let the bones that you have broken rejoice in dancing to the song.
Do not look to close at my sins,
and blot out from your memory all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, Father,
and renew a never ending, never stopping, always and forever spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors like me your ways,
and sinners will return to you as I have.
Deliver me from guilt, shame and condemnation , Father,
O Father of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
O Father, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in the religious routines and habits, or
I would give them to you,
you will not be pleased with a few attempts at placating.
The worship you desire, true God-worship is pride shattered;
a Hearth-shattered lives ready for love, O Father,
and not for a moment will it escape your notice.
GETTING THOUGHTFUL
Jesus, while using hyperbole to rouse our attention, is not one for beating around the bush. As commentator John Nolland (739) says, “Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter with his radical demands.” This is especially true in Matthew 18:5-14.
“Sin”, mentioned several times in this passage, is something not to be taken lightly. The word for “sin” in verses 6, 8 and 9 carries with it the picture of being caught in a trap. Leon Morris (461), referencing verse 6 in particular notes, “The verb with its idea of entrapment indicates that the person in question is leading the little one into something that that little one does not properly understand.”
We have already seen how important “understanding” is to living in the kingdom, and whether or not it is experienced as a treasure to be sought after at any cost or a weight around our neck to drown us in the sea (13:51-52; 15:10,16; 16:1-4, 5-12). There is, as the proverb says, “A way that appears right to our human perception but in the end leads to our demise”. “Sin” then is way of living that is in contrast to the way of life (with others and with our Father in heaven) that Jesus teaches us, demonstrates for us, and invites us to share in. And the weight of sin is indeed crippling, and condemning.
Whether we are led into the traps of other ways of relating to one another and God (verses 6-7), or we ourselves begin to take a different path away from others and God (verses 8-9); sin is to be shown for what it is and fervently cut off before it consumes us in the most terrible fashion.
While Jesus uses dramatic statements to describe to us the severity of sin, he will not allow our dramatic response to sin to be something other than “the way” God himself responds. Responding out of our own perception of what God wants is our tendency right? Is that not Peter has been guilty of doing several times in Matthew's story already (14:28-33, 16:21-23, 17:1-8)? Are we not just as prone in our zeal to take what is clearly wicked and fulminate against it and those associated with it in such tactics that we destroy it and them? Is this not why so many people despise religion and the religious? Not only do we as humans fear exposure, we react vehemently against condemnation because, deep within, we know we too are condemnable. We as mere humans cannot overcome sin and evil without destroying life. Plus, Jesus already informed us that we are poor judges, especially of eternal matters (7:1-6), though Jesus is neither merely human nor a poor judge (see Week 13 | Learning).
So, exactly how does God respond to our tendency to be easily lead astray and/or wantonly run away? Since the flood of Genesis, we have seen God hold fast to his desire and plan to destroy that which causes us to rebel without destroying life itself. This dramatic compassion and forgiveness continues in what we read Jesus proclaiming in verses 10-14 and 21-35.
Therefore, having been ones who have experienced this never ending, never stopping, always and forever love; and a people who are aware of the severity of sin, we call out in one another that which leads to our destruction by calling one another into compassionate mercy. Calling out, by calling back in is to be our part in helping one another overcome sin. Doing so even if it requires the often difficult responsibility of pursing rather than avoiding one another (18:15-20).
REFLECTION
Jesus’ response to the disciples’ enquiry of their place in the kingdom puts each of them, and each of us, on the same level. We are all little ones, servants who in humility are loved as the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Because we recognize our child-like tendencies to be led astray as well as run off and take others with us, we must be warned by our loving Father that our actions lead not to something good but something terrible. In turn, as good sisters and brothers, we are to help one another live a flourishing life by calling out sin through calling one another into the generous mercy lavished on us in Jesus from our Father.
Use the questions below to help you prayerfully reflect individually and/or discuss as a DNA group.
How would you answer someone who asked you what it meant to be a “sinner”?
In what way(s) does your descriptor compare and contrast with Jesus’ description in chapter 18?
Do you think about sin much? How would you describe the importance or impact of sin (your own and others)?
What have you experienced in “the church” when you have sinned against another?
What have you experienced when another has sinned against you?
How do those experiences compare and contrast with Jesus’ description and commands in chapter 18?
Describe how you can call out, by calling back in.
ECHO
Kipling’s poem The Children’s Song, while written as a pledge to a nation, could easily be read as an oath to the kingdom of heaven. I’ve changed a few of the words to make the connection more explicit. May these words echo in your mind, your heart, and your courageous actions this week.
Land of our [eternal] Birth, we pledge to thee
Our love and toil in the years to be;
When we are grown and take our place,
As men and women with our [faith family].
Father in Heaven who lovest all.
Oh help Thy children when they call;
That they may build from age to age,
An undefiled heritage.
Teach us to bear [Thy] yoke in youth,
With steadfastness and careful truth;
That, in our time, Thy Grace may give
The Truth whereby the [Kingdom] live.
Teach us to rule ourselves alway.
Controlled and clearly night and day;
That we may bring, if need arise,
No maimed or worthless sacrifice.
Teach us to look in all our ends,
On Thee for judge, and not our friends;
That we, with Thee, may walk uncowed
By fear or favour of the crowd.
Teach us the Strength that cannot seek,
By deed or thought, to hurt the weak;
That under Thee, we may possess
[Thy] strength to comfort man’s distress.
Teach us Delight in simple things,
And Mirth that has not bitter springs;
Forgiveness free of evil done,
And love to all persons ‘neath the sun!
Land of our [eternal] Birth, our faith, our pride,
For whose dear sake our [faith parents] died;
Oh [Kingdom of Heaven] we pledge to thee,
Head, heart, and hand through the years to be!