The Care of God’s Children Matthew 18: 10 - 14 See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. (v. 10)

Introduction Paul wrote to the Corinthians, the church does not include “many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things that are strong.” (1 Cor. 1:26-27) It is not a person’s human greatness but his spiritual humility that the Lord honors and blesses A person must be willing to become one of Christ’s “little ones” to enter the kingdom of heaven Matthew 18:10-14 teaches about caring for one another as believers

The Rule (v. 10a) “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones.” (18:10a) To “look down on” one of God’s believers is to consider them inferior to you. Christians look down on other believers when they: Show partiality Withhold help from those who need it Ridicule the physical appearance of a person Are judgmental of a fellow believer who spiritually stumbles Resent a fellow Christian who confronts their sinfulness Take advantage of another person for personal gain

Three Reasons to Not Look Down on One of God’s Believers Believers’ Relationship to Angels Believers’ Relationship to Christ Believers’ Relationship to the Father

Believers’ Relationship to Angels (v. 10b) “For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (18:10b) God is so concerned about the care of His beloved little children that He has a host of angels in His presence ready to be dispatched to their needs. These angels in heaven live in the very presence of God, where they wait attentively for His commands to serve the people of His love

Believers’ Relation to Christ (vv. 11-13) “What do you think? If any man owns one 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, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.” (18:11-13) Pharisees and scribes considered the uneducated and lower classes to be morally and religiously inferior and worth little Jesus would never treat anyone as being inferior This parable teaches two things Christ’s love is personal and individual Just as concerned when a poor believer in the slums wanders away from Him as when a respected church leader stumbles God’s seeking care Does not wait for a lost sheep to return on its own but personally goes as far into the wilderness as necessary to find and rescue it

Believers’ Relation to the Father (v. 14) “In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” (18:14) God does not want a single one of His little ones to be spiritually wounded or marred When His children fall into sin it: Destroys their usefulness to Him and to the church Undercuts their happiness Undercuts their right relationship to Him and to one another

Conclusion John MacArthur concludes this section speaks powerfully to the church today Body of Christ is filled with believers who look down on their spiritual brothers and sisters Treating them with indifference and rudeness They consider them unworthy of special care and ministry Do you agree with John MacArthur’s conclusion? Why or why not?