28.04.2021
Mat 18:3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus stressed the importance of turning like a child here.
What is turning like a child?
Is it lifelong depending on somebody for everything?
In our convent life we were taught that being obedient to a ‘Superior” lifelong is virtue to be practiced and a higher form of spirituality. Even when you are asked to do something against your conscience, you should not use your common sense, but always should obey the superior because even for the mistakes one does, the “Superior” will be responsible and be held punishable and not the one who does the mistake. Is this what Jesus meant by turning like a child? Not at all.
Some parents, even after marriage of their children, may want them to consult the parents for everything and get their permission every little thing they do, like they did in their childhood. Is this Jesus meant by becoming a child?
Children do not take any decision by themselves, rather rush to their parents with questions like
“Can I do this”?, “Can I eat it”? etc
Sometimes, people just to avoid taking responsibilities, behave like children. Is this that Jesus meant by the above verse?
No Not at all. He made it very clear in the next verse.
Mat 18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
One who humbles himself is considered to be “child” here, and the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
When a person accepts Jesus Christ, he attains the nature and character of Jesus. Consequently, the first quality he attains is humility.
The short tempered person, the aggressive person becomes humble like a child. Using this opportunity, people or the society may exploit him. In dividing property, shares he might be cheated and deceived.
Because they know for sure that even when betrayed or exploited. he will not sue them in court and will not claim anything for himself,
Mat 18:5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.”
Because they reflect the image of Jesus Christ.
Once such a change happens in a person, he becomes vulnerable to all the evils in the society. Then how can he survive in an evil society? How will his family survive?
What is the protection given to such people by Jesus Christ in this world?.
The next verse comes to his rescue. If anyone tries to deceive, exploit, manipulate, and to rob such a person, of his due rights in a society, family or in the country, the Lord Himself will take action against that person and his condition will be worse than fastening a millstone around his neck and drowning in the depth of the sea.
Mat 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Today, in our nation, the condition of the our political leaders is the same.
Christians are minority. The nature of Christians are obvious ; they never react when they are persecuted, they do not retort when their due rights are taken away. It is just because they reflect the humble nature of their Master Jesus Christ who offered Himself for sufferings and an unjust death on the cross.
Taking advantage of this situation, if anybody thinks of looting them, exploiting them and think of undermining their rights and discriminating them, Christians may not retort but the above verse will judge the persecutors. The judgement of verse Mat 18:6 will come upon them.
Let us plead mercy for our political leaders, religious leaders and ask the Lord for forgiveness.
May the Lord have mercy on our nation! May the blood of Jesus cleanse our nation!
