Matthew Chapter 18: 1-14 Pt 1 Who Is Greatest In The Kingdom? Christ The KING Presbyterian Ministries, Rev Paul Wallace APC
Paul Wallace
Ordained Pastor, Both Conventional & Social Media Ministries, Fire Department Chaplain, Maintenance Worker 1, Certified Safety Professional, Proven Governmental Leader, True Team Builder, You will love all of this resume
Matthew Chapter 18: 1-14 Pt 1 Who Is Greatest In The Kingdom?
Video Introduction: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9X9dEvRH5T/?igsh=MTM0bXhydjgweDExeg%3D%3D
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I want to apologize for what looks like a lengthy introduction, and also to our Lesson, the Lesson thought I just saw today, and thought it really needed addressing in context as it goes to the heart of what Jesus seems to be dealing with, the Disconnected, Self-Righteous, “Overworked” Pastor.
I will past the post and a blunt observation in the lesson.
As we start Matthew Chapter 18, it might be interesting to note that when a “Reformed” Presbyterian Prospective Pastor Is examined they are most likely going to be asked, “Where in the Bible do you find Church Discipline laid out?”
The answer of Course is Matthew 18, and yet, the narrowness of using Matthew 18, is another proof of the Danger of Fracturing the Passage, and 90% of Matthew 18 is about chasing after the Lost, and the Standard of Forgiveness.
This means of course, when a person has gone through the Steps of being unrepentant, and are excommunicated, the Church is under the obligation to leave the 99 and chase after the one, though sadly this seems to get read as a toss out of the fellowship and have nothing to do with them, next time we will dig in on that, but a sober reading of Matthew 18 makes one realize it is about a rescue effort.
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That brings us back to who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
I do want you to answer this from the first century perspective, as Jesus’s answer is stunning.
We will see this in the lesson and the proofs, for now, let’s run to worship.
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Call to Worship
Ps 122:1 ? <<A Song of Ascents, of David.>> I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
(NAS95)
Processional
When Morning Gilds The Sky
St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, New York City, New York (Service Streamed Live Sunday’s at 11:00AM on Facebook)
Passing of the Peace of Christ
May The Peace Of Christ Be With You
ALL: And Also With You
Please Take A Minute To Pass The Peace Of Christ On Facebook
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Hymn
Just As I am
The Episcopal Cathedral Church Of St Peter & St. Paul, Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
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First Reading
1st Samuel 16:1-13
1 ? Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons."
?2 But Samuel said, "How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'
?3 "You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you."
?4 So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, "Do you come in peace?"
?5 He said, "In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
?6 ? When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him."
?7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
?8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."
?9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, 'The LORD has not chosen this one either."
?10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."
?11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
?12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is he."
?13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
This Is The Word Of The LORD
Response: Thanks Be To GOD!!
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The LORD’S Prayer & Apostles Creed
Matthew 6:9 ? And Jesus said "In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
?10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
?11 Give us this day our daily bread.
?12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
?13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
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Christian What Do You Believe?
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Catholic Church; (this is the Holy World Wide Church of Jesus Christ and not singled out to the Roman Catholic Church) The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.
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The Doxology
Praise GOD From Whom All Blessings Flow
Faith Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, Washington, Mr. Ron Bechtle Organist
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Second Reading
Mt 18:1 ? At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
?2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,
?3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
?4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
?5 "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;
?6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
?7 ? "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
?8 "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.
?9 "If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.
?10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
?11 "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
?12 "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?
?13 "If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
?14 "So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
?15 ? "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
?16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
?17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
?18 "Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
?19 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
?20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."
?21 ? Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
?22 Jesus *said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
?23 "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
?24 "When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
?25 "But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.
?26 "So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.'
?27 "And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.
?28 "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.'
?29 "So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.'
?30 "But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.
?31 "So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.
?32 "Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
?33 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?'
?34 "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.
?35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
(NAS95)
The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ
Response: All Glory To YOU LORD Christ!
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Who Is Greatest In The Kingdom Of Heaven?
As I promised I wanted to address a plague in the Church Leadership, it stems I believe from a demographic bent on destroying Christ Church, and propagated by “Experts Consultants” who have achieved NOTHING but the rapid Closing of Churches!
It provided Churches with wet noses Leadership, having never born the scars of worldly employment, or economic distress in a particular area of the world.
Here is the Post, and be honest think of all the things you have to do each week, and just if you are a member of the Elders & Deacons of your Congregation, much of this list you do as well as work a full time job!
This why I ask you to Pray for your leadership as most have never been in the real world,
?Published by the XXXXX XXXXX Church, South Carolina.
I am thankful that there is also joy and blessings in the Lord’s service. Here’s what was published…
“Being a Pastor is listed among the four most difficult professions in the United States
because a Pastor must be:
?Preacher
?Example
?Father
?Husband
?Counselor
?Conference caller
?Planner
?Minister
?Visionary
?Director
?Mentor
?Friend
?Reconciliator
?Marriage counselor
?Youth Counselor
领英推荐
?Leader's trainer
?Bible teacher
?Intercessor etc etc
Besides being:
?Keeper of the temple
?Cleaning staff
Every Pastor constantly confronts many different things, such as:
The Pastor doesn't visit me. (Did you ask him?)
Sermon was too long.
The music was too loud.
The building is too cold.
Etc....
One of the most difficult things in the life of a Pastor is to know that at some point the people they love will abandon or even betray them.
The Pastor is often the loneliest person in the congregation.
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To we Pastors, just remember we are whining to our Congregants that have to drive each way to work in all kinds of weather 5 to 6 days a week, work swing shifts, deal with their families, stress over making each Paycheck stretch, try to give time to community and Church, worry of layoffs, maintain their homes, and yet we Pastors seem to think our list is arduous, do yourself a favor Hire Pastors in their 50’s & up, and get a life worn Pastor!
Now to the lesson
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Lesson Text
Mt 18:1 ? At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
?2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,
?3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
?4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
?5 "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;
?6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
?7 ? "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
?8 "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.
?9 "If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.
?10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
?11 "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
?12 "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?
?13 "If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
?14 "So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
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1: Who Would We Naturally Think?
2: Who Does Jesus Say Is Greatest?
3: Why Is This Stunning?
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1: Who Would We Naturally Think?
Coming on the heals of the Transfiguration, one might think the 3 Apostle witnesses might be a little indignant over the question, as though unable to speak on what they saw, they sure did see them, Elijah, and Moses, and perhaps would have been able to drop a hint.
But it appears they are silent on just who, so the question stands.
In the Past I might have said “ The apostle Paul,? David, indeed Moses and Elijah, ?Noah, Abraham, just to name a few.
In the first Century, it is fully important to understand just how Children and for that matter women too are thought of.
We will talk about this in the next point, but for a second, let’s remember just how quickly this is asked, and ponder a second on just why?
I firmly believe it because the Natural Default of Mankind’s Heart is to believe we are just short of the Kingdom of Heaven, and for the most part actually a good person, I want to credit the Late Dr. Timothy Keller ?of Redeemer Presbyterian, New York City, for the wording, “default of our Heart” as it is fully a correct analysis, but as he knew and is a fact Jesus actually and Bluntly tells us who is good, and it is crystal clear : Mt 19:17 (NKJV) So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is], God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Mt 19:17 (NAS95) And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Mt 19:17 (YLT) And he said to him, `Why me dost thou call good? no one [is] good except One--God; but if thou dost will to enter into the life, keep the commands.'
I really don’t want to confuse anyone here, but the reason we have multiple Bible Versions IS NOT A BAD thing, as we are translating 1st Century Greek into, 21st Century English, and this is a Time when our Default Bible The New American Standard 95 is accurate Word for Word, but the New King James and Youngs Litteral more understandable Thought for Thought.
In the Greek it actually say what the NASB95 says, and Yet when Jesus declares only ONE Who is Good, HE is saying the TRIUNE GOD alone.
So, to get to the Point Jeus really is saying NO one but GOD alone is Good!
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2: Who Does Jesus Say Is Greatest?
Now who does Jesus pick as the Greatest, and please understand this is culturally Earth shaking!
Mt 18:1 ? At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
?2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,
?3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
?4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
?5 "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;
As we have walked through the Bible, and will see in future Chapters it is ingrained in the Culture that Children are to be seen and not heard, and away from the adults.
In our very next Chapter, just a few days after HE gave the example of the Children, the Apostles Still rebuke those who bring the Kids to Jesus!
Mt 19:13 ? Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
?14 But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
?15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.
And again, Jesus has to bluntly tell them how these Children are looked upon in Heaven!
Here is the Old Testament example of David
This example will be long so we will go onto the next point after we read it, it is important for context Not to skip over it, 1Sa 16:1 ? Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons."
?2 But Samuel said, "How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'
?3 "You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you."
?4 So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, "Do you come in peace?"
?5 He said, "In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
?6 ? When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him."
?7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
?8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."
?9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, 'The LORD has not chosen this one either."
?10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."
?11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
?12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is he."
?13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
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3: Why Is This Stunning?
Quickly, you noticed David, though a Son, and Brother was not part of the religious family and this puts him at about under or near 12 years old.
His initial exclusion is carried on Culturally (if we are honest even today) to the 1st Century and beyond, so I would humbly suggest that there is absolutely NO way the Apostles were prepared for Jesus’s answer, and yet this impossibility is exactly the point.
You see, in the twisted understanding of the plagues the Church, Synagogue, Mosque, and you can insert your faith practice, the Church calls this Arminianism, and it like each of the aforementioned Religions places salvation in the hand of Mankind, suggesting Mankind can actually accept Salvation in Jesus Christ alone, and can become Good by striving each week to do so.
And Yet what did Jesus Bluntly say to the Rich Young man; Mt 19:17 (NKJV) So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is], God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
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And yet in 90% of Presbyterian Churches (I single out we Presbyterians as I have explained in the past) we will hear the third point declare of the “Pastor’s” message tell us what “we must do” as if we can, and not “Look how the HOLY SPIRIT conforms us to be more and more Christ Like!”
You see, Each Presbyterian Pastor has to swear they understand Calvin’s TULIP in their Theological Exams, that is as we have said previously,
Total Depravity: Let’s let Jesus answer this Mt 19:17 (NKJV) So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is], God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
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Unconditional Election: Our Election Is Preordained, and needed to be as a Dead man cannot come to life and accept
Limited Atonement: Though powerful enough, Jesus say HIMSELF, Not all who say LORD, LORD will enter Heaven, those who are HIS elect are Fully Purchased
Irresistible Call : Dead in our sin, We are Awaken By the HOLY SPIRIT and Praise GOD Can’t say No
Perseverance Of The Saints : All That the FATHER Gives ME I shall NEVER Loose
Please Listen this weekend, and When the Pastor Starts His or Her Third Point, the minute they Tell You how you have to change or get better at something, pay them the courtesy of getting up and walking out, as the Sermon IS NOT GOD Honoring, but Your leaving IS!
In Christ alone
Pastor Paul
Our Next Lesson in this series opens our Eyes to the misuse and understanding of “Church Discipline”
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Hymn Rejoyce The LORD Is KING
Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis, Tennessee Mr. Samuel Metzger Organist
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The Feast Of Our LORD
1st Corinthians 11:23 ? For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
?24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
?25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
?26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
?27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
?28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
?29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
Hymn
All Glory Laud And Honor
Faith Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, Washington, Mr. Ron Bechtle Organist
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The LORD’S Benediction
Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
?21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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Let Us Go Forth And Love & Proclaim Our Risen LORD And Savior Jesus Christ
Response By All: Thanks Be To GOD, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, AMEN!
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Recessional
Ye Watchers And Ye Holy Ones
St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, New York City, New York (Service Streamed Live Sunday’s at 11:00AM on Facebook)
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