Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Good morning and welcome back!
This morning, if you will start turning in your Bibles back to Matthew chapter 18.
This morning we are going to be looking at verses 10-20 and tonight we are going to dive into verses 21-35.
This morning’s message is titled Sheep and Sinners and if you make it back tonight, we are going to look at the subject of Have Mercy!
And when you are looking at the Scripture itself, it may seem like the two subjects are not tied together at all, but really they are very connected to one another.
And if you recall where we were last Sunday night, we began looking at chapter 18 and the disciples apparent inability to see past their own ambitions to actually see who God was calling them to be.
We looked at their argument among themselves about which one of them was going to be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.
And we know that Jesus was very quick to rebuke them and to teach them something about God’s Kingdom and what it actually means to be “great” in God’s kingdom.
The worst part of it all though was that Jesus had to keep teaching them this lesson over and over again and they never really got it until after Jesus was gone.
And many times we tend to do the same thing.
God teaches us things over and over and over again.
And we never fully grasp what God is telling us until something bad happens and that tends to be the only thing that really gets our full attention.
And the entire crux of what Jesus is trying to teach his disciples (and us) is that God’s kingdom is vastly different than the kingdoms that we build up here on earth.
In God’s kingdom, love, kindness, mercy, grace, and forgiveness are the things that determine greatness.
Whereas here we think things like money, power, fame, and fortune determine greatness.
Jesus tells us that none of those things matter and really we need to stop doing whatever it takes to get those things.
Our priorities are skewed and if we really want to achieve greatness, then we need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and actions.
Because the way we are going leads us down a road to sin, which leads to death, which leads to hell.
And we may even cause others to go down that same path, to which Jesus tells us it is better to have a millstone tied to us and drown in the sea than to do that.
And that whole conversation leads up to what Jesus is going to continue to teach his disciples in our Scripture for today.
So, if you have found in your Bibles I’d invite you to stand with me if you are able.
Starting in verse 10, Matthew writes . . .
Scripture Focus
The Lost Sheep (vs 10-14)
So, just by looking at this passage, we can tell that Jesus is going to be talking about two different but related subjects here.
First, though he finishes up this discussion about the little ones, which is referring to His Children, His followers, His disciples.
And to that he say . . .
Matthew 18:10
Now, at first glance you may be thinking that these verses do not really make much sense.
After all, what do children/God’s children have to do with angels?
Well, it’s not nearly as complicated as we try to make it.
Ever heard of guardian angels?
This is what Jesus is really talking about here.
In thinking about the passage from last Sunday night, what he is saying here in a nutshell is that we had better watch out in how these little ones are being treated.
Whether those little ones are actual children or God’s children.
And I have to say, not all people are God’s children, as some would like to teach.
In order to be God’s child, you have to first accept Jesus Christ.
Now, all people are God’s creation, but not all people are God’s children.
And God loves all people, not willing that any should perish, but God commands that all must come to repentance.
And that repentance can only come through Christ.
And only THEN do we become God’s child.
And people don’t like to hear that because it’s not as warm and fuzzy as the false teaching that “we’re all God’s children.”
To those that are teaching that, I say read your Bible, because it says otherwise.
But for God’s children (and children in general), Jesus is alluding to the fact that they have angels watching out for them.
And Jesus says that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
In other words their angels have full access to God and since there is nothing that gets past God, there is nothing that is going to get past these angels either.
And, in thinking about God’s love and God’s care, and even God’s assignment of angels to His children, Jesus is now going to talk to them about a scenario when one of the children wander away.
And he is going to do so in the form of a parable . . .
Matthew 18:12
Not very flattering, but Jesus once again compares people to sheep, but notice he calls his children sheep, and not goats.
And he says, lets just imagine for a minute that God is like a farmer who owns 100 sheep and one of them wanders off and gets lost.
What’s the farmer going to do, just leave it be and not worry about it?
After all, it’s just one sheep, no big deal, I’ve got 99 more.
No, the farmer will go and hunt for that sheep and do all he can to find it and bring it back home.
And when He finds the sheep and brings the sheep back home, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.
And then Jesus draws the comparison . . .
And just to drive the point home, records the same parable.
And not to repeat the whole parable, picking up in . . .
Luke 15:5-
Which goes right back to the very point that . . .
However . . .
And it is because of that, that God is so diligent in doing all he can to convince us to come to Him.
To put our faith in Him.
We have free will and God is not going to force us, but He will do everything He can to show us the truth.
And when we do come home, there is rejoicing in heaven.
Whether we have never accepted Jesus, or whether we wandered away and returned, the same rejoicing takes place.
But there is also another part to this as well.
We should also be like the farmer.
We shouldn’t just be satisfied with the 99 that are safe.
We should also be doing everything in our power, everything we can to bring that lost sheep home.
Sometimes all we can do is pray, but many times we can do more.
We should never quit and we should never give up.
And sometimes we want to give up because we get frustrated and angry.
And sometimes when we try we get shut down, insulted, done wrong, and angry.
Which is what Jesus addresses next.
Again, Matthew writes . . .
Forgiving Others (vs 15-20)
And remember these verses because they will become relevant again tonight.
But in essence Jesus is telling his disciples how to handle disputes in the church, between Christians.
And really he is telling us all how we AS CHRISTIANS should handle disputes.
Instead of gossiping to the neighbors or other church people.
Instead of posting on Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat . . .
Matthew 18:
Notice, Jesus says to go and show him his fault, and the most important part just between the two of you.
Don’t make a big scene and go squawking about.
Just go and try and talk it out between the two of you, and if he listens to you, you have won your brother over!
And then, the matter is over.
Drop it and let it go.
Don’t go away saying, “I’ll forgive but I will never forget.”
Let it go, it is done.
You can’t change the past of what has happened.
You have been reconciled, just move on and let it go.
But, what happens if your brother is, shall we say, a little on the stubborn side.
Matthew 18:
So, basically have someone to mediate.
And this is for both inside and outside the church.
And again, leave the Facebook and Snapchat alone.
It don’t belong there.
But now, if that doesn’t work, if the person is a Christian or claims to be a Christian and you have exhausted all other avenues . . .
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