S208 Seeing the Scandal of Sin (Matthew 18.5-10)

First, we get a better point of view of how we ought to view one another. This is an instruction we receive directly from Jesus, which is an additionally special point.

Second, we get a better grasp and appreciation for the whole teaching in Matthew 18, as well as for God’s word in general. Often, we pick and choose which sections of scripture we need to study and read through. Frequently, this means we are picking texts out of their surrounding teaching and context. This is not always WRONG or a disaster, but it can dampen the impact or understanding of what the Lord wants us to learn. As we work through Matthew 18, beginning to end, we are working through a section of teaching Jesus gave in one setting. Just like Matthew 5-7 is one sermon (the Sermon on the Mount), Matthew 18 is one teaching to answer the misguided question we see in Matthew 18.1.

2. Not the first time I’ve worked through Matthew 18

I have worked through parts of this text in the past as an intern. I have also taught various parts of this text to the congregation, including Matthew 18.15-20.

It is easy to assume when you’ve spent some hours working through a text and teaching it, you have a pretty good grasp on the text. But this is the beauty of God’s word: it is not exhausted by one, two, or even three times working through the lessons.

3. Even this week, I’ve learned more

I have struggled with outlining the text. One of the best ways I have found to learn and understand a text is to outline it. To decide HOW the progress of thought is developed. In the style of preaching I prefer (expository), when you have correctly outlined the text, you have outlined the lesson. If we want to know the meaning of the text, we need to know the progression of thought.

I have had some struggles with Matthew 18 in the past. There are some difficult sections to see how they relate to one another. To be honest, I am not the only one who has these struggles:

—Translations differ (scholarly committees) and they divide the chapter differently, assuming different sections go together.

—Historically, it seems Christians have struggled to understand how these thoughts all connect. As we see in our passage, today, Matthew 18.11 has what is called a “textual variant” (I will explain more later), which was, apparently, previous Christians adding a phrase they thought Jesus must have said to make the whole teaching make more sense in their minds.

As I have struggled with this concept, to understand the details, I have become more clear on what I think Jesus is teaching us. He is teaching us about the importance of our brethren, in light of the question regarding greatness. This importance has something to do with sin and forgiveness.

B. The Problem: Matthew 18.1

1. Trying to be “greater” than others

A sickness of “comparisons.” I want to feel better by comparing myself to others.

Two problems:

1) Others are NOT the standard (that would be Jesus…how’s that comparison going?)

2) Pulls others down in my mind

2. A heart matter

This reveals a problem in a person’s heart. Specifically, the hearts of these disciples.

Good thing we never struggle with this heart problem, right? Right?

3. Root of the matter: Not seeing one another the right way

C. Jesus is correcting the problem: How I see my brother

1. Answer: Defining true greatness (Matthew 18.2-4)

He wants them to understand true greatness is NOT what the world thinks. He uses this child in their midst as an example of the humble attitude they are to have toward themselves and others.

2. Warning: Preventing a problem (Matthew 18.5-11)

The problem: If I am trying to be greater than my brother, why not help myself out a bit? I might try and encourage them to sin or set an obstacle in their way.

ILLUSTRATION: Imagine you were trying to run a race. If it were fair, you might try and give yourself a slight leg up. If it was unfair (imagine trying to run against an Olympic runner), you would need a head start, to put obstacles in the way, you might even trip the opponent.

From a spiritual sense, what would this look like? If I am trying to be greater than my brother, I might be tempted to put an obstacle in his way. I might be tempted to cause my brother to stumble.

Jesus wants us to understand that true greatness sees the danger of sin, not only in my life, but also the danger of trying to allow or introduce it into my brother’s life.

3. Instruction: Seeing the value (Matthew 18.12-20)

Jesus explains the true value of a brother would not only prevent me from putting an obstacle in his path, but would reveal a heart within me trying to save them from sin. Going after them when they are struggling and lost in their own snares and temptations.

4. Question: Giving forgiveness (Matthew 18.21-35)

In true “Peter form” our favorite out-spoken apostle seems to “prove” how great and humble he is. He truly gets Jesus’ teaching, and wants to show it (of course, this would not be a method to try and show himself to be greater than his brethren…nope, Peter would never do that). He asks about how many times he must forgive his brother, if he has the right sense of value of his brethren, just as Jesus has instructed.

This gives Jesus the chance to PROVE how much we should value our brothers.

5. This all works together to get our minds in the right spot: Our brethren are very valuable

Rather than trying to out do one another, or get ahead to be greater, we ought to be valuing one another.

True value for our brethren comes when we see one another the way God sees us.

D. We need to see one another clearly?

1. Our annual theme: “Seeing Clearly With 20/20 Spiritual Vision”

This affects all areas of our lives. We need to see the world, people, situations, and spiritual truths with the eyes and wisdom of God.

2. This means we must see one another clearly

As brethren in Christ, we ought to be the most important people in one another’s lives. More than blood relatives, more dedicated to one another than other human relationships. Why? Because we are in the same spiritual family seeking God’s kingdom together.

3. What if we are trying to compare ourselves to one another?

We often try to feel better than one another, or better than what we used to be through comparisons.

We think we are doing worse because we compare ourselves to someone we look up to in their spiritual walk. We think we are doing better because we see someone who is struggling with sin or spiritual insight.

Truly, it means we have not seen one another correctly.

4. When left to its own devices, this comparison mindset might allow me to try to “get ahead”

Maybe I try and level the playing field. Maybe I try to push myself and my own value to the church, the Lord, the kingdom of God a bit further.

But rather than becoming more spiritual and growing in my own walk, I might try and drag others down.

How might I do this? Like in a race, we might put obstacles in the way of our brethren.

E. We cannot set obstacles in the way of someone we love

1. Jesus shows the RIGHT way to value our brethren (Matthew 18.5)

2. He goes in to describe the WRONG way to value our brethren (Matthew 18.6-9)

3. He warns that God will see and understand when we have the wrong perspective (Matthew 18.10)

BODY

I. Right Value: Receive Your Brethren (Matthew 18.5)

A. A shift in the illustration

1. Previously the child

There was a literal child in their midst. Jesus was using this illustration to communicate true greatness.

2. Now: “one such child...”

From become like children and as this child, into a new type of phrasing pointing away from the specific to the principle the specific child is illustrating.

Now, Jesus says, one such child in Mt 18.5 and in Mt 18.6, He says these little ones.

3. Children and little ones = God’s people

Those who are in the kingdom of heaven. Those who are greatest and who have entered into this kingdom of heaven. These are the people of God; you and me.

B. Receive…in My name (Matthew 18.5)

1. Receiving means to accept and welcome

Even in the faults and problems of your brethren. You are welcoming them and embracing them as much as Jesus is welcoming and embracing you (as HIs child).

2. In the name of Jesus

In the authority and purpose of Jesus. This is not just for the sake of being nice to others, but reaching out in relationship to our brethren as if we were Jesus reaching out to them.

This means we are obeying the instructions of Jesus as His disciples.

3. Receives Jesus

The result is we are receiving Jesus. It is as if when we look at our brethren with proper humility and we embrace and accept them in their weakness and short comings, we are accepting Jesus.

C. Point: Loving humility toward your brethren

1. This is in contrast to the comparison for greatness

They started trying to see how they could be better than one another. It would make sense they would try and look for faults and avoid someone who was “not to standard” for them.

2. This is what demonstrates true greatness in the kingdom of heaven

True greatness in God’s kingdom has to do with our humility and accepting others who may be rejected by the world.

This is especially true with our relationships to one another. Instead of comparing, instead of rejecting, we are accepting.

3. This is the RIGHT attitude

D. There is a potential problem causing the root of the question:

1. “How can I get ahead?”

2. “What am I willing to do to get ahead?”

II. Wrong Value: Set Up Obstacles (Matthew 18.6-9)

A. Obstacles and stumbling blocks

1. Definition: snare or occasion to fall

Something that will catch you and trip you. It can be literal (like to catch an animal) or figurative (like a mental hangup you just can’t get past).

These are “scandals.” I think we get our English word from this Greek word: σκανδαλιζω (scandalizo).

What is so scandalous? Inappropriate? Wrong?

2. In the context: sin

It is something that causes a SPIRITUAL stumble in a SPIRITUAL kingdom. This is especially true for the sins and temptations in the lives of God’s children.

See the ultimate result of not taking Jesus seriously (as pointed out in Matthew 18.8-9: eternal fire and fiery hell.

A stumbling block or obstacle is something that causes sin.

B. You better not be responsible (Matthew 18.6-7)

1. This is the OPPOSITE of what you should be doing

Remember the RIGHT way: to accept your brethren. This is in contrast.

2. It would be better to die than to be responsible for sin in my brother’s life (Mt 18.6)

Jesus uses the idea of a person drowning. This is a terrible, certain punishment in the illustration.

Terrible: cold, dark, drowning

Certain: a heavy millstone around your neck (no getting out of this)

3. These things will come…but not from you (Mt 18.7)

Jesus says these sorts of temptations, obstacles, enticements to sin are all around the world. He says, they are inevitable. Some translations (ESV, NKJV) use the word necessary.

In other words, they are all around and people will experience these things.

But the point Jesus makes here: It better not be you. Woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes.

It is not a good thing to be the one responsible for this sort of problem in a person’s life.

What might this look like?

Obvious: I set something in your way I think will cause you to sin. I set out a pornographic magazine. I ask you to tell me the latest gossip. I entice you to drink alcohol until you’re drunk.

Less obvious: downplaying a sin in your life to encourage you to keep up at it. Maybe I tell you it’s okay to gossip…so long as it’s true. Maybe I tell you it’s okay to steal…so long as it’s the government’s property.

Less obvious: encouraging someone to sin WITH you because you want to sin and want to be justified. Telling stories to one another that are inappropriate. Cussing in front of the “boys.” Giving some answers to a test so maybe I feel good about my own cheating.

These temptations will come…but we better not be the ones to introduce them.

4. "Why so serious?”

What’s the big deal? Didn’t Jesus say these temptations and obstacles were inevitable (or in some translations, necessary) in Mt 18.7?

If that is the case, if they are so inevitable, why would it be a big deal that I am the one through whom the temptation comes?

C. The seriousness of sin (Matthew 18.8-9)

1. A familiar teaching (Matthew 5.29-30)

Matthew 5:29–30 NASB95

“If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

This is not the first time Jesus has mentioned this teaching. Presumably, these men would be familiar with the teaching and perspective (that is one of the points…it only makes sense if these men are familiar with this teaching and concept).

He introduces a familiar concept to these men to help them understand His previous answer about the millstone and drowning.

2. Point of the expression is to communicate the seriousness of sin

It is so serious, there is nothing stopping you from getting rid of sin and the instruments of sin in your life.

Though not literal (God doesn’t want us to cut our hands and feet off), it is literal in its intensity. You must be willing to get rid of whatever hinders and causes sin in your life.

3. Why does Jesus say that here?

Isn’t Jesus’ point about my brother? Hasn’t He just been talking about not putting obstacles in the way of others?

The logic progression:

→ Sin is VERY bad…so bad, that you would be willing to do anything to get rid of whatever might cause you to sin

→ If sin is so bad you would be willing to go to these extremes to get rid of the cause of it…how much more would God do to get rid of the cause of sin?

→ Because sin is so bad, and you should not want it in your brother’s life, you will understand the severity of

D. Point: If sin is this serious, you keep EVERYONE away

1. Main focus is your brethren

2. You know to keep sin out of your life

3. It all about the way we see sin and how scandalous sin is…why would we let that be in our brother’s life?

E. A warning if we don’t heed this mindset toward sin

III. God’s Warning: He Sees Our Attitude (Matthew 18.10)

A. An odd statement

1. We had a flow of thought

The question→ the answer/illustration→ the RIGHT answer→ the WRONG answer→ the illustration of how serious sin is.

2. It is verses like this that make us wonder what is going on in the teaching

They seem out of place, at first. We wonder what the point of this phrase might be?

Sometimes, we give up when we can’t understand it. Other times, we draw an odd conclusion the rest of the text doesn’t support.

But, if we remember to keep it in the context of the overall teaching, we might just learn what it was all about.

3. It is verses like this that help us tie everything together

Points us back to the attitude and heart issue at question.

The question: Who then is greatest...

The heart issue: See that you do not despise… (the reality of what these men were doing)

B. Do not despise one of these little ones (Matthew 18.10a)

1. Despise means to look down upon someone

To see them as unimportant. Not to take them seriously.

2. This is how they were comparing themselves to one another

They think they are better than another brother. They disregard, dismiss, think of them as unimportant.

3. This is the attitude that would allow me to introduce sin into someone else’s life

If someone was not important, then it would be okay for me to get ahead of them. Why would it matter if I allowed sin into my brother’s life if it got me ahead of them?

C. Why not? Because of the angels… (Matthew 18.10b)

1. Angels are communicating with God

An angel is a messenger (that is what the word means). It seems there might be angels assigned to God’s people to help in the “reporting” of what we are doing and what is happening to us.

We don’t know a ton about these spiritual beings, but a helpful verse that might illuminate some: Hebrews 1.14.

Hebrews 1:14 NASB95

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

Angels have a purpose to serve God in some capacity that involves us, it would seem.

2. What this is NOT saying

Many connect the idea of children and angels and say there are guardian angels.

Remember, the little ones are us…God’s people.

These are not angels as “guards.” They don’t stop things from happening, they are only reporting what happens to God.

3. What this is saying

There seems to be some report between us and God via these spiritual beings. The focus is not upon the angel, but rather the fact that if we are introducing sin into our brother’s life, God will know about it. It will not go unnoticed.

4. What do we learn?

God cares about us. So much so that He has given messengers to watch out for what is happening to us. But this is only a side detail we learn.

The main point: God will know if we are introducing sin into the life of a brother.

D. Point: Don’t disregard your brethren…God will know

CONCLUSION

A. The root problem: comparison

1. Trying to be greater than my brother

2. Having pride and feeling better about self

B. What might I be tempted to do?

1. Anything to get ahead

2. Let me introduce sin into my brother’s life…then I will be greater

C. Jesus: Have the right attitude

1. NOT comparing…but rather accepting

2. Sin is terrible…don’t be responsible

3. God is watching and will know our attitude toward one another

D. When we compare, have we been tempted to cheer for others’ failures?

1. Do we feel better when we see a celebrity do something wrong?

2. Do we like to see our brother or sister in Christ struggling with sin…see how much MORE spiritual I am?

3. Do we encourage others to sin so we might feel justified or better?

E. The right attitude toward our brethren:

1. Accept them where they are and in their current situation

2. Try to help them keep sin out of their lives

F. Next Week: The Right Way to See Sin in Our Brother’s Life

1. Sin is so bad, we not only avoid putting it in a brother’s life, we try to get it out

2. It all starts with seeing how valuable even a lost brother is

3. It continues with knowing how to help one another out of sin in our lives

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