Matthew 18 - Part 3

 

Read Matthew 18

Jesus continued to use the children to teach about heaven.  Don’t despise them.  In fact, when the angels in heaven look upon their faces, they see the face of the Father.

There is some unique syntax here that survives most translations.

See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Notice the words their angels in heaven.  You expect that Jesus doesn’t botch his syntax and that the proper syntax has survived multiple translations.  So, when Jesus said their angels in heaven, he meant their angels.

These little ones have angels assigned to them.  We think of angels in general.  Jesus notes that these children have angels specific to them.  Think on these two things before you look down upon a child.

1 – The angels see the face of God the Father on each child.

2 – Each child has angels assigned to look out for them.

Now Jesus relates a parable that we know best from Luke 15  If a man owns 100 sheep and one goes missing, will he not leave the 99 in the open country and go look for the one sheep?

Yes, he will and he will rejoice like crazy when he finds it.  Jesus said that his Father in heaven is just as passionate about these little children.  He is not willing that any should perish.

This is a little different from the story in Luke in that it focuses on the children, which could also be those who have only recently come to believe.  But the passion of the Father abides in both.

Don’t discount the kids or the new believers.  God desires none to perish.

Amen.