MATTHEW 18:1 THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM

[Doug]

Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The disciples wanted to know who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is the prophetic, Davidic, kingdom on earth, promised to Israel. Once again, it is the kingdom promised Israel, that is in view; it is not the revelations of Paul, nor his gospel, nor the body of Christ, that is the topic in Matthew.

Jesus was saying, to enter the kingdom, and be the greatest, they had to become as little children, and humble themselves. They were exalting themselves, in thinking, that they were worthy to be the greatest in the kingdom.

 

[Cassia]

Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The disciples wanted to know who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is the prophetic, Davidic, kingdom on earth, promised to Israel. Once again, it is the kingdom promised Israel, that is in view; it is not the revelations of Paul, nor his gospel, nor the body of Christ, that is the topic in Matthew.

Jesus was saying, to enter the kingdom, and be the greatest, they had to become as little children, and humble themselves. They were exalting themselves, in thinking, that they were worthy to be the greatest in the kingdom.

Because they were to judge the 12 tribes it sounds like they were asking who was to be appointed to the supreme court. Altho it isn’t stated which tribes each of the twelve disciples belonged to perhaps it’s safe to assume each were to be appointed over one tribe. But what Jesus was telling them it was to be from a position of submission to God and not to the ways of mankind, which Peter and John learnt fully after the resurrection.