What Does This Mean?

[Edward]

Luke 18:17
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.../

Matthew 18:2-4
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

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.

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

It is repeated in scripture, so that would indicate that it is important and something we should not only learn but do. So I sit here and ponder the characteristics of little children. Is it their lack of a state of mind which is dishonest? (They say that only children and fools tell the truth), or perhaps their humbleness? What exactly do these scriptures speak of?

 

[KevinK]

It is their innocence.

 

[Willie T]

Kids have not yet become the kinds of people we are as adults.

 

[dirtfarmer]

Luke 18:17
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.../

Matthew 18:2-4
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

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.

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

It is repeated in scripture, so that would indicate that it is important and something we should not only learn but do. So I sit here and ponder the characteristics of little children. Is it their lack of a state of mind which is dishonest? (They say that only children and fools tell the truth), or perhaps their humbleness? What exactly do these scriptures speak of?

hello Edward, dirtfarmer here

Consider this; Who does a child look to for safety and to meet all their needs? It is their father, who should christians look to for their safety and to meet all thier needs? Is is not our heavenly Father? We have to have complete dependence , as a child does their earthly father, on our heavenly Father. Have you ever seen a little child that doesn't have complete faith in their father?

 

[Edward]

Right on, Brothers. I think you're both right. Their innocence...no guile in them. Maybe you guys said the same thing?! They're innocent and honest because they haven't yet learned to be as an adult. Adults have a dishonest mind. They have to keep up their image. I have no weakness. I know everything and am right. I can do it. I am qualified, I am...a man. That is radically dishonest. Little children, unlike adults will not lie to make themselves look better. Adults will. I can't let the world see that I don't know, I don't even want to admit this to myself (LOL)!

Is this also the reason that little children will trust a stranger? Because they themselves are honest? Adults don't want to trust anyone...because they themself are untrustworthy? And everyone knows how accepting the Lord will be to a dishonest mind. This is interesting.

 

[Edward]

hello Edward, dirtfarmer here

Consider this; Who does a child look to for safety and to meet all their needs? It is their father, who should christians look to for their safety and to meet all thier needs? Is is not our heavenly Father? We have to have complete dependence , as a child does their earthly father, on our heavenly Father. Have you ever seen a little child that doesn't have complete faith in their father?

You bring up a good point Brother. little children are willing to live by faith. The little ones trust their parents implicitly, as if perfectly assured that they will provide for all his wants. He knows he can do nothing, or almost nothing, towards the care of himself and the supply of his own wants; yet he feels no solicitudes, but lives along day by day on simple faith.

 

[Free]

Luke 18:17
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.../

Matthew 18:2-4
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

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.

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

It is repeated in scripture, so that would indicate that it is important and something we should not only learn but do. So I sit here and ponder the characteristics of little children. Is it their lack of a state of mind which is dishonest? (They say that only children and fools tell the truth), or perhaps their humbleness? What exactly do these scriptures speak of?

Look at the context: Mat 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

What we see is that the disciples were wondering about who was "the greatest in the kingdom of heaven," and it is in response to that that Jesus brings forward a child and then says those things. The whole point of what Jesus says in verse 3 is seen in verse 4--the need for humility; power and importance are irrelevant and can hinder.

 

[Hermit]

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

Q: What does it mean to be humble. A: To be unconditional.
Q: Why be humble. A: To becalm one's own ego-self from hijacking one's own mind. To stop the ego-mind from censoring anything that may expose it as a false-self (that is why it always seeks validity). It is the ego which runs amok like thieves at the temple (our temple). To be humble is equivalent to Jesus casting out the thieves from the temple (see Matthew 21:12-13).
Q: What's so good about being humble. A: With our ego put outside of our temple, our temple become vacant for Truth/God/Unconditional Love to take up residence. It is while being humble we allow ourselves to commune with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. It is in this state, we can discern what God's will is for us, and to gain the power (fearlessness) to carry it out.
Q: Why is this important. A: Without being humble, the ego-self is mainly concerned about building up self-esteem, which are deceptive cover-stories veiling its truth. It will get us to focus on the visible world of impressions. This way of life is based on ego-fears and self-deception. While being humble, the truth about our self, and the truth about Truth becomes revealed. Unconditional Love becomes the Glory and the Light of God within us. All becomes clear, even the invisible. This way of life is based on love and Truth.
Q: What is the benefits of being humble. A: Truth-filled Living.

 

[Edward]

Look at the context: Mat 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

What we see is that the disciples were wondering about who was "the greatest in the kingdom of heaven," and it is in response to that that Jesus brings forward a child and then says those things. The whole point of what Jesus says in verse 3 is seen in verse 4--the need for humility; power and importance are irrelevant and can hinder.

That's exactly right, I agree. This just may be the single most important element of one's spirit character too I think. Little children are very humble. As they grow older they learn to be arrogant. I bet everyone in heaven has a humble character.

 

[Edward]

Q: What does it mean to be humble. A: To be unconditional.
Q: Why be humble. A: To becalm one's own ego-self from hijacking one's own mind. To stop the ego-mind from censoring anything that may expose it as a false-self (that is why it always seeks validity). It is the ego which runs amok like thieves at the temple (our temple). To be humble is equivalent to Jesus casting out the thieves from the temple (see Matthew 21:12-13).
Q: What's so good about being humble. A: With our ego put outside of our temple, our temple become vacant for Truth/God/Unconditional Love to take up residence. It is while being humble we allow ourselves to commune with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. It is in this state, we can discern what God's will is for us, and to gain the power (fearlessness) to carry it out.
Q: Why is this important. A: Without being humble, the ego-self is mainly concerned about building up self-esteem, which are deceptive cover-stories veiling its truth. It will get us to focus on the visible world of impressions. This way of life is based on ego-fears and self-deception. While being humble, the truth about our self, and the truth about Truth becomes revealed. Unconditional Love becomes the Glory and the Light of God within us. All becomes clear, even the invisible. This way of life is based on love and Truth.
Q: What is the benefits of being humble. A: Truth-filled Living.

That's right. Let me unpack this a little. Let's see, being humble would be the opposite of arrogance (pride), right. Yes. I think humble means the same thing as humility, does that sound right? Just a grammar thing, how you use it. He is humble, but I have humility.

I think people are arrogant when they lack confidence or clarity. When you are confident in who and what you are, you become humble.
A humble man has nothing to prove. Arrogant people must be insecure, so their pride makes them arrogant as a show to others that they are more than they think they are. Or perhaps they (deceive themselves) are over confident. That sort've sounds backwards in a way, but I think it's the truth.

This is a good thread. I'm piecing it together rather nicely. :nod

 

[for_his_glory]

Children are simplistic in their thoughts and mind. Sort of like a blank slate or a sponge that wants to absorb simple knowledge (milk of the word of God) until they mature in knowledge (meat of the word of God).

 

[Kidron]

Jesus is speaking of the type trust that receives Him by faith.
He is equating it to the way a child trusts.
A child trusts without any hesitation or 2nd guessing.
A child trusts.........completely.

And Faith that God accepts to then SAVE YOU, is based on this type of Trust.

Faith, is a specific type of trust.......its a whole and complete trust.
Its a trust of the heart.
= Exactly The same way a child trusts.

 

[stovebolts]

Luke 18:17
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.../

Matthew 18:2-4
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

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.

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

It is repeated in scripture, so that would indicate that it is important and something we should not only learn but do. So I sit here and ponder the characteristics of little children. Is it their lack of a state of mind which is dishonest? (They say that only children and fools tell the truth), or perhaps their humbleness? What exactly do these scriptures speak of?

In John 3, Nicodemus, an religious elite who was raised with all the right answers was told that he must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God.

This is to say that we each enter the faith as babes, knowing little yet growing under a Fathers love and guidance.

 

[th1b.taylor]

I have been yelled at told I was as dumb as a rock for being stupid enough to believe that passage is not a parable but that it literally meant what it clearly states. I have seen or heard more than one man proclaim the no man can believe as a small child does.

I live my life by that standard so tightly that if it says a thing in scripture, then for me and mine, it is a fact.

 

[for_his_glory]

I have been yelled at told I was as dumb as a rock for being stupid enough to believe that passage is not a parable but that it literally meant what it clearly states. I have seen or heard more than one man proclaim the no man can believe as a small child does.

I live my life by that standard so tightly that if it says a thing in scripture, then for me and mine, it is a fact.

I will say for myself I was so bound up in religious traditional teachings (bandwagon teaching) that many passages I would read along with the Pastor made no sense to me as scripture was not lining up with what was being taught. It became so confusing to me that I had to literally block out almost everything I was being taught and started all over again becoming like a child reading scripture like it was the first time I ever read it.

 

[Christ_empowered]

hi. I think being as a child might mean...be teach-able, be reach-able...its encouraging humility and genuine, earnest seeking, as some other posters have pointed out. Its also worth noting that children didn't matter much in ancient cultures, especially Greco-Roman cultures. children, like women, were literally the property of the father, and they could be dealt with as he saw fit, which could even mean death by exposure as infants (fairly common in ancient cultures, especially the more patriarchal cultures).

Then...here's Jesus...He is (and was, clearly) God made flesh. He was also, of course, a poor carpenter from Nazareth. He didn't matter much to the society He lived in. His teachings encouraged a degree of genuine equality amongst believers and human beings in general. He encouraged those who had much to show respect and share with those who had far less. Not surprisingly...many of the earliest Christians were women, slaves, poor people...the many, many, many people who did not matter to the world at the time.

I don't think Jesus is calling for blind faith, or child-ish faith, but rather...child-like faith. Children ask questions because they really don't know and they want to know, they need to know. One big step for me in walk with The Lord thus so far has been to pray that The Lord take away things the world taught me and that I thought I knew, so I could start to see Him better, more fully+completely. That's the other thing; kids come at life, as another poster pointed out, more as blank slates than adults. Personally, coming to realize how little I know and how finite I am vs God, who is clearly infinite (creator vs creature comparison...) has helped me begin to truly love Jesus and others, too.

 

[th1b.taylor]

I will say for myself I was so bound up in religious traditional teachings (bandwagon teaching) that many passages I would read along with the Pastor made no sense to me as scripture was not lining up with what was being taught. It became so confusing to me that I had to literally block out almost everything I was being taught and started all over again becoming like a child reading scripture like it was the first time I ever read it.

In a way I was fortunate because I walked off the stage and into the Church

 

[LovethroughDove]

When we get to a certain age, we begin to stop believing in the unbelievable. Children are open to the impossible. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is why Jesus said this to us. As adults, we don't really believe he's alive today.

 

[for_his_glory]

In a way I was fortunate because I walked off the stage and into the Church

Many in the church are still on the stage playing church and need to walk into the true Church of God. I would rather be unknown to man and known by God for Christ that is found in me and I in Him.

 

[Soul man]

Luke 18:17
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.../

Matthew 18:2-4
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

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.

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

It is repeated in scripture, so that would indicate that it is important and something we should not only learn but do. So I sit here and ponder the characteristics of little children. Is it their lack of a state of mind which is dishonest? (They say that only children and fools tell the truth), or perhaps their humbleness? What exactly do these scriptures speak of?

Not written to you!!