Matthew 18-1-11
At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?”For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.
“But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do.
“If your hand or your foot gets in the way of God, chop it off and throw it away. You’re better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owners of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire. And if your eye distracts you from God, pull it out and throw it away. You’re better off one-eyed and alive than exercising your twenty-twenty vision from inside the fire of hell.
“Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:01 pm
This reminds me of a bit of Bible (can’t remember where exactly) that confused me once upon a time. It’s a bit used at Christenings. I thought it meant you could only get into heaven if you were baptized. What it actually meant was you can only get in if you accept God as a child would.
The end bit of this passage scares me. I should certainly cut off one or both of my hands and throw away my eyes just for some of the things i’ve done today and yesterday. And I’ve got some money in my bank account so I guess all that should’ve gone to a church/charity/needy person. I do hope God wasn’t being too literal. Extreme measures are needed at times though to keep your focus on God - for example, if football’s distracting you from being a Christian cos you watch every match that’s on - cancelling Sky might be wise, as might throwing out all your wine if you’re getting drunk too often. Fortunately, we’re encouraged by Jesus to read all the Bible, and there plenty of subtler ways of avoiding Satan in the Holy Book than the ones in this passage.
P.S. Jesus turned all the water into wine AFTER it ran out. Therefore everyone would’ve been quite far gone. Therefore I’m allowed to go have some red wine with my dinner now, right?