Read Matthew 17:22-23, Mark 9:30-32 and Luke 9:43b-45. Jesus has returned to Galilee following the feast of Tabernacles in September. Between this point and December 18th, He will spend as much time as possible with the Twelve Disciples trying to teach them about His coming death and resurrection.
1. What was the response of the Twelve to our Lord’s teaching about His coming death?
They were upset and did not understand it.
2. According to Luke’s account, why didn’t they understand about His death?
It was concealed from them; God did not allow them to understand it at this point.
Read Matthew 17:24-18:14, Mark 9:33-37 and Luke 46-48. Matthew records for us two events; one deals with the payment of the Temple Tax, and the other is about greatness.
3. What question did Jesus ask Simon after he was questioned about paying the temple tax?
From whom do the kings of the earth take taxes, from strangers or from their own sons?
4. What did Jesus reply when Simon Peter answered from strangers?
He said the sons were exempt, meaning He was exempt, but that to avoid offense, He would pay it anyway.
5. As our Lord spoke to Peter about the payment of the Temple tax, you can almost see Peter’s mind working. He is probably thinking, “He’s the king, and He is exempt from the taxes. That’s great! You know, we are His closest followers; we will probably be pretty important in the coming kingdom as well.” This led to the argument and the question they asked Jesus. What question did the disciples ask Jesus after they had an argument as they traveled?
Who was the greatest in the Kingdom?
6. What were they arguing about?
They were arguing about which of them was the greatest.
7. What was Jesus’ reply to the question over who was the greatest?
He put a child before them and said they needed to become like children to enter the kingdom of heaven. To be great, you need to be the least and serve all.
The Applications:
What are the applications of these passages to our lives today? Identify as many as you are able.
1. There are many things that we as believers do not know or understand about the plan and work of God either in general terms concerning the church, tribulation, kingdom and the coming eternal state or concerning our own lives personally. This is not at all unexpected. Even the disciples, those who walked with our Lord and were personally taught by Him, had much they did not understand. One reason, no doubt, is due to the fact that the popular concept of the Messiah, which they themselves held, was quite a bit different than what the truth really was. They had much to unlearn as well as learn.
But another reason they did not understand was that God had hidden it from them (Luke 9:45). For His own reasons, which He does not give, God did not allow them to perceive the truth at this time. Our heavenly Father not only hides the truth from those who choose not to believe (Mark 4:11-12), but He also does not allow us, as believers, to understand everything we might want to understand at some chosen point in our lives. At some future time, we can be sure He will give us the insight we need or wish.
This applies both to the knowledge of God’s Word and His work in our lives. I am very uneasy with anyone who claims to completely understand the Word of God, who can fit everything into a nice, neat scheme, who has no problem or questions about any passage of Scripture, and who knows exactly what the plan of the coming ages is. It is presumptuous to think that any individual has the perfect interpretation of the Word of God. We are much too human for that. It is often mistakenly assumed by theological students and others that the complete revelation of God has now been given. If this were so, then we would have no need of any other prophets who speak in the name of God. Yet, we know of two prophets who will minister in the tribulation period yet to come.
I am convinced that much of what God is going to do in the tribulation period and the kingdom to follow, not to mention in the new heavens and new earth, is but only dimly understood by us today. The Spirit of God will reveal more of what is written in His Word to those living in those days. We will not comprehend the depths of God’s word, no matter who we are, at least as long as we are in this flesh. Until we stand perfected—and probably even then—we will continue to have questions that God will reveal to us in due time.
So also, in our personal lives, we will not fully understand God’s plan. There will be questions that God will not answer now. But we must remember, what He requires of us is not the understanding of all that He is doing but the faith to trust Him no matter what He brings into our lives.
2. There was a question that was being asked by one of the cable or dish networks soon after we entered the 21st century in 2001. Who is the greatest American of this last century, the 20th century? Viewers were encouraged to go online and vote. The program creators would then tabulate these votes and present a program in which the answers would be revealed. How would you determine who was/is the greatest American of this last century? What criteria would you use? For the program creators, the problem is easily solved, simply count the votes and allow popular opinion to choose. But this really just sidesteps the issue. How does one determine for whom to vote? Do you pick a person who has wielded great political power and led our nation through difficult times of war and/or peace? Do you choose a person based on intelligence and IQ? Do you pick someone who has great wealth and influence, someone who can sway public opinion? Do you pick a person who has devoted their life to humanitarian causes? What determines greatness?
While we could well argue which of the above criteria are the most important, and while we might select several to be used together, the startling fact is that God uses none of these criteria. When the disciples asked our Lord who was the greatest, His reply to them reveals those things God considers important. He tells them that they must become like a child and be a servant of all.
To be childlike in our coming to God means at least two things. First, it refers to the childlike faith to accept the gift freely given to us without merit. It is the ability to trust as a child trusts (Matthew 18:3). Children may not know how daddy or mommy is able to take care of them; they just know they will and that it all will be fine. We must trust our Lord and God in the same way. We do not come to Him as equals to negotiate our salvation, nor do we bring any work which will earn His merit. We come as a child, expecting His goodness and mercy.
Secondly, it refers to humility (Matthew 18:4). A child does not suppose themselves to be an important cog in the machinery of men governing our world. They are not rich, powerful, or wise enough to influence the outcome of governmental affairs. They know they are children.
To be great, one must trust as a child and as a child not presume to be somebody important. One must be a servant (Luke 9:48). The greatest would be the servant of all. How different this is in the thinking of our culture today. In our world, those who are great expect to be served as is their due rather than serve. They demand the perks to which their position entitles them rather than giving up their rights for the sake of others. They expect and demand respect rather than being respectful of those around them. They expect people to be working for them rather than seeing themselves as working for these same people. I expect that God’s choice of the greatest American of this last century would not be the same as who was chosen on this television program.