Matthew Sermon 55 – Mat 17.22-18.4 – Who Is Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?

“Who then will be greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Mat 18.1.) “How often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?” (Mat 18.21.) These two questions provide the framework for Jesus’ discourse in Matthew 18. And they show that even the first disciples, those who walked with Jesus on earth, were not immune to what we normally find when sinners live and work together—rivalry, self-concern, and all the irritations and offenses that come with them. But Jesus is bringing the kingdom of heaven into the world to transform, among other things, the way we approach status, position, authority, and ambition. That’s what Matthew 18 is about. I hope you enjoy the sermon. Thanks for listening. —Alan Burrow