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Commenting on these verses Matthew Henry wrote:
"He knew very well what the dispute was, but he
would know it from them, and would have them to confess their fault
and folly in it. Note, 1. We must all expect to be called to an account
by our Lord Jesus, concerning what passes while we are in the way in
this state of passage and probation. 2. We must in a particular manner
be called to an account about our discourses among ourselves; for by
our words we must be justified or condemned. 3. As our other discourses
among ourselves by the way, so especially our disputes, will be all
called over again, and we shall be called to an account about them.
4. Of all disputes, Christ will be sure to reckon with his disciples
for their disputes about precedency and superiority: that was the subject
of the debate here, who should be the greater."
He then goes on to apply this to our own situations by pointing out that:
1. We will all be called to account for our lives.
2. We will even be called to account for our conversation (Matt.12:36).
3. Our disputes will be examined for integrity and charity.
4. We will especially be held to account when we seek preferment.
It is true that nothing could be further from the spirit of the kingdom than the seeking of honour and preferment. The two great commandments on which all the law and the prophets hang concern our putting God first and even others before ourselves:
"The most important [commandment], answered
Jesus, is this: 'Hear, o Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this:
Love your neighbour as yourself.' There are no greater commandments
than these." (Mark 12:29-31).
Note that these are the greatest commandments in the law. That
is to say, they are already to be found in God's law and were known
to all (Deut.6:4-5; Lev.19:18). How often is the answer to our question
right before us but our minds are on what we consider "greater things"?
How Jesus must have felt when he had just taught them that he was about
to be betrayed into the hands of men who will kill him, but on the third
day he would rise. He was leaving them the ultimate example of the attitude
of service typical of those who are of his kingdom and they were displaying
all the characteristics of citizens of a decidedly worldly kingdom.
I have thought a lot about what Jesus taught when he took a little child and said:
"Whoever welcomes one of these little children
in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me
but the one who sent me."
It seems to me that a child knows nothing of ambition and pride as we do who are weighed down by the world's demands. Furthermore, a child has nothing to offer except love and so to "accept a little child" is to love without expectation of anything in return. Finally, we too soon forget to trust Jesus as a child might. We erect theological scaffolding and doctrinal structures to show ourselves worthy of preferment whereas a child turns to Jesus just as he or she is and expects to be accepted simply for trusting.
May we trust him this week because it is the only way to know him and get closer to God. May he find us, no matter our age or the thickness of the crust of cynicism we have built up around us, looking to him with childlike eyes that expect him to know best, care most and work all things for good.
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