Care for the Little Ones
Matthew 18:10-14
I want to begin today by reading a passage from 1 Peter 5. Like our passage in Matthew 18, the apostle Peter wrote to the church about humility and care for the flock of God:
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1Pe 5:1-7).
Peter learned from the Lord Jesus that some Christians need to be humbled because they have too exalted an opinion of themselves. Others need constant encouragement because they tend to dwell too much upon their own inadequacies. So, he wrote to the elders of the church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to feed God’s flock in such a way that would convict the proud without utterly discouraging the weak. He encouraged Christians to humble themselves and cast all their cares upon God, quoting the proverb, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” (1Peter 5:5; Pro. 3:34). I am sure that there are some of us here today who need to be humbled because we think too highly of ourselves, and others who need the encouragement that God cares for the lowest and weakest believer.
This is what Jesus does so masterfully in Matthew 18. Our Savior, using a little child as an object lesson, very effectively humbled the self-seeking disciples. Yet, at the same time, He showed weak, lowly believers that they were precious in God’s sight. He told the Twelve that they needed to become like that little child—ever realizing their personal inadequacy and their complete dependency upon Him, not coming on their own merit or achievements. If they failed to do so, they would not be fit to take their places in His kingdom.
And our Lord also pointed out that every single little Christian, no matter how obscure and unimportant in the eyes of man, is still precious to God. To receive these lowly ones is to receive the Savior (Matt. 18:5). To harm them or cause them to stumble in sin, incurs Jesus’ stern warning of judgment (Matt 18:6-9).
Throughout the first fourteen verses of Matthew 18, something that strikes me is the repeated emphasis Jesus places on the word “one“. In Matthew 18:5, Jesus said, “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” You see it again in Matthew 18:6: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin.” Then in Matthew 18:10, Jesus says “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones.” In Matthew 18:12-13, He emphasizes the great value of just that “one” straying sheep over the ninety-nine that didn’t. In Matthew 18:14, He concludes, “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Jesus wants us to know that each and every single “little one” who trusts in Jesus is invaluable to His Father. He views each one as uniquely precious. When it comes to those who come to Jesus in simple, humble, child-like faith, He makes it very clear that He places a particularly special value on each one. And we had better be sure to do the same![1]
In Matthew 18:10-14, Jesus teaches us how to care for these little ones. First, Jesus teaches us …
1. Do not despise the little ones (Matt. 18:10).
Jesus says in Matthew 18:10, “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”
Jesus issues a command here to “Take heed” or ‘see to it’ that we “do not despise” His little ones, even the weakest and lowest believer. To “despise” literally means to “think down on” or “think little of” someone. When we despise someone, we hold them in contempt or scorn because we think they are too far below us—they are insignificant, inferior, and therefore unimportant. Jesus is saying, “don’t look down on any of God’s children.” Don’t put yourself above them and look at them as if they were below you, as if they were useless or worthless, not worth your consideration.
How easy is it to copy the way of the world by undervaluing or discounting little children, or, for that matter, other believers who are weak and fragile in their faith.
How could we be guilty of despising God’s little ones? Just in Matthew 18, Jesus shows that we could despise other believers through pride, thinking ourselves greater or that our contributions and achievements are superior to them. We saw that in Matthew 18:1-4. We could despise the little ones by not receiving or welcoming them in the name of Jesus (Matt. 18:5). We despise them by offending them and causing them to stumble into sin (Matt. 18:6-9). We could despise them by failing to seek after them when they go astray (Matt. 18:12-14). We despise them when we fail to try to restore a brother who has fallen into sin (Matt. 18:15-20). We despise each other when we do not forgive one another from the heart (Matt. 18:21-35).
Do you ever find yourself looking down at other believers? Do you find them inconvenient and irritating? Do you criticize them for their lack progress in the faith? Do you ever think, ‘Why can’t they just grow up and be more like me?’ Then Jesus has a word for you this morning. He says, “Don’t think that way.” We all come to Christ as little children. We all need to grow in our Christian faith. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
Why is it so important that we not look down on even one little believer in Christ? Jesus says, “for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 18:10). Some people have taken this verse to say that each child has a guardian angel assigned to them at birth who follows them around and takes care of them. I suppose that’s possible, but the Bible never really says that we each have one specific angel assigned to us. In fact, it says something better. We have multiple angels watching over us and serving us as God’s children.
Psalm 91 says about those who have made the Lord their refuge and their dwelling place (Ps. 91:9), “11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.” (Psa. 91:11-12). Hebrews 1:14 says about the angels: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”
So, believers in Christ have something much better than a single guardian angel. All of God’s angels are entrusted with the task of watching over believers and serving us.
Jesus says these angels always see the face of His Father in heaven. This expression tells us that God is constantly watching over His little ones. God has assigned His angels to minister to His children, and those angels are in constant communication with God the Father in heaven.[2] Therefore, Jesus says, don’t look down on any of God’s children, because God is always watching over them. They are precious to Him.
In our church life, in our individual homes, in our social relations, in whatever context we may meet with those who are Christ’s little ones by faith—whether they be one year old, or one-hundred years old—let’s be very sure that we “take heed” not to despise even a single one of them. For they are clearly very highly esteemed in the courts of heaven and before the face of our heavenly Father.
Second Jesus teaches us …
2. Diligently seek the wandering ones (Matt. 18:11-13)
Matthew 18:11 has Jesus saying, “For the Son of Man has come to save that which is lost.” Some Bible translations put this verse in a footnote or brackets because many reliable ancient manuscripts do not contain it. It may have been added by a copyist who saw its clear connection to what Jesus taught here. Nevertheless, what it says is true. Jesus said these very words in Luke 19 when the despised chief tax collector Zacchaeus came to salvation, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10).
To illustrate God’s care for His little ones, Jesus then tells the brief parable of the lost sheep:
12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.” (Matt. 18:12-13).
This is such a precious parable. The shepherd doesn’t leave the one lost sheep to fend for itself. He keeps looking for it and doesn’t stop. Jesus also taught with this parable in Luke 15. There, Jesus was being confronted by the Pharisees and scribes because He allowed all sorts of sinful people to draw near to Him (Luke 15:1). He even “received” some of the most notorious sinners of society; and even went so far as to “eat” with them! (Luke 15:2). So Jesus told this parable to the Pharisees to illustrate His passion for saving lost sinners and the need for them to also repent.
But in the case of our passage this morning, Jesus was speaking to the disciples—those who already believe on Him and have accepted His forgiveness; and was teaching them that every single “little one” in His flock—no matter how “insignificant” they may seem on a merely “human” level—is so important to Him that He would have every possible effort extended to retrieve them when they wander away.
Some people wonder about the ninety-nine that the shepherd leaves on the hills. Doesn’t he care about them as well? Of course, he does. There is no indication from the parable that the ninety-nine are in any danger. We can assume that the shepherd has left them in a safe place or perhaps under the care of other shepherds. It’s not that the shepherd cares more for the lost sheep than the rest of the flock. He cares for the whole flock, but part of the flock is missing. The other sheep are okay for now, but this lost sheep needs finding. If any of the ninety-nine wandered away, he would go looking for them, too, and when he found them, he would rejoice over them in the exact same way.
Think of what He’s saying. A good shepherd would be so committed to the needs of his sheep that he would leave the remaining ninety-nine, go to the treacherous places where the lost sheep had wandered, and search for it. For a good shepherd, there would be “no sheep left behind”. And once he found the lost sheep, the shepherd would actually rejoice more over the one that was found than he would over the ninety-nine that never went astray. A good shepherd has that much of a heart for each one of the individual sheep entrusted to his care.
Jesus Himself is the Great Shepherd of the flock (Heb. 13:20). In the Gospel of John, He says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11), “… and I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:14), and “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29).
This is the way that Jesus cares for each little sheep in His flock. If Jesus care for them this much, how could we ever despise any of them? How can we know that He was willing to lay down His life for His sheep, but then not even lift a finger to draw them back into the fold when they wander? How can we know that He knows each one by name; but then ourselves not even notice when they’re gone?
Christ’s love for His people is personal, relentless, and joyful. This passage reminds us that no one is beyond His reach or care. As believers, we are called to imitate God’s heart by valuing, pursuing, and celebrating the restoration of those who have gone astray.
Finally, Jesus concludes teaching us to …
3. Discern the will of God for His little ones (Matt. 18:14).
In Matthew 18:14, Jesus says, “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” The word that Jesus uses for “perish” is a particularly strong word that means “to destroy, lose, ruin, or render useless”. It is not the Father’s will that even one of His little ones should perish in any way. The Lord does not want any of His children spiritually damaged even for a brief time.
This speaks to the security of the believer in Christ. In John 6, Jesus said, “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40).
God seeks sheep that has gone astray and will make sure that His little ones do not perish. We read in James 5: “19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). Jesus teaches us this: Never look down on anyone. Never give up on anyone. Never write someone off. God seeks the one who has gone astray, and so should we. We should seek them even when the stray is someone who has hurt or offended you, which is what we will look at in next week’s passage. May the Lord Jesus find us faithful in our care for His “little ones”!
And if you are a lost or wandering sheep today, there is nothing preventing you from coming back to God. There is no reason to waste any more time in the wilderness. Jesus Christ is the good shepherd of the sheep who seeks after His wandering sheep, brings them home, and rejoices at their return. Do you feel the Holy Spirit of God tugging at your heart even now? What could keep you from coming back to Him today? Christ has done everything necessary to save you. He died for your sins and was raised for your justification. Repent—let Christ change your heart and mind. Come to Him now. Believe in Him. He will save you. He will restore you if you have strayed. He loves you. As Peter wrote, “humble [yourself] under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
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[1] Greg Allen, Respect the Little Ones, https://bethanybible.org/archive/2007/101407.htm
[2] Ray Fowler, Hope for Wanderers, https://www.rayfowler.org/sermons/matthew/hope-for-wanderers/
