Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

In Matthew eighteen, we read about the disciple disputing among themselves about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. This was an issue of pride and Jesus strongly corrected their wrong thinking. He used a little child to remind them that they needed trust and faith like a child has in his or her parents. Then, Jesus looked forward, anticipating their future apostolic ministry and used the children to teach a great truth. Unbelievers and sinners would reject the message of the gospel about salvation through repentant faith in Christ. Some would subject the apostles to aggressive verbal abuse while others would physically assault them. In both instances, any person rejecting or hindering gospel preaching, or who physically harm Christ's apostles, will be subject to severe judgment. These truths about ministers of the gospel and the hardships they face are compared with those who harm a little child. God will hold them to account. This next paragraph is known as the Pa...

Our pride must give way to a child like faith and dependency upon God. Matthew 18:4-6  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  5  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.  6  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Jesus had a little child stand in their midst to teach His disciples about meekness, dependency on the Father, true humility and simple faith required for entrance into His kingdom. While using a little child to illustrate His point, Jesus turned from dealing with the disciple's pride and argumentative spirit, to their future ministry. Jesus was preparing them for their future ministry as His apostles, through whom the gospel would go forth beginning at Jerusalem. They would encounter people who reject their...

This chapter begins with Jesus' disciples arguing among themselves about who would be the greatest of them in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus brought their sinful pride into the light so that He could address it.  He was very blunt, saying unless your heart is humble like a child, before God and man, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Thus, Jesus used a little child to illustrate this truth and to show His disciples that they must be converted or turned away from pride to Christ. Jesus compared His disciples to little children who will go forth preaching the gospel of the kingdom to the world. Those who receive them and heed the message will be blessed. Those who reject Christ, ignore the gospel and live for self will suffer judgment. Those who actively hinder preachers of the gospel or who intend to harm them, will suffer severe judgment. Jesus speaks about sin in the next paragraph and in context, it seems that He is speaking about those who  seek to entice Christians into...

A pride fueled dispute among the disciples of Christ was addressed. Matthew 18:1  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  This chapter begins with Christ's disciples asking another question of their Master after Matthew sets the time and place for us. The words "At the same time" means that this question was posed right after Christ and Peter spoke about the temple tax and after Peter caught a fish and found money to pay for both of them. Mark's gospel adds some context to help us see why this question was asked by Jesus' disciples. Mark 9:33  And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?  When they arrived at the home they were going to stay in at Capernaum, Jesus first asked them a question. Jesus asked them  " What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?"  Jesus did not ask this question because He di...