"See that you do not despise one of these little ones" — St. Michael and All Angels 2024

29. September 2024
St. Michael and All Angels
Matthew 18:1-11

See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is heaven.

In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.

God has constituted His creation in a wonderful order for two reasons. One, we would love our neighbor as much as ourselves and two, we would love God with our entire being. This is why asking “who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” is a bone-headed question from the disciples. This is like asking “Who is the greatest in the family?” This is like asking “Who is the greatest at St. John Sherman Center?”

God does not value you according to greater or lesser. He loves everyone equally, whether old or young, influential or peon, wealthy or poor, or Wisconsin native or outlander. The only-begotten Jesus died for the sins of the whole world since all are sinners and need forgiveness, life, and salvation.  This does not mean there are no distinctions in this world or God orders our world. Not all are considered civil leaders, politicians, or business owners. Some are called to be citizens and workers. This is God-ordained, and this is for our good. It is also the same for the home. Being the head and father is not a matter of power but a matter of God-given authority for service. It does not mean that your earthly father is more important or more saved by God. It simply means God has given Dad special duties and responsibilities to bless the family.

Why does God place your world, church, and family in a wonderful order? God gave you authorities, including your parents, not to belittle you but to protect and care for you. God gives life as a blessing to care for family, church, and world. God institutes marriage as the locale for life-giving, for the raising of these children, and because it’s not good for man to be alone. He blesses us with rain and sun and all we need. He gives us the gift of speech to live together, support each other, and, most importantly, communicate the Gospel. God has given you precisely what you need in every way.

This doctrine of Christ flies in the face of popular philosophy's radical egalitarianism. We do not like hearing that God gives to some more and others less. We despise God for giving authority to some and not to others. We hate that we cannot be the final judge of life, both when it is given in the womb and when it becomes too difficult to manage. As the current political debates make evident, some would rather have a government that is the great leveler, making all equal. This is fundamentally disordered and chaotic. If life, the universe, and everything are all about you, you ultimately care nothing for the neighbor and despise the station where God placed you.

Just as the world and the family, the church is ordered for the giving of the Lord’s blessings. All receive justification through Jesus’ shed blood equally and fully. When it comes to salvation, there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free. All are children of God and inheritors of heaven. Yet, not all are given equal authority. According to the Scriptures (Eph 4:11–16), the order of authority in the church is given that we would grow into mature faith through sound teaching for the work of service. The goal is the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. All being joined to the head, who is Christ, would grow in Him to be like Him, full of grace and truth. “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Who is the greatest in the family? Who is the greatest in the church?

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Dear Christians! Humble yourselves before your God and Father. Turn from your idolatry of self, your desire to get ahead or take what belongs to your neighbors, and your hatred of authorities. Repent, that is, turn and become like children. Submit yourselves to God and His Word. Obey your parents and leaders. Love your neighbor. Use what God has given you for service. Submit to God’s ordering of things and thus be well prepared for heaven.

Christ Jesus did not leave us in the disordered state of sin but has redeemed us with his shed blood, purchased and won us from captivity to death and the devil, and promised us the blessings of eternal life. This is the greatest blessing and reorders our world. All are equally sinners and equally saved in Christ. All approach the rail, kneeling like children, humbly receiving the life-giving food of Christ’s body and blood. Knowing this eternal truth, we are free not to quibble about whether we have or have not, are in charge or submission, free to speak or bound to listen, and the like. Our reward is confidence in Christ, and we are free to live now in the station where God placed us.

Jesus says, “whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones to believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Better for him! This is why it is absolutely imperative, in Jesus’ own words, that we care for the unity of the faith in this place. It is disorderly and contrary to our calling to abide by false doctrine. When someone preaches, teaches, or lives contrary to God’s Word, they are not tolerated but called to repentance. If they refuse to repent, they are set apart, or excommunicated, from the congregation until they are recognized by God’s Word and Holy Spirit and repent.

“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”

We don’t like this teaching of Jesus. But understand where Jesus is coming from. People who speak or live contrary to God’s word without contrition and repentance are in open rejection of God’s Word and, thus, of the beautiful ordering of all things. Therefore, we are duty-bound by the Word to call sin to repentance for the sake of the children.

This is what is often lost in the discussion of all the hot-button errors in the church, whether it be open communion, women pastors, gay marriage, abortion, or the like. All these false teachings undermine the ordering of God and will destroy the faith of the little ones. We teach our children to submit to us for their good. Then, many advocate that we ignore God’s Word when it doesn’t suit us makes us uncomfortable or places us in a position of humility. What does this teach the children? God’s Word doesn’t matter. Be all you can (and want) to be.

Lies, all of them, with their source the chief liar Satan. He wants nothing better than for us to despise the little ones by confusing Law and Gospel, by withholding the Sacrament from those who confess the true faith but do not meet some magical age or expectation, living in open and unrepentant rejection of God’s Word, or by failing to exercise the authority given to Father or pastor. This battle began in the garden and continues today.

The archangel Michael and his angels cast down the dragon and his angels from heaven. That ancient Serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. The devil continues to tempt us to sin, accusing us day and night before our God. Undoubtedly, this is a time of trouble, such as it never has been. But we shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. For we have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them!

See that you do not despise one of these little ones. Part of the cosmos' beautiful ordering includes the Archangels, angels, and heavenly hosts. Despite the battles we fight, the lies of Satan and his accusations, and every chaotic evil of this fallen world, we are cared for. Our Lord Jesus loves us until the end. He will always be with us, giving us His own flesh to restore us and keep us in Him. Not only that, but He also sends His holy angel to watch over us, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. There is no need for fear despite the chaos and disorder. You, children of God, are cared for by the holy angels who remind you and keep you in the truth forever.

  4. I walk with angels all the way,
        They shield me and befriend me;
        All Satan's power is held at bay
        When heavenly hosts attend me;
        They are my sure defense,
        All fear and sorrow, hence!
        Unharmed by foes, do what they may,
        I walk with angels all the way.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guards your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
St. John Ev. Lutheran Church & School - Sherman Center
Random Lake, Wisconsin