基督多次講過他的受難,而很少提到他的榮耀;可是門徒們卻滿心都想着榮耀的事情,而忽視了其它的事情。許多人喜歡聽見關於榮耀和利益的事情,卻忽視關於職分和艱難的事情。我們的主叫過一個小孩子來,叫他站在他們當中;鄭重地告訴他們,除非他們謙卑得變成像小孩子的樣式,
否則就不能進神的國。一個孩子,在年幼的時候,不會戀慕權力,也不看外在的虛榮,心裡沒有惡意,能夠被教導,心甘情願地倚靠父母。這樣的特點,代表了一個真正基督徒謙卑、卑微的心態。願我們每天都心意更新,使我們簡單而謙卑,像一個小孩子一樣,願意作眾人中最小的。願我們每天都以此省察自己。
(選自馬太亨利解經)
18:1-6 Christ spoke many words of his sufferings, but only one of his
glory; yet the disciples fasten upon that, and overlook the others. Many
love to hear and speak of privileges and glory, who are willing to pass
by the thoughts of work and trouble. Our Lord set a little child before
them, solemnly assuring them, that unless they were converted and made
like little children, they could not enter his kingdom. Children, when
very young, do not desire authority, do not regard outward distinctions,
are free from malice, are teachable, and willingly dependent on their
parents. It is true that they soon begin to show other dispositions, and
other ideas are taught them at an early age; but these are marks of
childhood, and render them proper emblems of the lowly minds of true
Christians. Surely we need to be daily renewed in the spirit of our
minds, that we may become simple and humble, as little children, and
willing to be the least of all. Let us daily study this subject, and
examine our own spirits.
Source(s): Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary