Wrong Question

The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Homecoming Sunday

September 10, 2023

Matthew 18:1-20

 “Wrong Question”

Standing here before you today for the first time in a little over three months, you are probably thinking to yourself: “Well, he doesn’t really look any different. Maybe a little more gray hair (maybe a little less hair) and expanded waist line.” All true! I have to say, one of the biggest adjustments for me post-sabbatical is going back to wearing pants once again. I’ve really gotten used to wearing shorts all the time over the summer – much more comfortable in hot and humid weather like we’ve had d. On this Homecoming Sunday when a new year of learning and growing in the Christian faith starts up, you likely have some questions for me: “So, are you ready to step back into the tasks of church and ministry? Do you feel renewed and refreshed after your time away? What did you do on your sabbatical? Where did you go? Was it what you wanted it to be?” Lots of questions, and I hope to answer them fully, not only today in this sermon, but also by sharing with you in the days ahead through preaching and teaching, as well as individual and group conversations. In today’s Gospel lesson, everything that Jesus tells his disciples – all of his teaching – stems from the one question that they ask, found in the very first verse: “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 28:1). Of course, it’s the wrong question to ask. Sometimes we ask the wrong questions, too, right? You know how it goes, as soon as the words are out of our mouth, we wish we could take them back again. But the disciples’ wrong question becomes a teachable moment for Jesus to go deeper with the disciples – and us – about what it means to follow him. All of this serves as the basis for today’s message under the theme, “Wrong Question.” May the Lord’s rich and abundant blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word for Jesus’ sake.

I would say that behind the question that the disciples asked Jesus is another question that they likely thought but didn’t ask: “I’m the one who’s greatest in the kingdom of heaven, right, Jesus?” Just a few verses before today’s Gospel lesson, following his Transfiguration on the mountain top (Matthew 17:1-9), Jesus told his followers that “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life” (Matthew 17:22-23a). We’re told that the disciples were “filled with grief” because of what Jesus said (Matthew 17:23b), but that grief soon gave way to posturing about who’s the biggest and bestest in the kingdom of heaven. Like those first disciples, we can easily get off-track about what is the main thing, what is of central importance, in our faith. Jesus responds by teaching us the 3 H’s: humble yourself, take heed, and hear. We’ll look briefly at each of these.

First, Jesus calls his disciples to humble themselves. When Jesus called that little child and put him right there in the middle of the disciples – sort of the first-century version of being called up to sit at the adults table at Thanksgiving – we can almost see the major eyeroll and hear the snorts of derision from them: “We’re Jesus’ disciples! What can we possibly learn from a little kid?” Turns out, quite a bit, beginning with humbling yourself. That simple, child-like faith and trust in Jesus is something that we never want to lose as we become adults. That’s why we put such a high value on our congregation’s ministry to children and families through our Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) as well as Sunday Morning Children’s Ministry. We are connecting these little ones with the Lord Jesus, who loves them and gave himself for them, and for us as well. This is a call to get over ourselves and welcome these little ones as Jesus would have us do. We might be a whole lot closer to God through these little ones than we ever imagined. Here’s the thing: for the sake of Jesus and his kingdom, unless we do humble ourselves, we will stumble over ourselves.

Second, Jesus calls us to take heed. As we regather after the summer, we may notice some folks who are missing. Where are they? Are they okay? Don’t wait for someone else to answer these questions. Be that shepherd that Jesus talks about who leaves the ninety-nine behind and goes out in search of that one missing sheep. To take heed means that you are watchful and observant; that you are paying attention and are mindful. That’s what a shepherd does, and that’s what our Good Shepherd has done for us. He has laid down his life for us and for our salvation. He calls us each by name. He has come that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:1ff.). In response to all that God in Christ has done for us, let us take heed for ourselves and for one another. It is the Father’s will that not one of these little ones should perish (Matthew 18:14). The wideness of God’s love moves us to devote ourselves, our time, and our possessions to expanding and sharing this good news for great joy that is for all people.

Third, Jesus calls us to hear one another. Within the fellowship of believers, it’s a given that there will be problems between people: disagreements may happen, opinions and viewpoints may clash, hurtful words may be spoken, offense may be given, knowingly or unknowingly. Yes, we are the Body of Christ, redeemed through the blood of Jesus, but we are also sinful human beings. It’s what Luther called simul iustus et peccator; that is, we are at the same time both saint and sinner. So, when problems do arise between people at church , how do we deal with this? So often, we are prone to tamp down the hurt and not say anything. But that’s not what Jesus calls us to do. Jesus calls us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) to one another, and in love, to hear one another, so that we might be reconciled to one another. The stubborn refusal to hear one another, to listen to a brother or sister in Christ who is aggrieved about something, leads to problems. Like a festering wound, it won’t get better by itself. Help is needed. Because God is now reconciled to us through the sacrificial death of Christ upon the cross, we must also be reconciled to one another, even as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” By the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us through the Means of Grace, both Word and Sacrament, the closing verse of today’s Epistle lesson is lived out in each of our lives: “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).

So what does all of this have to do with me? That would be the wrong question to ask. A better question would be: “How do I live out what Jesus wants for me?” As we begin this new year of learning and growing together in the faith we share, this is a good question for all of us to wrestle with, individually and together, trusting Jesus’ words that “where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20). Amen.