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The Israelites, when received into the covenant with Jehovah, were not only to beware of forming any covenants with the inhabitants of Canaan (cf. 23:32,33), but were to destroy all the signs of their idolatrous worship, such as altars, monuments (see chap. 23:24), and asherim, the idols of Astarte, the Canaanitish goddess of nature, which consisted for the most part of wodden pillars, and to worship no other god, because Jehovah was called jealous, i.e., had revealed Himself as jealous and was a jealous God. This was commanded that the Israelites might not suffer themselves to be led astray by such an alliance; to go a whoring after their gods, and sacrifice to them, to take part in their sacrificial festivals, or to marry their sons to the daughters of the Canaanites, by whom they would be pursuaded to join in the worship of idols. - C.F. Keil. |
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Jesus here teaches us about being "kid friendly" with our own lives. There is little doubt that the argument started by the disciples because of pride. Perhaps each thought they were in their own right somehow special; Peter was bold; James was the LORD's brother; John laid claim to the disciple that Jesus loved so they may have felt a bit of pride.
Jesus however offers a rebuff to such thinking. Those who seek greatness in the world often allow this to eat away at them so that they become obsessed for power and greatness.
Others may believe they are an example of a great Christian; they are self-righteous and continually seek others to debate and sow discord there is no end to their desire for fighting. This is totally contrary to the will of God. For Jesus knows full well the intentions and desires of our hearts (Jeremiah 17:10; Acts 1:24); and this is evident in our reading in Luke where we see in verse 47 that Jesus had been knowing what they were thinking in their heart .
Jesus teaches that greatness is achieved by quiet humility and such quiet humility is altogether a gift from Heaven. This likewise is part of the nature of a child; totally dependent upon their parents. If you had a young child and dropped them off in the middle of Main Street and told them they could not come home, inevitably they could not survive by themselves, they would need food, housing and all the other comforts a parent supplies. This is also true of the Christian as we find our salvation depends entirely upon the LORD (Ephesians 2:8,9; 2 Timothy 1:9; James 1:17).
A young child does not seek high titles or material riches. This is our example from Jesus, to go forth as His children with humility.
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