Trusting Like a Little Child: Lessons on Faith from Matthew 18

In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And he called to him a little child, and set him in the middle of them, and said, Truly I say unto you, Except you turn, and become as little sons, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me: But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you: it is good for you to enter into life crippled or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you: it is good for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire. See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. The Son of Man came to save the lost. How think you? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goes astray? And if so be that he find it, truly I say unto you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. And if your brother sin against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone: if he hear you, you have gained your brother. But if he hear you not, take with you one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto you as the Gentile and the tax collector. Truly I say unto you, what things soever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middle of them. Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? Jesus says unto him, I say not unto you, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not with which to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and sons, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what you owe. So his fellow-servant fell down and begged him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay that which was due. So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him unto him, and says to him, You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you besoughtest me: should not you also have had mercy on your fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on you? And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due. So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.

Matthew 18:1–20 (ESV) — Jesus answers the disciples' question about greatness with a child, warns against causing the 'little ones' to stumble, and teaches how the Father seeks the lost.