“Take
heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in
heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” Matthew 18:10-11 NKJV
The
“little ones” could be referring to new believers as easily as literal
children, though child seems more likely given the overall context of chapter
18 (vs 2, vs 4, vs 5). Yet we should also understand that a new believer,
regardless of age, must be considered somewhat vulnerable, even gullible,
depending on what they think they are looking for or have found. If new
believers in their prayers and confession have truly submitted themselves to
The Lord, this makes them as vulnerable as a little child in that they are
willing to trust and follow and learn. And this defines our capacity to
love: our willingness to trust, our willingness to be vulnerable to someone
else.
This
is the reason Jesus is adamant about their need for protection. Maybe
this passage, coupled with Psalm 91:11-12, gave rise to the idea of
“guardian angels” charged with protecting us; celestial beings who “see the
face of My Father” and report directly to the Throne of Mercy those who are
being mistreated in any way.
It’s
a nice idea and may well be true, but I think it misses Jesus’ greater point in
what He is trying to teach His disciples. How easy it would be to simply
turn over our responsibility and care for these “little ones” to angels so we
can go on about our own business! Yet we see through the overall context
that Jesus is not calling out individuals to warn them they are on their own
and strictly at the mercy of these angels. Remember Jesus is actually
building an “ekklesia”, a congregation, a community – what we now call the
Church; the Body of Christ that should be always at its best in receiving
“little ones” on a regular, ongoing basis. The Church should be a
“revolving door” of new believers coming in and disciples going out into the
world to “make disciples”.
Like
our own children, however, there is no magic moment that will suddenly make
them ready for the harsh world they will face. They must be taught.
They must be built up in responsible doctrine and encouraged in their newfound
faith to understand and deal with what they are about to face. Yet they
should never be made so comfortable that they never want to leave!
So
the “angels” Jesus refers to could very well be the celestial beings who do
have direct audience with The Lord, but our Lord could also be referring to the
more mature disciples of The Church who take their responsibility, their
privilege to make disciples very seriously. Perhaps these, too, have such
direct access to The Throne in their prayers – especially when seeking guidance
to teach and to train AND to report to The Lord those who abuse His beloved,
the “lost” whom the Son of Man came to save.
Mature
believers may not be celestial beings with supernatural power, but you and I
are no less responsible for the care, the education, and the well-being of the
“little ones”. This is what we sign up for when we take our vows at
baptism, at confirmation, at bar or bat mitzvah, and when we freely choose to
call ourselves “members” of any “ekklesia”. We get direct access to
Glory, and we get to raise up new disciples. I think we will never find
the real meaning of life until we find ourselves involved in Real Life in
Christ, in the Covenant, and in the community of faith.
Blessings,
Michael
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