The Least Shall be Greatest

Matthew 19:13-30, Mark 10:13-31, Luke 18:15-34  

In these passages we hear Jesus say the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like the little children. Then we hear a rich young man ask Jesus what he needs to do to inherit the Kingdom. It sounds like the rich man should have been there for those first few verses. 

What exactly is it about little children that we should be like? The disciples didn’t see kids as being able to offer much. They were simply an interruption neither to be seen nor heard–disregarded and unimportant. And why is it “easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to inherit the Kingdom” (Matthew 19:24)? The rich man claimed to be obedient to every commandment. What difference does it make if he honors his father and mother and loves his neighbor from his castle surrounded by riches?  

I wonder if the answer might be found in Jesus’ final words of these passages:

“But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then,” (Matthew 19:30 NLT). 

Who are the greatest in the “now” that Jesus describes? Well, first the disciples attempted to send the little children away. Then, the disciples wondered how it’s possible for anyone to be saved if it’s nearly impossible for the rich. So, it’s likely that the greatest aren’t children and are probably people with wealth or status. People who have something to offer. 

And who might be the least important? Perhaps this could be anyone without status or wealth. The disregarded. Those who have nothing to give. Those who are like little children.The empty-handed. When Jesus told the rich man to sell everything, he told him to come back with nothing. Empty handed. He then told him, “and follow me” (Matthew 19:21).  

How wonderful is it that God doesn’t want our money, our trophies, our good deeds, or our titles? He just wants us to come and follow. What we have to give could never be enough to inherit the Kingdom; salvation is impossible by human standards (Matthew 19:30). We simply aren’t good enough. In fact, only One is good and He is in the business of the impossible. He promises tenfold greater than anything we could ever let go of in this world. 

What does it mean for you to come to Jesus empty-handed this season of Lent?