Sermon #57 Series: Matthew
Title: “Whosoever
Will Be Great Among You”
Text: Matthew 20:24-28
Reading: Bob Poncer – Bobbie Estes
Subject: The Path to Greatness in The
Kingdom of God
Date: Tuesday Evening - September 19,
1995
Tape
# R-76
Introduction:
The
title of my message tonight is found in verse 2. “Whosoever Will Be Great Among You” I
want to show you the path to greatness in the kingdom of God. Of the very outset, I want to understand that true
greatness is exactly
the opposite of what the world calls greatness. The world asses greatness by the number of people under a man’s
control, how many are at his beck and call, or how much money he
has in the bank, how much property is listed under his name is how many titles and degrees he
has appended to his name or how many committees and boards he
is a member of, or how much name recognition he has. But in the assessment of the Lord
Jesus Christ all those things are totally irrelevant. Read Matthew 20:24-28 with
me, and learn what true greatness is.
The simple message of this clear, instructive passage of
Holy Scripture needs little explanation, but is in great need of emulation by
all who claim to be followers of Christ. The message of these verses is as
plain as the nose on your face.
Proposition: The path to greatness in the kingdom of
God is humble service to the people of God.
Divisions: With those things in
mind, I want to show you four things in this text:
1. A
Great Problem – (v. 24).
2. A
Great Precept – (vv. 25-27).
3. A
Great Pattern – (v. 28).
4. A
Great Propitiation – (v. 28).
I. Here is A Great Problem. (v.
24).
The greatest problem we have is pride. Pride is the root of
all sin, the cause
of all strife, and the most destructive of all passions. Even among true believers, yea,
even among the apostles of our Lord, pride, jealousy, and the love of
pre-eminence is a horrible passion that must constantly be held in check.
Those disciples were not upset with James and John
because they sought pre-eminence, but because they sought pre-eminence above
them! Like these disciples, we are all very proud and love pre-eminence. We
love power, pre-eminence, prestige, property, and position. We love these
things, seek them, and crave them because we are all very proud. Pride is the oldest of all
sins and the most destructive.
What separates and distinguishes men from one
another according to race, rank, riches, and recognition? Pride! What separates families? Pride! What is the
cause of war? Pride! Seldom ever do men go to war for principle. We go to war over property and invent principles
to justify our stupid pride.
“Pride
is a vice that cleaveth so fast unto the hearts of men, that if we were to strip
ourselves of all faults one by one, we should undoubtedly find it the very last
and hardest to put off.” Thomas Hooker
Of
all things named in the Bible that God hates, pride is number one (Pro. 6:17).
II. Here is A Great Precept – (vv.
25-27).
Listen to me now, and I will tell you what those verses
teach. Are you listening? A life of self-denying kindness and service to others is the secret of
true greatness.
The
standard of the world and the standard of our Lord are exact opposites. In
the kingdom of God a person is considered great who devotes himself to and
promotes the temporal and the spiritual welfare of others.
“True greatness consists, not in receiving, but in
giving. – not in selfish absorption of good things, but in imparting good to
others, - not in being served, but in serving, - not in sitting still and being
ministered to but in going about and ministering to others.” J.C. Ryle.
A. If you truly desire greatness in the kingdom of God,
find the place where you are needed and be a minister.
The
word is translated “minister” is the word that is elsewhere translated
“deacon.” It refers to a person who does menial labor, house cleaning, serving
tables, gardening, etc. It is the least recognized, but given the most needed
and certainly the most basic service.
B. If you really want to be great, if you want to be
chief, then make yourself a servant, a slave to the church and kingdom of God.
The word “servant” in verse 27 means “slave.” A servant
does not have much. But a slave has nothing. But this slavery is
altogether voluntary!
The cost of true greatness is humble, self-denying,
sacrificial service. It is service rendered to others for Christ’s sake by men
and women who have learned that “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
(Acts 20:35).
God, help us to shun the greatness of this world and
seek this true greatness. The angels of God see for more greatness in the work
of a Cody Groover, a Tom Harding, and a Bill Clark. Then in the works of bankers, lawyers, doctors, and presidents –
and we should too.
In his book, A Service Call to a Devout and Holy Life, William
Law writes, “Let every day be a day of humility;
condescend to all the weaknesses and infirmities of your fellow creatures,
cover their frailties, love their excellencies, encourage their virtues,
relieve their wants, rejoice in their prosperities, compassionate their
distress, receive their friendship, overlook their unkindness, forgive their malice,
be a servant of servants, and condescend to do the lowest offices of the lowest
of mankind.”
III. Here is A Great Pattern – (v.
28).
If you want an example to follow look no lower than to
the Lord Jesus Christ himself. He here shows us what true greatness is by his
own example. This is our Saviors message to us – “Strive to be like me!”
A. The Servant of God (Phil. 1:1-9).
B. The Servant of Men (John 13:4-5, 12-17).
In
such a self-forgetful way
That
even when I kneel to pray
My
prayer shall be for others.
Help
me in all the work I do
To
ever be sincere and true,
And
know that all I’d do for You
Must
needs be done for others.
Savior,
help me in all I do
To
magnify and copy You.
That
I may ever live like You,
Help
me to live for others.
IV. Here is A Great Propitiation (v.
28).
Not only has the Son of God given us a noble example of
self-denying love and service by his obedience to God for us, he has, by the
sacrifice of himself ransomed us…
A. From
The Slavery of Sin. (Rom. 6:18).
B. From
The Curse and Condemnation of God’s Holy Law (Rom. 8:1-4; Gal. 3:13).
C. Into
The Glorious Liberty of The Son of God Tit. 2:19).
1. The ransom price was the precious
blood of Christ – Ephesians 1:7
2. The ransom price was paid for “many,” and
paid for them in particular, as the objects of his special love. The many…
·
Ordained
to Eternal Life (Acts 13:48).
Application:
I Corinthians 6:19, 20
1. If
you would live for Christ, live for others; if you would serve Christ, serve
one another.
2. Make
Christ himself your rule of life.
3. Here’s
your motive – “You are not your own, You are bought with a price. Therefore
glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”