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This Week's Sermon ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS 30 September 2007 "They Always See His Face" Matthew 18:1-11 LSB Series C Vicar Heath Trampe Soli Deo Gloria!

What do humans know about angels? Apparently, we know quite a bit. That's why there are so many television programs and movies that have angels in them. When I first mentioned angels, you probably flashed back to the latest episode of "Touched by an Angel" or even the mid 90's movie, "Angels in the Outfield". It's a lot of fun to make up these amazing stories about angels, because we imagine that it could be true, and besides, who really knows? That's where the Bible comes into play. You see, the Biblical view of angels is quite different from what popular culture tells us. Society's view isn't completely wrong, however. Angels do protect human beings, and it's also entirely possible that they help baseball players all the time, although probably not exactly like in the movie. So what are the angels? The Bible says that they're God's messengers. The Greek word for angel literally means "messenger". We also see in the Scriptures that they are protectors, an army with one purpose, to serve God and Christians faithfully. In our text for today, we also see that angels have a special relationship with certain individuals, especially children. How do we know this? Because Jesus said so. Among other gems of salvation found in today's Gospel, Jesus tells us that

I. The humble, like children, are among the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
II. We must not cause the children to sin, knowing that we will be held accountable by God through His angels.
III. Christ has come to save the lost, of which the children belong.

Now that's kind of a hard statement to wrap our minds around. We can follow along until we hear about children's angels seeing the face of the Father. At that point we ask ourselves: "Don't all angels see the Father's face? Do we all have our own angels? Where is Vicar getting his information?" Well, to put your mind at ease, this statement is right in our Gospel for today. It's actually the last thing that Jesus says in this particular teaching. Before we get to that, however, we need to look at what Jesus says previously that would lead to such a statement.

This whole lesson starts with the disciples acting like a bunch of simpletons. Even though they've been with Jesus for a very long time, they're still getting it wrong. They actually argue over who will be the greater among them in the kingdom of heaven. These guys aren't dumb. They know that each of them will be pretty important in heaven, but that's not enough, they'll only be satisfied when they know who the best of the best will be. In Matthew's Gospel, these guys are so arrogant that they come to Jesus and put Him on the spot, asking Him to His face. They know full well that He's been giving Peter, James, and John some extra homework and that He seems particularly fond of these three, but they're determined to have it out right here and now.

It's easy to poke fun at the disciples at this point, but we're guilty of the same kind of behavior, aren't we? You see, we're never satisfied with what we have in this life. Pro sports are a great example of this. Most professional athletes (who, by the way, get paid to play a game that they love) aren't satisfied to simply be one of the best in the world. They need larger contracts and more money to prove that they are, in fact, the very best out there. Now, athletics are supposed to be competitive, but it happens everywhere. In business we're constantly trying to get ahead of our peers. We don't realize that it's lonely at the top, because we're too blinded by the fact that we deserve more than we have. If you've ever felt this way, perhaps you can sympathize with the dilemma of the disciples. Either way, we can learn from what Jesus tells them.

People love to cite the example of Jesus taking a child, propping him on His lap, and saying that children are among the most beloved in the kingdom of heaven. Well, that's what happens in today's Gospel, but do you think that this is Jesus' only point, that He loves children? Why does He love children? Is it because they're cute? Is it because they're affectionate? Surely there's more to this statement than meets the eye. Jesus' exact words to His disciples are "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven". Unless we turn and become like children. Could this mean that Jesus wants us to be infantile, with the mannerisms of a child? No, in fact, what He desires for the disciples and for us is to approach the kingdom of heaven like a child.

As parents, you often lavish your children with affection. I'm not talking about buying them things, but holding them, loving them, being there for them. I don't have to tell you that these are some of the most precious times in the life of your child. Do you suppose that your children, in the midst of your affection, are thinking about how lovely and adorable they must be to merit such love, or are they simply enjoying the treatment that they're receiving? Surely the latter. So why do we as Christians think that God will only love us and give us wonderful things if we're worthy of such a gift?

Like children, it would be best for us simply to enjoy the affection of our heavenly Father and account it to His grace. Luther says in the Small Catechism that we're given everything that we have out of God's "Fatherly and divine goodness, with no merit or worthiness in us". Now because we're given so much, we should want to serve and obey Him, but we shouldn't think that His wonderful treatment of us is due to what we've done or how lovely we are. In this sense, we must be as children. But is the humility of children the only reason that Jesus brings them up? And what should we make of this reference to the angels?

In today's society, children have been elevated to an unhealthy point. Couples tell themselves that everything should be about the children. They'll worry about their own relationship afterwards, and this has contributed, in part, to the nearly 50% divorce rate. This emphasis on children has caused many of the youth in our society, in ever growing numbers, to despise the good things of this world and to become selfish, expecting things to be handed to them. In sharp contrast, the children of Jesus' time were despised members of society, the lowest echelon of humanity. They had no legal rights whatsoever; they were in the same category as slaves. For the disciples (who considered themselves to be the most beloved servants of Christ) to be compared unfavorably to a child, they would have been shocked indeed! There must be something else going on in this lesson.

What are we celebrating today in our worship? Is it children's day? Is it apostle's day? No, it's St. Michael and All Angels. Today is a prime opportunity for Christians to realize what a great part angels play in their lives. The text barely talks about angels, but that doesn't mean that angels don't play an enormous part in Jesus' example. His exact words are "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven". I just mentioned that children were despised members of ancient society. Jesus explicitly prohibits despising them. He precedes this statement with a warning to all who would disobey this command. The first thing he says, in warning, is "whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea". Here's an unpleasant word picture. The Greek actually says the millstone of a donkey. This would be a stone so massive that it would have to be powered by a donkey in order to do its job. There were smaller millstones that this, but this one would certainly cause you to drown if it was hung around your neck.

Lest we should sneer at this example, Jesus follows it by saying that we would be better to go through life without our eyes or hands than to cause one of these "little ones" to sin. And how do we know that Jesus is serious about this? He tells the disciples that the angels who watch over the children ALWAYS see the Father's face. He's not saying that other angels don't see the Father's face, but we can be absolutely without a doubt certain that what happens to the children will be found out by our heavenly Father. These angels, or messengers, are going to tell Him. But how does all of this come together?

Verse eleven of this passage is not found in many original Greek manuscripts, and because of that, it's often missing from the English, as is the case with the ESV and NIV translations. However, these words give some definite closure to this great teaching of Jesus. "The Son of Man has come to save that which was lost". Jesus was famous for dealing and interacting with the poor and despised of society. This meant that He would often be found in the presence of tax collectors, prostitutes, and criminals. Now we can add children to this list. Many wanted to have nothing to do with children, but Jesus says that they're among the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus also mentions, in the Sermon on the Mount from earlier in the book of Matthew, that "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". We know this as one of the beatitudes.

When we humble ourselves, knowing full well that Jesus humbled Himself far more than we could ever attain, we are beginning to see what it takes to enter the kingdom of Heaven. As children receive gifts from their parents without trying to earn such love, so we also should and can receive what is given by our heavenly Father, without trying to make ourselves worthy of such a gift. Only one thing makes us worthy, and that's Christ's sacrifice for us. The angels are also essential to this. The reason we remember the angels, and especially Michael, who is chief among angels, is because it is they whom Christ sends to attend to us as we read in Psalm 91:11: "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all of your ways". We know that in Baptism we are marked with the holy cross, putting Jesus' signature on us, and that Satan works overtime to make us despair of our belief. Left to fend for ourselves, we would be done for. However, Christ is constantly watching over us, and He has sent His angels, his warriors, to do the same. The angels never sleep; they are never made weary by their service.

You see, we don't become angels when we die. We've always been humans and we always will be. However, don't despair, little flock, for the kingdom is yours. The angels have been created to attend to our needs; they are God's army. In our own liturgy, we hear that the angels are always with us. We gather at the Lord's Table with Angels and Archangels and all the company of heaven. We're never alone, because God, who is ever vigilant, will never leave us to our own strength. Children, and those who have learned, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be humbled in the awesome presence of their Savior and to simply receive His gifts, will not only be counted among the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, but are also the beloved children of a gentle and loving Father. We remember these wonderful gifts and close with a verse from Philipp Melanchthon's beloved hymn: "Lord God, to Thee We Give All Praise"

They never rest nor sleep as we;
Their whole delight is but to be
With Thee, Lord Jesus, and to keep;
Thy little flock, Thy lambs and sheep.