Jump Start # 1697

Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in Heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in Heaven.”

  This week, we are looking at the subject of angels. In nearly every great event in the Bible, angels were present. They rescued righteous Lot from Sodom. They visited Abraham and stopped him from sacrificing Isaac. They protected Daniel from the lions. They announced the birth of Jesus. They rolled the stone away from the tomb of Jesus. The Lord used angels in several of His parables. When Jesus returns, it will be with angels. An angel rescued Peter from prison. In the book of Revelation, we find angels pouring out the bowls of wrath and being the instruments of God’s justice upon the wicked.

Our verse today is where the “guardian” angel concept comes from. This is a big one. So many believe that this is true. More than half of Americans believe that they are personally protected by a guardian angel. Third Century writer, Origen, claimed, “Each of us, even to the least who are in the church of God has a good angel, an angel of the Lord, who guides, warns and governs.”

What is interesting about this passage is the tiny transition that takes place. It’s easy to miss it. The chapter begins with the disciples asking Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” It’s hard to believe that they were bold enough to ask that. What were they expecting? It’s like kids asking their parent which one is their favorite? Did Peter raise his head, expecting his name to be said? Instead of answering this question, which seems dumb and unimportant to us, Jesus called a child to Himself. He tells the audience to become converted and become like this child. Jesus was drawing upon the humbleness of a child. In verse six, Jesus says, “whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in Me to stumble,” which is a transition. It wasn’t the child that believed in Him, but the humble disciple. Jesus is not talking about nor talking to children. He was addressing the snooty attitude of these disciples. The greatest, in their thinking, would have little to do with “the lowest.” Kings rode horses and servants walked. Honor came to the greatest. The best seat in  the house was reserved for the greatest. That’s the thinking. It was then and it still is today. “These little ones,” expressed in both verse 6 and verse 10, are not children, but the “poor in spirit.” These are the humble disciples. They are not to be walked upon, avoided nor despised. Be one of them. Be like them.

Here’s why:

First, God desires “these little ones” to be saved. He does not want any of them to perish (v. 14)

Second, Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost (v. 11). Jesus values the “little ones.”

Third, angels in Heaven are concerned about their welfare (v. 10)

This is not so much teaching about guardian angels, as it is an attempt to get the disciples to see the value of “little ones.” Those who are humble and meek. They are not aggressive, arrogant and demanding. They don’t use power to push their ways. They love the Lord and serve Him the best that they can. If the angels in Heaven are concerned about the wellbeing of these “little ones,” shouldn’t the apostles likewise be concerned  and see the need to be like them?

Do we have a personal angel that is just assigned to us? I’m not sure. The Scriptures teach that God uses angels to serve His people. Does that mean I might get any angel or only one designated just for me? Does it matter? Will I know?

Here are a few things that we do know:

• An angel is not going to keep me from making wrong choices. If that happened then I have lost my free will. When I do make a poor choice, it would not be my fault, but my angel, who let me down. Lots and lots of problems with this line of thinking.
• God never promised to shelter his people from trouble. Job, the best man in God’s trophy case, had the bucket of turmoil poured upon him. There were lion’s dens and prisons, and storms, and fiery furnaces and God’s preachers were killed. Where were their guardians? Suffering is part of this world. So is dying.
• Are we to think that everyone has an angel, even the wicked? The wicked whose prayers God won’t hear, yet they have an angel? That doesn’t seem right? If we all have an angel, do we lose that angel if we go bad? Then does that angel come back if we do right? What about the prodigal? Where was his angel when he was with the pigs? Many questions and very little Biblical teaching on this.
• The Matthew passage, our verse, says their angel continually beholds the face of God. How can my angel take care of me when he is not even looking at me? He’s looking at God. That’s interesting.
• God never promised an “anytime, anywhere, any place” angel insurance.
• Angels are not going to reveal God’s will to us. That is the purpose of the Bible. When ole’ Origen taught that angels “guide, warn and governs” us, he has simply replaced the need for the Bible. Why read and follow the Bible, when I have an angel who will tell me what I need to know? It is scary how many people  would line up believing this. They would put more trust in what they think an angel is saying that what the Word of God actually says. Go preach, was God’s word to the apostles.
• Angels can’t forgive us. Only God can do that.
• Very few people in the Bible actually saw an angel. Not every appearance of angels involved wings and I doubt halos were ever used.
• Our confidence is in the Lord. Our trust is in the Lord. It is the Lord who is our present help.

So, do I have an angel? I don’t know. I honestly don’t care. I’m more interested in having the Lord. My hope is in the Lord. My walk is in the Lord. It is the Lord who will saved me, not an angel. Angels are God’s tools to accomplish what He wants. Stop putting faith in angels and put your hope in the God of Heaven and earth.

Much of what folks believe about this subject comes from movies, books and superstition. There just isn’t much in the Bible that talks about this. And while we are on this, we might as well mention the angels to the churches found in Revelation 2-3. Does each congregation have an angel? Was John writing a letter to a spiritual angel or did the term “angel” refer to a messenger of that congregation? How would a letter written on earth, get up to Heaven in the first place? Then that letter had to come back to earth to be read by the seven congregations. How did John’s letter get from the island to those churches? Messengers. They came and carried them back. Maybe, just maybe, that’s who would carry them and then read them aloud to the churches. They were angels in the sense of being God’s messengers and instruments.

God loves you and wants you in Heaven.

Roger