what does jesus mean when he says you must become humble like children again in order to get into heaven
2006-09-17 16:55:40 · 22 answers · asked by dvdai14 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jesus said we must have faith like a child to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Children do not have to see with their own two eyes to believe something. They trust what people tell them. They believe in the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, and santa claus because people have told them that these things are real.
So, Christians must have the same faith. We must believe and accept that the Bible and salvation are true without actually seeing these things first hand.
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
2006-09-17 17:03:30 · answer #1 · answered by ktjokt 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Is that the verse you mean? It's in Matthew.
He's speaking of the humbleness of a child. Kids are not proud or arrogant, they have no sense of being better than anyone, they just .... are. Sometimes they'll ask embarrassing questions because they have such a total lack of propriety; I've had mine ask racial questions point blank in a crowd of people, or point out someone's handicap in the store. They don't do it to be mean or rude, they just want to know why some people are black and why does that lady have a wheelchair. It's this humbleness that Jesus is speaking of.
He's saying that if you want to be great in heaven, you should be like a child here on earth; drop the arrogance, the pride, and look at the world with wonder and a sense of humility that you are just a small part of it.
2006-09-18 00:08:34 · answer #2 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He is answering the disciples question by telling him that.
Here is Matthew 18:1-4.
Mat 18:1-4 - In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no way enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
He was telling them, and us, that if we come to Him full of pride, thinking you are the best, the greatest of all, and that you can do it on your own without His help we won't go to heaven. We must humble ourselves as a little child comes to his father, acknowledging that he really needs his help. And that we shouldn't be like some raunchy teenager saying, "Oh don't worry Dad. I can do this on my own. Yeah, I know I've never done this before, but I heard just a bit about how to do it on TV, so I'll be okay. Yeah I know, but..... Oh c'mon, please Dad! Everyone else in school is doin' it, and I see them doin' stuff like this on TV all the time!"
Hope that helps you just a bit. Take care, and God bless you.
2006-09-18 00:15:45 · answer #3 · answered by stebdawg 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever seen a child's eyes light up when you tell them an exciting story? Or when they know that Christmas is just a week away? It is kind of like that... they are so innocent and pure... they find delight in pure things, not in evil. Like when a child is out in the field and picks a bunch of weeds because they are pretty and they just want to give you a present...And when you tell them that Jesus is knocking on their door, they run to check and see... that is what it means to be humble like children. They believe without seeing... they love without question, even if you do not act like you love them... and they know, they just know that even though they can't see Jesus, that He is right there with them, always. That's what it means to humble yourself like a child.
2006-09-18 00:06:57 · answer #4 · answered by ToYkaT04 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just as a Child Believes what he,she is told, without doubting (with in Reason), we have to accept Jesus as Our Saviour, to get our Spirits Recreated to be Translated into the Kingdom of GOD (Born-Again).
Simply Believe Who Jesus is. And ask Him into your Heart (Spiritman).
Also, after you are Born-Again, you have to Humble yourself to Walk in the Spirit, Pride will keep you out of the Kingdom (Walking in the Power of GOD) After you become a Child of GOD and are on your way to Heaven. You want some Rewards in Heaven don't you? You have to Walk in the Spirit to Really ring up some Points with GOD while your still on the EARTH.
2006-09-18 00:06:40 · answer #5 · answered by maguyver727 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He was speaking to the pharacees and saducces, and in saying that he was saying to get into heaven you dont need to be proud and make everyone look at what you have done, but be as a little child. The best example I can give here is my 3 year old. every time we take him to the park and theres other little kids, he'll go around and put the other kids needs before his own.
2006-09-18 00:23:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
dvdai14,
Matthew 18:3
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Did you ever see a child that was overjoyed at the sight of his mother or father's arrival? The child totally forgets himself, forms a huge smile and runs to the parent. Joyful laughs and hugs and even screaming sometimes.
That is what I think Jesus means. Complete joy, love, forgetting of self, single-minded devotion for the moment, at the meeting.
2006-09-18 00:07:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Children are humble and submissive. Think about when you were a small child. When your parents told you to do something you did it. Our Heavenly Father requires that we become like that meek little child and obey him.
2006-09-18 00:01:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Children are innocent. They are humble and trusting. Love is not complicated in a child's heart.
2006-09-18 00:07:04 · answer #9 · answered by Sara B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you observe children's tendencies they are typically trusting, willing, and don't have all of the paranoia and conflicting ideas to challenge whatever someone tells them to do. ex: Claire, bring mommy a pen. "ok."-she doesn't ask why, she doesn't give her mom a hard time, she just gets a pen and comes to who called her. Sometimes when God wants us to step out on faith we challenge Him with, " I don't want to do it like this" or "not right now, God". Since He's the only one with the keys, we have to get into God's house (heaven) the way He wants us to, and that means putting ourselves in obedience...like kids.
2006-09-18 00:09:52 · answer #10 · answered by Teoshe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋