Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19970112.htm

MATTHEW: JESUS AS ISRAEL'S MESSIAH AND HIS MESSIANIC KINGDOM
Part X. Christ's Messianic Kingdom Postponed
L. Christ's Edification Of The Disciples In View Of His Rejection As The King
7. God's Help For Parents With Children In A Spiritually At-Risk Environment
(Matthew 19:13-15)
  1. Introduction
    1. One of the biggest concerns Christian parents have in today's America is their battle against a godless world environment that puts their offspring's spiritual development at risk. Drugs, New Age ideology, negative peer pressure and a sky-rocketing divorce rate all play havoc with a child's spiritual development.
    2. Matthew 19:13-15, in its context, addresses the needs of parents who seek God's best for their children who live in a spiritually at-risk environment. It supplies not only hope, but a real answer to this challenge:
  2. God's Help For Parents With Children In A Spiritually At-Risk Environment, Matthew 19:13-15.
    1. The environment of Perea for children in Jesus' day was uniquely at-risk spiritually-speaking:
      1. The culture esteemed little children very lightly, Bib. Know. Com., N.T., p. 61.
      2. Israel's divorce rate was quite high due in part to the liberal beliefs of the followers of Rabbi Hillel who taught that a man could divorce his wife for trivial reasons, Ryr. St. Bib., KJV, ftn. Mtt. 19:3.
      3. The leaders of Perea in Herod and Herodias if anything promoted the liberalization of divorce and remarriage: they had put John the Baptizer to death for criticizing their wife-swapping practices, demeaning marital fidelity in a very p ublic fashion, Ibid., Bib. Know. Com., N.T., p. 148.
      4. Besides, being on the east bank amongst a higher percentage of Gentiles in the population, the presence of pagan ideology and relaxed Biblical morals was commonplace, Ibid., B.K.C., N.T., p. 123.
      5. Summary: thus, children living in Perea of Israel in Jesus' day not only faced a high possibility of growing up in homes experiencing divorce, but also a lack of care and concern due to the light way childhood needs were esteemed along with community influences that were less Bible-based and more influenced by paganism. They were spiritually the most at-risk boys and girls in Israel.
    2. However, for parents in Perea concerned about God's best for their children, Christ offered complete divine watchcare over their children's futures, Mtt. 19:13-15:
      1. The events recorded in Matthew 19:13-15 occurred in Perea, cf. Mtt. 19:1 with 19:15; Ibid., p. 64.
        1. The region beyond Jordan where Jesus addressed the issue of divorce and remarriage was Perea, the land where Herod and Herodias lived with their infamous marital histories, Ibid., p. 63, 148.
        2. Before leaving that area, the events in Mtt. 19:13-15 occurred, cf. Ibid., p. 64.
      2. Thus, some concerned Perean caregivers of little children, most likely mothers or parents or guardians, brought some of their spiritually at-risk little children unto Jesus for Him to bless them, Mtt. 19:13a,b. This was a prac tice of conveying God's blessing on a child's future life, Ibid., p. 149.
      3. The disciples, in line with the cultural disrespect for little children, felt it was imposing on Jesus' attention to meet these people and so rebuked these caregivers, Mtt. 19:13c, Ibid., p. 64.
      4. However, concerned to assist concerned parents in this very difficult region for children, Jesus powerfully gave a "sharp double command," ordering the disciples to permit the children to come to Him and demanding that they not be forb idden, Mtt. 19:14a,b; Ibid., p. 149.
      5. Then, He laid hands on every child to bless their futures before leaving the region, 19:15; Ibid., p. 64.
      6. Mark's Gospel uses the word kateulogei for Jesus' blessing that is an intensive compound verb. It "emphasizes the warmhearted fervor with which Jesus blessed each child . . . " Ibid., p. 150.
Lesson: God warmly cares for every child in even the most at-risk spiritual environment. Thus, concerned parents need only commit each child's future development and welfare to the Lord and He will receive the responsibility of ensuring His blessi ng upon them, cf. Ps. 37:25-26.

Application: The most important ingredient in a child's developing safely through a spiritually at-risk environment is a concerned overseer who bothers to commit the child to God's oversight in prayer. So, concerned parent, start y our child-rearing efforts by bringing your child to the Lord in prayer for Him to bless his future! As you raise him, keep praying for him as a way of life!