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[3449.22 --> 3450.42] who have the temptation
[3450.42 --> 3451.22] to think either,
[3451.30 --> 3452.04] on the one hand,
[3452.44 --> 3455.16] that we can overcome anything
[3455.16 --> 3457.10] by our own wisdom and strength,
[3457.52 --> 3459.32] where we sit on God's throne
[3459.32 --> 3461.18] and we try to rule our own lives.
[3461.68 --> 3462.62] That sort of pride.
[3463.22 --> 3464.54] Or, on the other hand,
[3464.84 --> 3465.82] those who think
[3465.82 --> 3466.92] that more knowledge
[3466.92 --> 3469.30] and close work with God's word
[3469.30 --> 3472.20] must make us especially privileged
[3472.20 --> 3473.62] and closer to God,
[3473.98 --> 3476.64] as if there are holy vocations
[3476.64 --> 3479.28] versus secular jobs.
[3481.34 --> 3482.80] And speaking of that,
[3482.94 --> 3484.58] it's a sad reality in history
[3484.58 --> 3485.96] and part of our Christianity,
[3486.16 --> 3486.54] isn't it?
[3487.58 --> 3487.84] Right?
[3487.94 --> 3489.68] Whether intentionally or not,
[3489.92 --> 3491.50] many Christians throughout history
[3491.50 --> 3493.22] have so commonly set up
[3493.22 --> 3494.42] hierarchies of jobs,
[3494.54 --> 3496.38] thinking that only if you work
[3496.38 --> 3497.06] for the church
[3497.06 --> 3498.30] or a mission organization,
[3498.30 --> 3499.72] you are holier
[3499.72 --> 3501.14] or you are better Christian.
[3502.50 --> 3503.88] And that's what Jesus
[3503.88 --> 3505.10] is speaking against here
[3505.10 --> 3506.12] in this passage as well,
[3506.42 --> 3508.00] against those religious elites,
[3508.38 --> 3509.46] against the Pharisees
[3509.46 --> 3510.58] and the teachers of the law
[3510.58 --> 3511.86] who thought they were better
[3511.86 --> 3512.96] just because they worked
[3512.96 --> 3514.26] close to God.
[3514.72 --> 3515.46] Close to God.
[3516.80 --> 3517.92] That's the pride
[3517.92 --> 3518.92] that God opposes.
[3518.92 --> 3522.62] because all of our workplaces
[3522.62 --> 3524.20] and all of our vocations
[3524.20 --> 3525.16] is the word we say,
[3525.62 --> 3527.18] can reflect God's goodness
[3527.18 --> 3528.66] and His redemptive plans
[3528.66 --> 3529.36] and His kingdom
[3529.36 --> 3530.42] for all creation.
[3531.14 --> 3532.08] So whether you work
[3532.08 --> 3532.62] for a church
[3532.62 --> 3533.94] or for the local supermarket,
[3534.48 --> 3535.78] our calling is to be
[3535.78 --> 3536.88] disciples of Jesus
[3536.88 --> 3537.80] every day
[3537.80 --> 3539.22] and every step of our lives.
[3541.20 --> 3542.32] And so just like
[3542.32 --> 3543.18] the Sermon on the Mount
[3543.18 --> 3544.86] where Jesus rebukes
[3544.86 --> 3545.42] the Pharisees
[3545.42 --> 3547.46] and the religiously proud,
[3547.46 --> 3548.96] Jesus here
[3548.96 --> 3549.96] is speaking to the heart.
[3550.34 --> 3551.82] He's speaking against the pride
[3551.82 --> 3553.26] that we are all tempted with
[3553.26 --> 3554.48] even in our own hearts.
[3555.34 --> 3556.04] And Dale Bruner,
[3556.16 --> 3556.86] this commentator
[3556.86 --> 3557.72] of this passage
[3557.72 --> 3558.98] in the Gospel of Matthew,
[3559.36 --> 3560.46] he captures the essence
[3560.46 --> 3561.62] of this little part here.
[3561.94 --> 3562.56] And he says,
[3562.92 --> 3563.92] those who feel
[3563.92 --> 3565.50] their spiritual brilliance
[3565.50 --> 3566.98] and are sorry for those
[3566.98 --> 3568.90] who fall so far beneath them,
[3569.26 --> 3572.48] who bask in self-importance
[3572.48 --> 3574.26] and feel God is lucky
[3574.26 --> 3575.10] to have them,
[3575.10 --> 3578.06] these find in Jesus' Father
[3578.06 --> 3578.62] a back.
[3579.68 --> 3581.66] But those who feel their sin
[3581.66 --> 3583.02] are sorry for it
[3583.02 --> 3584.86] and come asking for help,
[3585.30 --> 3587.42] these find in Jesus' Father
[3587.42 --> 3588.28] open arms.
[3590.04 --> 3591.52] And these latter people,
[3592.20 --> 3593.26] the people who come
[3593.26 --> 3594.72] humbly before the Father,
[3595.20 --> 3596.28] those who know
[3596.28 --> 3597.44] that they are in need
[3597.44 --> 3598.14] of a Savior,
[3599.18 --> 3601.00] these people,
[3601.14 --> 3601.64] I should say,
[3601.96 --> 3603.34] are the little children
[3603.34 --> 3605.10] that Jesus is talking about.
[3605.18 --> 3606.24] Hence our second question,
[3606.52 --> 3607.82] who are the little children?
[3609.62 --> 3611.22] These people