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The phrases "hit the dog, see the owner" and "love the house, and its crow" reflect both negative and positive ways of evaluating our attitudes toward others. People are easily influenced by the appearance, attire, speech, culture, social background, and political inclinations of others. At the same time, sinful human beings also like to compare: who is higher, who is lower, who has more, who has less. Such deeply ingrained sinful tendencies are extremely difficult obstacles to overcome.
The disciples witnessed Jesus perform countless miracles and heard Him repeatedly explain that His kingdom was not of this world. Some even saw Jesus' transfigured appearance, yet they still asked Him, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus sought to break the value system that controlled them because it would affect the future work of spreading the gospel. The entire eighteenth chapter of Matthew addresses this theme. Jesus used the simplicity, lack of competition, and helplessness of children to illustrate the conditions for entering the kingdom of heaven. In other words, those who belong to the kingdom of heaven are people who know that they are helpless and powerless and rely entirely on God (Matthew 18:3-4). They are people who live daily depending on God and have nothing to boast about (2 Corinthians 10:17). These "little ones" are God's children, the members of the body of Christ. Jesus warns the world not to cause His children to stumble (Matthew 18:6-9).
Today's passage warns believers not to despise their fellow believers. This is a characteristic of those who have received new life. The apostle Paul says, "So from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:16-17). When we reject the reminders, warnings, or encouragement from our fellow believers, we are despising their identity, which comes from God (John 1:12, 1 Peter 2:9). This is a negative warning.
Next, Jesus emphasizes how precious His children are. He is willing to leave everything behind to find them (verses 12-14). This is a positive encouragement for believers to love one another, knowing how valuable each person is in the eyes of the Father. To love the Lord is to also love what He loves, including His people. Before going to the cross, Jesus reminded His disciples again: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35). Believers must not only strive to know Jesus Christ, change, and turn towards Him, but also become a blessing to others, especially to fellow believers, because they are exceedingly precious in God's eyes. They are lives that Jesus has redeemed at the cost of His precious blood.
The apostle John says, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8). How do we view our fellow believers? Do we have spiritual pride? Do we love the Lord Jesus? Do we love the people whom the Lord Jesus loves?
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