In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus advises against doing good deeds publicly to gain admiration, emphasizing the importance of humility and selflessness. He cautions against seeking recognition, honor, and position, and warns against selfish ambition. The disciples’ argument about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven serves as an example of how wrong ambition can bring division and shame. Jesus instructs them to focus on godly ambition, which involves serving others with humility and without expecting recognition. He illustrates the importance of receiving a child with the qualities of humility, patience, and faith. The message highlights that our goal as Christians is to build up the name of Jesus and the kingdom of God, not to seek personal glory or recognition.
Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Matthew 6:1-3
After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. Mark 9:33-34
He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” Mark 9:35
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4
Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37
I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. Mark 10:15
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