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At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man came to save the lost.”(Matthew 18:1–11)
Have you heard of the famous phrase, “Pride cometh before the fal”? Some say it comes from Proverbs 16:18 which, in the King James Version, reads: “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” What does the phrase “Pride comes before the fall” mean? It means that, if you are too proud about yourself, failure will probably come. If you are too conceited, something is going to happen that will make you look foolish. If you are too confident about yourself, something bad will happen. Jesus once said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled.”
This happens when a sports team is very confident that they will win the game only to have the other team win in the last few seconds. On a personal note: it seems like whenever I brag about my garden, then out come the bugs and the neighborhood rabbits.
On this Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, we will learn that Satan — a fallen angel — was full of pride and arrogance and that this was the cause of his downfall. Saint Michael fought against Satan and won. Jesus fought against Satan and won. Therefore, salvation is paid in full. It is finished. However, a battle with the devil continues here on earth. Yet, God sends His holy angels to guard and to protect us. We will thank God for the salvation He has provided for us sinners, but we will also thank Him for the service of angels.
Pride comes before the fall. Pride was the cause of Satan's downfall. We learn from Isaiah 14:12–14 that Satan wanted to raise his throne above the stars of God. He wanted to sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. He wanted to ascend above the tops of the clouds. He said, “I will make myself like the Most High [God].” Notice that Satan wanted to be above God Himself. Satan's pride was the cause of his fall. He was, at one time, a good angel, but he sinned. 2 Peter 2:4 tells us that other angels sinned as well and joined Satan.
Pride was also the cause of Adam and Eve's fall. Satan said to Eve, “If you eat this fruit, then you will be like God.” So, of their own free will, Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden fruit. Because Adam and Eve sinned, they were cast out of the garden. Genesis 3:24 says that cherubim — namely angels — guarded the door of the garden with a flaming sword. This is the fist time in Scripture that we are introduced to good angels.
As a result of Adam and Eve's sin, Cain killed Abel, his brother. Noah got drunk, and his son, Ham, made fun of his father. Abraham lied. Moses killed a fellow brother. The Israelites worshiped the golden calf. David committed adultery and was involved in killing Uriah. Israel followed the idol gods of Canaan. The list goes on and on.
Pride also plagued Jesus' disciples. They were wondering who is the greatest among them. At another time James and John wanted to sit at Jesus' right and left in the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus said, “Let this thinking not be among you.” He takes up a child in his lap and starts talking about humility rather than greatness. Jesus said, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Pride is also the cause of our sin. There are times when we have a high opinion of ourselves. We have pride in ourselves in a haughty way. Our behavior results in arrogance. Our self–esteem is improper and excessive. Our ego is puffed up and inflated. We boast in our accomplishments. We love to brag. We believe that we are superior to all others and therefore put others down. It's very sad when our sin of pride hurts a spouse, a family member, or a friend.
Jesus said that if your eye causes you to sin, then cut it out, or if your hand or foot cause you to sin, then cut them off. Jesus is exaggerating. It's a hyperbole. But His point is that sin is serious. It has eternal consequences. It is addicting. Sin wants to be your master.
It's hard to be honest with God and to confess our sin when a spirit of pride is dominant. It's hard to show sacrificial love for others and to humble ourselves when a spirit of pride is dominant. Yet, it's necessary that we live lives of repentance. When we repent, the angels in heaven rejoice.
Who will save us from our sin? Who will make the righteous payment that God demands? Who will take up our sin and bear our punishment? Who will defeat our enemies of death and the devil?
Can an angel come and rescue us? No, not Saint Michael or Gabriel or any other angel. Angels are unqualified to bring us salvation. Why? Because angels do not have flesh and blood like we do. They are spirit beings. Therefore, they cannot make the righteous payment that God demands.
So, who will save us from our sin? God Himself must come to our rescue, and He did.
The angel Gabriel announced to Zechariah that his son John would be the forerunner to the promised Savior. Then, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of our Lord. Mary humbled herself saying, “Let it be to me according to your Word.”
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, this news was announced to shepherds by means of an angel. The multitude of angels sang, “Glory be to God in the highest and peace good will toward men.”
When Jesus' ministry began, He faced Satan head on in the wilderness. Three times Satan tempted Jesus to sin, but Jesus remained firm and strong. Being the Son of God, Jesus withstood Satan and won. After the temptation in the wilderness, angels came and ministered to Jesus.
Throughout Jesus' ministry, He reversed the curse of sin and death. Jesus gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. Jesus even made people whole again by casting demons out of them. All of this proves that Jesus has power over the devil and his demons. 1 John 3:8 says that the “reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.” And Hebrews 2:14–15 says that Christ became human “so that by His death, He might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is the devil.”
Before Jesus was crucified, He said, “Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:31–32). Jesus' greatest victory was when He faithfully shed innocent blood on the cross as a payment for the sin of the whole world. Jesus was the sacrificed lamb who shed His blood for your sin and mine. Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death upon the cross. Christ's death upon the cross for your salvation is the greatest act of humility and love.
He who humbles himself will be exalted. So, three days later, Christ rose from the dead. Jesus won the victory. Angels announced to the women at the tomb that Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Forty days later, He ascended into heaven surrounded by angels.
Because of Christ's death and resurrection, Satan can no longer stand in God's holy presence and accuse us of our sin. Satan's accusations are invalid. Satan can no longer hold us guilty. Because Jesus shed His blood for us, Revelation 1:5 says that we are set free from the accusation of our sins. Jesus made the righteous payment on the cross in our place and on our behalf.
War broke out in heaven. Michael, the captain of the host of angels, engaged in the war with Satan and his hosts. Michael lead the charge against the devil and his angels. They fought, but the devil did not prevail. As a result, Satan was expelled from God's presence. He was thrown out of heaven.
Our Epistle lesson says, “Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short” (Revelation 12:12). Woe to us who live here on earth where the devil dwells.
Dearly beloved, you are our Lord's baptized child. You are redeemed with the blood of Christ. You are a lamb within His fold. Please be aware that Satan will want to take your faith away. He will use everything in his power to destroy you and your faith in Christ.
Jesus said in our text, “Woe to the one by whom temptations come.” Temptations come from Satan. He wants your hand and your foot to sin. He puts things in front of you in order for your eye to sin. He wants little ones like you who believe in Jesus to sin. He wants you to exhibit greatness rather than humility.
A great millstone should be fastened around Satan's neck and, then, he should be thrown in the depth of the sea. Satan deserves to be thrown into the eternal hell of fire. This is exactly what will happen to him on the last day. Satan will be locked up forever.
Dearly beloved, until that day comes, believe that the Christ in you is greater than Satan who is in the world. You are on the side of victory. Forgiveness, life, and salvation are yours in Christ. You even have your own guardian angel who always sees the face of our Father in heaven.
Our journey toward heaven will not be easy. Satan is around us and sin is within us, but Christ is our refuge and strength. The Lord's Supper is the meal which sustains us on our journey to heaven. After all, when we commune, the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven join us as well.
So, today we give God thanks for the victory Christ won over sin, death, and the devil. We give God thanks for the victory which Saint Michael, the chief angel, won over Satan. We give God thanks for the angel Gabriel and for all angels including our own guardian angel.
For this, now and in days to be,
Our praise shall rise, O Lord, to Thee,
Whom all the angel hosts adore
With grateful songs forevermore.(Lutheran Service Book #522, Stanza 8)
Amen.
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