Matthew 11:1-15 — John the Baptist was more than a prophet. But are you, Christian, greater than he? You must be!
Questions to help personalize the lesson
- What should I do with my own doubts regarding spiritual matters?
- How highly do I value the witness of another?
- If I show another what I see and hear, would it be helpful to him?
- Offended in Jesus? Me? Why? When?
- What motivates me to go hear the visiting preacher?
- How well does my heart use my ears?
Where the least are more than a prophet
“Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11). He was more than a prophet!
Least in the kingdom of heaven — do others know what that means…by looking at you?!
Least is an attitude about ourselves. Paul had this proper view of himself when he said, “I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle” (1 Corinthians 15:9). In Ephesians 3:8 he expresses this attitude when he referred to himself as “less than the least of all saints.” It isn’t that Paul thought he was a no-good nobody. He simply was putting himself in the position of a lowly servant.
This least attitude is quite livable. A least person is “servant of all” (Mark 9:35). A living least looks “also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4). When you are least you are at liberty to serve others by love (Galatians 5:13).
(Excerpted from lesson material I wrote almost 25 years ago: More Great Than a Prophet)
But are you, Christian, greater than he?
You must be!
What do you know about being
least in the kingdom of heaven?
