Outline of Matthew 18:1-14

[This next Lord's Day, I have the privilege of preaching the morning sermon at Kosmosdale Baptist Church. I plan on preaching from Matthew 18:1-14. I construct the following outline as part of an exercise in close observation of the text.]

I. Who Is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? (vv. 1-6)
A. The question asked and answered (vv. 1-4)
1. The disciples ask Jesus “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (v. 1)
2. Jesus sets a child in their midst (v. 2)
3. The necessity of becoming like children to enter the kingdom of heaven (v. 3)
4. The above question answered (v. 4)
B. Receiving a child in Jesus' name or causing a little one to stumble (vv. 5-6)
1. Receiving a child in Jesus' name (v. 5)
2. Causing a little one to stumble (v. 6)

II. Temptations to Sin (vv. 7-9)
A. Woes concerning temptation (v. 7)
1. "Woe to the world for temptations to sin" (v. 7a)
2. "For it is necessary that temptations come" (v. 7b)
3. "woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!" (v. 7c)
B. The severity with which sin must be dealt (vv. 8-9)

III. The Parable of the Lost Sheep (vv. 10-14)
A. Warning against despising little ones (v. 10)
B. Illustration of the Father's care for the little ones (vv. 12-13)
C. The Father's will concerning the little ones (v. 14)