It鈥檚 hard to imagine, after everything the disciples have seen of Jesus, they would argue over who is greatest! They are becoming like Pharisees, but Jesus wants them to become like children. Jesus is concerned for everyone, especially those in need of rescue. Sometimes even our fellow Christians are in need of rescue. He provides a model of how we can relate to those who have sinned against us. It is all motivated by a desire to see the relationship restored. It takes a great deal of humility to want to restore a relationship that has been broken by the other person鈥檚 wrongdoing. Continual forgiveness of others, as we have been forgiven by God, is required.
Everyone probably struggles with pride. Even if we don鈥檛 say it, we want to have some sort of advantage over those around us. We also want to see others punished for the wrongs they have done to us. If I want to be greater than you and you want to be greater than me, we will always be dissatisfied. If I want you to be punished for your sin and mine to be overlooked, and you want it the other way around, things will never turn out. But practicing humility and forgiveness works for everyone.