Luke Chapter 18 - ACC NT Study

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.
37 They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
38 He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,
41 "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you."
43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

In a few words:
Our persistence to be with Jesus brings a clear vision.

Matthew Chapter 18 - ACC NT Study

Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? That is the question to Jesus from His disciples. He answers them by first addressing the issue of entering the Kingdom of Heaven at all, let alone who is the greatest.
(Verse 3)
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become
like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Basically Jesus tells them unless they trust God (as a child trusts a loving parent) they have missed the whole point. I guess the disciples assumed they were a "shoe-in" as far as Heaven was concerned.

Perhaps they were having a discussion about which one of them would be the greatest there. Jesus addresses this as well.
(Verse 4)
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this
child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus makes it clear, Heaven is such a wonderful place we won't worry about who is the greatest. (Perhaps that is the humble part.)

This chapter helps us understand to rid ourselves of what causes us to sin. The metaphor of a removing a body part is quite effective. Obviously having a body part removed would be a painful experience. Likewise there are things that cause us to sin, and it is painful to rid ourselves of them. But it is well worth doing so.

Matthew 18 also gives guidance of how to handle a situation when someone sins against us. However the "Parable of the Unmerciful Servant" clearly stresses the importance of forgiveness.
(Forgiveness is usually the key to resolve painful situations that may have occurred.)

In a few words:
Trust God to help us recognize and remove the things in our lives that cause us to fall short.