In referring to the little ones in Matthew 18:10, Jesus mentions their angels
to reinforce the warning not to despise even one of these little ones. This verse thus implies that every believer is protected by a specific angel, so that all who look down on even the lowliest believer must reckon with that believer’s guardian angel, and ultimately with God himself—but we do not have enough knowledge of the angels to fully explain these words. Yet even these few words of Jesus are reason enough to treat the lowliest believers with utmost care, and to receive them as we would the Lord himself (see Matthew 18:5).
In referring to the little ones in Matthew 18:10, Jesus expressly refers to their angels
—and does so for the express purpose of reinforcing the warning not to despise even one of these little ones. This verse therefore presupposes that every believer enjoys the protection of a particular angel, so that whoever looks down on even the least significant believer must reckon firstly with that believer’s guardian angel, and then ultimately with God himself.
However, we do not possess sufficient knowledge of the angelic realm to offer a detailed explanation of these words. Yet even the few words Jesus provides here are more than sufficient reason for us to treat the less conspicuous believers on earth with the utmost care—and to receive them as we would the Lord himself (see Matthew 18:5).1
10 “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.