Luke 18:17

17 I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Luke 18:17 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 18:17

Verily I say unto you
, Christ takes an occasion from hence to teach his disciples humility, and guard them against pride and vanity:

whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God;
the King Messiah, the doctrines of the Gospel, and the ordinances of it, even the whole Gospel dispensation;

as a little child;
without prejudice, pride, ambition, and vanity, with meekness, and humility:

shall in no wise enter therein;
a very unfit and improper person to be a professor of the Gospel; or to be admitted to Gospel ordinances: or be a member of a Gospel church; or be reckoned a subject of the Messiah's kingdom, which is of a spiritual nature; and as he has not a meetness for, and a right unto the kingdom of glory, he shall never see it, and enjoy it.

Luke 18:17 In-Context

15 Some people were even bringing infants to Him so He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to Me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
17 I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
18 A ruler asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
19 "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One-God.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.