Matthew 18:1-6

Who Is the Greatest?

1 ¹At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them

3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you ²turn and ³become like children, you ⁴will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

4 ⁵Whoever humbles himself like this child is the ⁶greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 ⁷"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

6 but ⁸whoever causes one of these ⁹little ones who believe in me to sin,^[a] it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 17:24; For ver. 1-5, see Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48; [Matthew 20:20-28]
• 2. See Luke 22:32
• 3. Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17; [Psalms 131:2; 1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 Peter 2:2]
• 4. [Matthew 5:19, 20]
• 5. Matthew 20:27; Matthew 23:11, 12
• 6. [See ver. 3 above]
• 7. [Matthew 10:40, 42]
• 8. Mark 9:42
• 9. Luke 17:2; [1 Corinthians 8:12]

Footnotes

• [a]. Greek causes... to stumble; also verses 8, 9