Matthew 18:1-10

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, asking, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" 1
2 So Jesus called a child to come and stand in front of them,
3 and said, "I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. 2
4 The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child.
5 And whoever welcomes in my name one such child as this, welcomes me.
6 "If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the deep sea.
7 How terrible for the world that there are things that make people lose their faith! Such things will always happen - but how terrible for the one who causes them!
8 "If your hand or your foot makes you lose your faith, cut it off and throw it away! It is better for you to enter life without a hand or a foot than to keep both hands and both feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. 3
9 And if your eye makes you lose your faith, take it out and throw it away! It is better for you to enter life with only one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. 4

Cross References 5

  • 1. 18.1Luke 22.24.
  • 2. 18.3Mark 10.15;Luke 18.17.
  • 3. 18.8Matthew 5.30.
  • 4. 18.9Matthew 5.29.
  • 5. +218.10Tobit 12.15.+O"See that you don't despise any of these little ones. Their angels in heaven, I tell you, are always in the presence of my Father in heaven.+f[Some manuscripts add verse 11:] For the Son of Man came to save the lost [(seeLuke 19.10).]+e+N18.11Luke 19.10.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.