Matthew 18:1-7

1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of the heavens?

2 And Jesus having called a little child to [him], set it in their midst,

3 and said, Verily I say to you, Unless ye are converted and become as little children, ye will not at all enter into the kingdom of the heavens.

4 Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, *he* is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens;

5 and whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receives me.

6 But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me, it were profitable for him that a great millstone had been hanged upon his neck and he be sunk in the depths of the sea.

7 Woe to the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; yet woe to that man by whom the offence comes!

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'in no wise:' a strengthened negative.
• [b]. The Greek word is the comparative, hence 'greater' than others: it is thus characteristic, not personal. 'Greatest' answers to it in English.
• [c]. Lit. an 'ass-millstone,' i.e. turned by an ass, as too great for the hand.