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

Footnotes

• [a] 18:6 Greek 'causes . . . to stumble'; also verses 8, 9