Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”
- KJV Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
- BSB Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
- NASB Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
- NLT I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says one must receive the Kingdom like a child or never enter it. Childlike trust and dependence are essential.
Overview
Entering the Kingdom requires the humble, receptive trust characteristic of a child, not the self-sufficiency of the Pharisee. It is received as a gift, not earned. This reinforces the lesson of the tax collector: God's reign is entered by those who come empty-handed in faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Matt 18:3and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Ps 131:1–2A Song of Ascents. By David. Yahweh, my heart isn’t haughty, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me.
- Mark 10:15Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”
- 1 Pet 1:14as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 18:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.