I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not 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, he shall not enter therein.
- BSB Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
- NKJV Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means 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.”
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
Whoever does not receive the kingdom like a little child will not enter it. Saving faith means humble, trusting dependence, not self-sufficiency.
Overview
Jesus makes children a picture of how the kingdom must be received: with childlike trust, humility, and dependence rather than achievement or status. This rules out entrance based on merit or pride. It points to the gospel reality that we enter God's kingdom only by receiving it as a gift, resting wholly on Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 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.
- Luke 18:17Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”
- John 3:3–6Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 10:15 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
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