So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Parallel translations
- WEB Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
- KJV Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- BSB Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- NKJV Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- NASB So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
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
True greatness in the kingdom belongs to whoever humbles himself like a child. Jesus redefines greatness as lowliness, not status.
Overview
Answering the disciples' question directly, Jesus says the greatest is the most humble. This reverses worldly measures of importance and points to the character of Christ himself, who humbled himself even to the cross (Philippians 2:5-8). Greatness in God's kingdom is measured by self-lowering love.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Jas 4:10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.
- Mark 10:43But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant.
- Luke 14:11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Luke 9:48and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.”
- Matt 23:11–12But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.
- Matt 20:26–27It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
- 1 Pet 5:5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Matt 18:1In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in 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.
- Isa 57:15For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 18:4 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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