Who Is the Greatest?

18 At that time[a](A) the disciples(B) came to Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”(C)

Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. “I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted[b] and become like children,(D) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.(E) Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes[c] one child like this in My name welcomes Me.

“But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone[d] were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!(F) Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.(G) If your hand or your foot causes your downfall, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.(H) And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, rather than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire![e](I)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

10 “See that you don’t look down on one of these little ones,(J) because I tell you that in heaven their angels(K) continually view the face of My Father in heaven.(L) [11 For the Son of Man(M) has come to save the lost.][f]

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:1 Lit hour
  2. Matthew 18:3 Or are turned around
  3. Matthew 18:5 Or receives
  4. Matthew 18:6 A millstone turned by a donkey
  5. Matthew 18:9 Lit gehenna of fire
  6. Matthew 18:11 Other mss omit bracketed text

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven(A)

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,(B) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.(C) Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.(D) And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.(E)

Causing to Stumble

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.(F) Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!(G) If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble,(H) cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble,(I) gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.(J)

The Parable of the Wandering Sheep(K)

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels(L) in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11] [a]

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:11 Some manuscripts include here the words of Luke 19:10.

Who Is the Greatest?

46 Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them.(A) 47 But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts,(B) took a little child and had him stand next to Him. 48 He told them, “Whoever welcomes[a] this little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me.(C) For whoever is least among you—this one is great.”(D)

In His Name

49 John responded,(E) “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name,(F) and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.”(G)

50 “Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.”[b](H)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 9:48 Or receives, throughout the verse
  2. Luke 9:50 Other mss read against us is for us

46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.(A) 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts,(B) took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.(C) For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”(D)

49 “Master,”(E) said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”(F)

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