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Matthew 18

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

What does Matthew 18:4 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 18:4 emphasizes the significance of humility within the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The verse puts forward the idea that to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, one must possess the qualities of a child, particularly their humility.

The underlying message is one of self-effacement and the recognition that spiritual elevation is achieved not through self-aggrandizement or societal status, but through the adoption of a humble disposition.

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Historical Context

Matthew 18:4 is situated within a passage where Jesus is addressing his disciples' question about who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1).

The disciples were likely influenced by the hierarchical structure of Jewish society and were concerned with rank and status within the new order that Jesus was proclaiming.

In response, Jesus places a child among them, which would have been a shocking act given that children held a low social status in ancient Jewish society.

Theological Insights

Different Christian denominations interpret this passage with nuances but tend to agree on the primary call to humility.

Catholic theology may tie this message into the concept of "becoming like children" through the virtues of faith and trust in God's providence.

Protestant interpretations often emphasize the personal relationship with God and the abandonment of one's ego.

Orthodox Christianity would also see humility as a key to spiritual growth, as reflected in the teachings of the early Church Fathers.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Matthew 18:4 is the embrace of humility in daily life.

It can translate into actions such as serving others without seeking recognition, approaching conflicts with a willingness to listen and change, and valuing others' input without imposing one's own ideas as superior.

It serves as a reminder to place the welfare of the community above personal ambition.

Cross-References

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3)
"Whosoever therefore shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (Matthew 23:12)
"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." (Matthew 20:25-27)

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "humble" is "ταπεινώσει" (tapeinosei), stemming from "ταπεινός" (tapeinos), which refers to being lowly or of low degree.

The word signifies a lowering of oneself in contrast to self-exaltation.

The phrase "as this little child" uses "παιδίον" (paidion), a term for a young child, representing innocence and lack of status.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, including Jewish society, children were often seen as the least and the last.

Their status provides a stark contrast when compared to other myths and religions that might emphasize heroism or divine ancestry as measures of greatness.

Jesus' teaching inverts prevailing social norms and suggests that the values of the kingdom of heaven are radically different from earthly values.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse doesn't lend itself to direct scientific analysis, modern psychology supports the idea that humility and child-like qualities such as openness and curiosity can lead to personal growth and better social relationships.

Humility has been associated with a range of positive psychological outcomes, including increased altruism, improved learning, and better health.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of Matthew 18:4.

John Calvin remarks on the importance of simplicity and meekness, devoid of ambition.

Matthew Henry comments on the necessity of a child-like disposition being essential for entering heaven.

Contemporary scholars might point to the socio-religious inversion that Jesus proposes, which upends contemporary expectations of greatness and status.

Matthew 18

Matthew 18

What does Matthew 18:4 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 18:4 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?