Matthew 18:4

Translations

Modern

Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Traditional

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

Literal

Therefore whoever will humble himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens.

Latin

Quicumque ergo humiliaverit se sicut parvulus iste, hic est major in regno cælorum.

Original

Greek

English

Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Notes

Matthew 18:1–35

This fourth major teaching in Matthew (see study note on Matthew 5:1–7:29) focuses on how people responded to the Messiah. The disciples accepted him, while the Jewish leaders and most people did not. As this division increased, Jesus taught his disciples about community life.

To follow the standards of Jesus, a community should live with:

humility (18:1–5),
sensitivity (18:6–9),
compassion (18:10–14),
discipline (18:15–18), and
forgiveness (18:21–35).

Like the other teachings, a closing statement (19:1–2) connects to the next section.

Theme notes and profiles

God’s Promised Kingdom Pride and Humility The Servant-Leader

Events

Teachings on Humility/Temptation/Reconciliationc. AD 29

Related verses

James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Mark 10:43
But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 9:48
And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”
Matthew 23:11–12
The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 20:26–27
It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Matthew 18:1
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.
Psalm 131:1–2
A song of ascents. Of David. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me.

Matthew 18:4

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