Matthew 18:2
in Matthew 18Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,
KJV
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
⋯
This verse in Matthew 18
Commentary
14 notes on this verse(Verse 2.) And calling a little child, he set him in the midst of them, and said. Either simply any little child, to inquire about his age, and to demonstrate the likeness of innocence. Or certainly he placed a little child in their midst, who had come not to be served, but to serve, in order to give them an example of humility. Others interpret the little child as the Holy Spirit, whom he placed in the hearts of the disciples, in order to transform pride into humility.
This site's exposition
Who is the greatest
on Matthew 18:1-2
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven opens the discourse on the disciples' own ambition, likely still carrying the temple-tax episode and Peter's place among the twelve. Jesus answers not with an argument but with an object lesson, calling a little child and setting him in the midst of them, so the whole chapter teaches from a child standing where every eye can see him. The commentators note that a child in that culture had no status to claim and no rank to defend, which is exactly the point the disciples had missed.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 5 -- Second Discourse on Simplicity · Written before 523.
proposed
After our Lord had rejected the companies of the wise, and the bands of cunning and crafty men, and had chosen those fishermen who were innocent and without instruction, He moreover taught them also to increase their simplicity, and not to abide in that first …
Jesus seeing their thoughts would heal their ambitious strivings, by arousing an emulation in lowliness; whence it follows, And Jesus calling a little child, set him in the midst of them.
A commentator
John ChrysostomHomily on the Gospel of Matthew 58 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
What then saith Christ? He unveils their conscience, and replies to their feeling, not merely to their words. "For He called a little child unto Him," saith the Scripture, "and said, Except ye be converted, and become as this little child, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." "Why, you," He saith, "inquire who is greatest, and are contentious for first honors; but I pronounce him, that is not become lowest of all, unworthy so much as to enter in thither." And full well doth He both allege that pattern, and not allege it only, but also set the child in the midst, by the very sight abashing them, and persuading them to be in like manner lowly and artless. Since both from envy the little child is pure, and from vainglory, and from longing for the first place; and he is possessed of the greatest of virtues, simplicity, and whatever is artless and lowly. Not courage then only is wanted, nor wisdom, but this virtue also, humility I mean, and simplicity. Yea, and the things that belong to our salvation halt even in the chiefest point, if these be not with us. The little child, whether it be insulted and beaten, or honored and glorified, neither by the one is it moved to impatience or envy, nor by the other lifted up. Seest thou how again He calls us on to all natural excellencies, indicating that of free choice it is possible to attain them, and so silences the wicked frenzy of the Manichaeans? For if nature be an evil thing, wherefore doth He draw from hence His patterns of severe goodness? And the child which He set in the midst suppose to have been a very young child indeed, free from all these passions. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
Consequently, Christ's response is set forth, and it presents both an action and a saying of Christ; hence it says and Jesus calling unto him a little child. Who this little child was is explained in three ways. Chrysostom explains it as truly a little …
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 turned back, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall …
7 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
And Jesus called a little child unto him,.... One, very likely, that was in the house, and might belong to the master of it, and which was big enough to come to him at his call. Some have thought that this was Ignatius the martyr, but without any foundation. His own words, in his epistle to the church at Smyrna (y), can give no countenance to it; where he says, "for I also know, that after his resurrection he was in the flesh, and I believe that he is."
Except ye be converted - The first step toward entering into the kingdom of grace, is to become as little children: lowly in heart, knowing yourselves utterly ignorant and helpless, and hanging wholly on your Father who is in heaven, for a supply of all your wants.
Christ often taught by signs or sensible representations (comparisons to the eye), as the prophets of old. Note, Humility is a lesson so hardly learned, that we have need by all ways and means to be taught it. When we look upon a little child, we should be put in mind of the use Christ made of this child.
The infant seed of the faithful belong to the family of Christ, and are not to be despised. Or, figuratively; true but weak believers are these little ones, who in their outward condition, or the frame of their spirits, are like little children, the lambs of Christ's flock. [1.] We must not despise them, not think meanly of them, as lambs despised, Job xii.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
The first thing that we are taught in these verses is the necessity of conversion, and of conversion manifested by childlike humility. The disciples came to our Lord with the question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” They spoke as men half-enlightened, and full of worldly expectations. They received an answer well calculated to awaken them from their day-dream. An answer containing a truth which lies at the very foundation of Christianity: “except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
The first thing that we are taught in these verses is the necessity of conversion, and of conversion manifested by childlike humility. The disciples came to our Lord with the question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” They spoke as men half-enlightened, and full of worldly expectations. They received an answer well calculated to awaken them from their day-dream. An answer containing a truth which lies at the very foundation of Christianity: “except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Let these words sink down deeply in our hearts. Without conversion there is no salvation. We all need an entire change of nature: of ourselves we have neither faith, fear, nor love towards God. We “must be born again” ( John 3:8 ). Of ourselves we are utterly unfit for dwelling in God’s presence. Heaven would be no heaven to us if we were not “converted.” It is true of all ranks, classes and orders of mankind: all are born in sin and children of wrath, and all, without exception, need to be born again and made new creatures. A new heart must be given to us, and a new spirit put within us; old things must pass away, and all things must become new. It is a good thing to be baptized into the Christian church, and use Christian means of grace, but after all, “are we converted?” Would we know whether we are really converted? Would we know the test by which we must try ourselves? The surest mark of true conversion is humility. If we have really received the Holy Ghost, we shall show it by a meek and childlike spirit. Like children, we shall think humbly of our own strength and wisdom, and be very dependent on our Father in heaven. Like children, we shall not seek great things in this world; but having food and raiment and a Father’s love, we shall be content. Truly this is a heart-searching test!
A little child - But this child could walk, for he called him to him. Nicephorus says, this was Ignatius, who was afterwards bishop of Antioch, and suffered martyrdom under, and by command of, the Roman Emperor Trojan, in the 107th year of our Lord. But this good father is not much to be depended on, being both weak and credulous.
The words behind it
8 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| προσκαλεσάμενος | proskalesamenos | having called to [Him] | G4341 → | 28 times |
| παιδίον | paidion | a child | G3813 → | 51 times |
| ἔστησεν | estesen | He set | G2476 → | 153 times |
| αὐτὸ | auto | it | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| μέσῳ | meso | midst | G3319 → | 56 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
προσκαλεσάμενοςhaving called to [Him]
proskalesamenosG4341 →28 times
παιδίονa child
paidionG3813 →51 times
ἔστησενHe set
estesenG2476 →153 times
αὐτὸit
autoG846 →5565 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
μέσῳmidst
mesoG3319 →56 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jeremiah 1:7But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 3:27
But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ Whoever listens, let him listen; and whoever refuses, let him…
- Mark 16:15–16
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- Numbers 22:20
That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
- 2 Chronicles 18:13
But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever my God tells me.”
- Ezekiel 3:17–21
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.
- Ezekiel 3:27
Through
1 Kings 3:7And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 29:1
Then King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great because this palace is not for man, but for…
- Numbers 27:17
who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
- Jeremiah 1:6
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”
- 1 Chronicles 29:1
Where this verse is studied
About Matthew
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 58; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 5 -- Second Discourse on Simplicity; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Matthew and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew.