Matthew 18:4
in Matthew 18Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Whosoever therefore shall humble 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.
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This verse in Matthew 18
Commentary
16 notes on this verse(Verse 4.) Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Just like this little child, whose example I give to you, does not persist in anger, does not hold grudges, does not delight in seeing a beautiful woman, does not think one thing and say another; in the same way, unless you have such innocence and purity of heart, you will not be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. Or in another way: Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
This site's exposition
except ye be converted
on Matthew 18:3-4
Except ye be converted, and become as little children states a condition, not a compliment, and the bench reads it against the disciples' ambition rather than as praise of childish innocence. A child's qualifying trait is dependence, not sinlessness, since he brings nothing to secure his place but trusts entirely to the one who receives him. Humbling himself as this little child, not merely resembling one, is what makes a man greatest in the kingdom, the standard exactly inverted from Rome's and from the disciples' own dispute on the road.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
Hyperichius said, 'The tree of life is high, and humility climbs it.'
The Lord teaches that we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless we revert to the nature of children, that is, we must recall into the simplicity of children the vices of the body and mind. He has called children all who believe through the faith of listening. For children follow their father, love their mother, do not know how to wish ill on their neighbor, show no concern for wealth, are not proud, do not hate, do not lie, believe what has been said and hold what they hear as truth. And when we assume this habit and will in all the emotions, we are shown the passageway to the heavens. We must therefore return to the simplicity of children, because with it we shall embrace the beauty of the Lord's humility.
He calls infants all who believe through the hearing of faith; for such follow their father, love their mother, know not to will that which is evil, do not bear hate, or speak lies, trust what is told them, and believe what they hear to be true. But the letter is thus interpreted.
Or otherwise; Whoso shall humble himself as this little child, that is, whoso shall humble himself after My example, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. It follows, And whoso receiveth one such little one in my name, receiveth me.
The Medieval Church1 voice
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 …
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
(interlin.) Except ye be converted from this ambition and jealousy in which you are at present, and become all of you as innocent and humble in disposition as you are weak, in your years, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven; and since there is none other road to enter in, whoso shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven; for by how much a man is humble now, by so much shall he be exalted in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoever shall receive one such little child, i.e., whoever is an imitator of childlike innocence, he is the greater, because the more humble, the more exalted: because he who humbles himself, shall be exalted, Luke 18:14. But a question can arise: for it seems …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself,....
Note, The humblest Christians are the best Christians, and most like to Christ, and highest in his favour; are best disposed for the communications of divine grace, and fittest to serve God in this world, and enjoy him in another.
Now let us see, (1.) What is the case supposed? If thy brother trespass against thee. [1.] "The offender is a brother, one that is in Christian communion, that is baptized, that hears the word, and prays with thee, with whom thou joinest in the worship of God, statedly or occasionally." Note, Church discipline is for church members.
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!
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself - So great is the disparity between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdoms of this world, that there is no way of rising to honors in the former, but by humility of mind, and continual self-abasement.
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὅστις | hostis | Whoever | G3748 → | 144 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| ταπεινώσει | tapeinosei | will humble | G5013 → | 14 times |
| ἑαυτὸν | he'auton | himself | G1438 → | 322 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| παιδίον | paidion | little child | G3813 → | 51 times |
| τοῦτο, | touto | this, | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| οὗτός | houtos | he | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μείζων | meizon | greater | G3173 → | 243 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βασιλείᾳ | basileia | kingdom | G932 → | 162 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὐρανῶν. | ouranon | heavens. | G3772 → | 272 times |
ὅστιςWhoever
hostisG3748 →144 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
ταπεινώσειwill humble
tapeinoseiG5013 →14 times
ἑαυτὸνhimself
he'autonG1438 →322 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
παιδίονlittle child
paidionG3813 →51 times
τοῦτο,this,
toutoG3778 →1381 times
οὗτόςhe
houtosG3778 →1381 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
μείζωνgreater
meizonG3173 →243 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
βασιλείᾳkingdom
basileiaG932 →162 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
οὐρανῶν.heavens.
ouranonG3772 →272 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
James 4:10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
it leads to
- Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 147:6
The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.
- James 4:6–7
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Luke 14:11
Through
Luke 14:11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
it leads to
- Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Proverbs 29:23
A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
- James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Luke 18:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Matthew
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; Glossa Ordinaria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Hilary of Poitiers, Commentary on Matthew 18.1; Hilary of Poitiers, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Matthew and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew.