Matthew 18:2

Matthew 18:2

Who Is the Greatest?

1 At ^athat time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 Then Jesus called a little ^achild to Him, set him in the midst of them,

3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, ^aunless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

4 ^aTherefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 ^aWhoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Jesus Warns of Offenses

6 ^a“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For ^aoffenses must come, but ^bwoe to that man by whom the offense comes!

8 ^a“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.

9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into¹ hell fire.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven ^atheir angels always ^bsee the face of My Father who is in heaven.

11 ^aFor the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

12 ^a“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?

13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

14 Even so it is not the ^awill of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Dealing with a Sinning Brother

15 “Moreover ^aif your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, ^byou have gained your brother.

16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ^a‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

Commentaries:

People's Commentary (NT)

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Matthew 18:3 >>

Matthew 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him. In order to enforce the words that Mark reports (Mark 9:35), he uses a striking object lesson. This method was a prominent feature of Oriental teaching. Thus it was that Christ washed the disciples' feet (John 13:4-17) and Agabus bound his hands and feet with Paul's girdle (Acts 21:11).

**Other People's Commentary (NT) entries containing Matthew 18:2:**

Matthew 18:2
Matthew 19:14
Mark 9:33
Luke 9:46-50
Luke 22:24

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Matthew 18:3 >>

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