Matthew 18:1-9 - The Question About Who Is Greatest

¹ At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, and said: Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

² And Jesus called a little child to him, and placed him in the midst of them, ³ and said: Verily I say to you, Unless you turn and become as little children, you can not enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever, therefore, humbles himself as this little child, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever receives one such little child on my account, receives me;

⁶ but whoever ensnares one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. ⁷ Alas for the world because of snares! for it is necessary that snares come: but alas for that man by whom the snare comes! ⁸ If, then, your hand or your foot ensnares you, cut it off, and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, than, having two hands or two feet, to be thrown into the eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye ensnares you, pull it out, and throw it from you. It is better to enter into life with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell-fire.

³³ And he came into Capernaum; and when he was in the house, he asked them: What were you disputing about among yourselves along the road? ³⁴ But they were silent. For they had been disputing with one another along the road which was greatest. ³⁵ And he sat down and called the twelve, and said to them: If any one desires to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all. ³⁶ And he took a little child, and placed it in the midst of them; and when he had taken it in his arms, he said to them: ³⁷ Whoever will receive one of such children on my account, receives me; and whoever will receive me, receives not me, but him that sent me.

⁴⁶ And there arose a contention among them, which of them should be greatest. ⁴⁷ But Jesus perceived the thought of their heart, and he took a little child, and made it stand by him, ⁴⁸ and said to them: Whoever will receive this little child on my account, receives me; and whoever will receive me, receives him that sent me. For he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.