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

¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

² He called to him a little child, and put him in the midst of them, ³ and he said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ Whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives me.

⁶ "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world because of temptations to sin! For temptations must come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes! ⁸ And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

³³ And they came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you discussing on the road?" ³⁴ But they kept silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. ³⁵ And he sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." ³⁶ And he took a little child, and put him in the midst of them. And taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ "Whoever receives one of these little children in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."

⁴⁶ And an argument arose among them as to which of them would be the greatest. ⁴⁷ Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by him, ⁴⁸ and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great."