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

¹ In that hour the disciples came to Jesus saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of the heavens?

² And Jesus having called a little child to him, set it in their midst, ³ and said, Verily I say to you, Unless ye are converted and become as little children, ye will not at all enter into the kingdom of the heavens. ⁴ Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens; ⁵ and whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receives me.

⁶ But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me, it were profitable for him that a great millstone had been hanged upon his neck and he be sunk in the depths of the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; yet woe to that man by whom the offence comes! ⁸ And if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee; it is good for thee to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into eternal fire. ⁹ And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee; it is good for thee to enter into life one-eyed, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.

³³ And he came to Capernaum, and being in the house, he asked them, Of what were ye reasoning by the way? ³⁴ And they remained silent, for by the way they had been reasoning with one another who was greatest. ³⁵ And sitting down he called the twelve; and he says to them, If any one would be first, he shall be last of all, and minister of all. ³⁶ And taking a little child he set it in their midst, and having taken it in his arms he said to them, ³⁷ Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receives me; and whosoever shall receive me, does not receive me, but him who sent me.

⁴⁶ And a reasoning came in amongst them, who should be the greatest of them. ⁴⁷ And Jesus, seeing the reasoning of their heart, having taken a little child set it by him, ⁴⁸ and said to them, Whosoever shall receive this little child in my name receives me, and whosoever shall receive me receives him that sent me. For he who is the least among you all, he is great.