Matthew 18:1-9 - The Question About Who Is Greatest
1 Just at that time the disciples came up and asked Jesus, "Who is really greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"
2 He called a child to him and had him stand among them, 3 and he said, "I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven at all. 4 Anyone, therefore, who is as unassuming as this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, 5 and anyone who welcomes one child like this on my account welcomes me.
6 But whoever hinders one of these children who believe in me might better have a great millstone hung around his neck and be sunk in the open sea. 7 Alas for the world for such hindrances! They have to come, but alas for the man who causes them! 8 "But if your own hand or your own foot makes you fall, cut it off and throw it away. You might better enter upon life maimed or crippled than keep both hands and feet but be thrown into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your own eye makes you fall, dig it out and throw it away. You might better enter upon life with only one eye than be thrown with both eyes into the fiery pit.
33 And they reached Capernaum. When he reached home, he asked them, "What was it that you were discussing on the way?" 34 But they made no answer, for on the way they had been discussing with one another which of them was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the Twelve in, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all." 36 And he took a child and made him stand among them, and he put his arms around him, and said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one child like this on my account is welcoming me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but him who has sent me."
46 A discussion arose among them as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 But Jesus knew the question that was in their minds and he took a child and made him stand by his side, 48 and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this child on my account is welcoming me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes him who has sent me. For it is the lowliest among you all who is really great."