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

¹ At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven?

² And Jesus called a little child to Him and set him in their midst, ³ and said, Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever shall humble himself like this little child, this one is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven. ⁵ And whoever shall receive one such little child in My name receives Me.

⁶ But whoever shall offend one of these little ones who believes in Me, it would be better for him that an ass's millstone were hung around his neck, and he be sunk in the depth of the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world because of offenses! For it is necessary that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! ⁸ And if your hand or your foot causes you to offend, cut them off and throw them 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 everlasting fire. ⁹ And if your eye offends you, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, 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, What was it that you disputed among yourselves in the way? ³⁴ But they were silent. For in the way they had disputed among themselves who was the greatest. ³⁵ And He sat down and called the Twelve and said to them, If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. ³⁶ And He took a child, and embraced it, and set him in their midst. And He said to them, ³⁷ Whoever receives one of such children on My name receives Me. And whoever receives Me does not only receives Me, but Him who sent Me.

⁴⁶ And an argument came in among them, who might be the greater of them. ⁴⁷ And seeing the argument of their heart, Jesus took a child and set him beside Him. ⁴⁸ And He said to them, Whoever shall receive this child in My name receives Me. And whoever shall receive Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all, he shall be great.