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

¹ On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him: "Who is really the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"

² Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said: ³ "I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all. ⁴ Therefore, any one who will humble himself like this child-- that man shall be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. ⁵ And any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me.

⁶ But, if any one puts a snare in the way of one of these lowly ones who believe in me, it would be best for him to be sunk in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung round his neck. ⁷ Alas for the world because of such snares! There cannot but be snares; yet alas for the man who is answerable for the snare! ⁸ If your hand or your foot is a snare to you, cut it off, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the Life maimed or lame, than to have both hands, or both feet, and be thrown into the aeonian fire. ⁹ If your eye is a snare to you, take it out, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the Life with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fiery Pit.

³³ They came to Capernaum. When Jesus had gone into the house, he asked them: "What were you discussing on the way?" ³⁴ But they were silent; for on the way they had been arguing with one another which was the greatest. ³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said: "If any one wishes to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all." ³⁶ Then Jesus took a little child, and placed it in the middle of them. Folding it in his arms, he said to them: ³⁷ "Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even a little child like this is welcoming me, and any one who welcomes me is welcoming not me, but him who sent me as his Messenger."

⁴⁶ A discussion arose among the disciples as to which of them was the greatest; ⁴⁷ And Jesus, knowing of the discussion that was occupying their thoughts, took hold of a little child, and placed it beside him, ⁴⁸ And then said to them: "Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even this little child is welcoming me; and any one who welcomes me is welcoming him who sent me as his Messenger. For whoever is lowliest among you all--that man is great."