Matthew 18:4
New International Version
Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

New Living Translation
So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

English Standard Version
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore whoever will humble himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens.

King James Bible
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

New King James Version
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

New American Standard Bible
So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

NASB 1995
“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

NASB 1977
“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Legacy Standard Bible
Whoever therefore will humble himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Amplified Bible
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

American Standard Version
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Whoever therefore humbles himself like this boy, he will be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Contemporary English Version
But if you are as humble as this child, you are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.

English Revised Version
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Good News Translation
The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child.

International Standard Version
Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom from heaven,

Literal Standard Version
whoever then may humble himself as this child, he is the greater in the kingdom of the heavens.

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

New American Bible
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

NET Bible
Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

New Revised Standard Version
Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

New Heart English Bible
Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Weymouth New Testament
Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this young child, he it is who is superior to others in the Kingdom of the Heavens.

World English Bible
Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Young's Literal Translation
whoever then may humble himself as this child, he is the greater in the reign of the heavens.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Greatest in the Kingdom
3“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.…

Cross References
Matthew 18:3
"Truly I tell you," He said, "unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:5
And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.

Mark 9:34
But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.


Treasury of Scripture

Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

humble.

Matthew 23:11,12
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant…

Psalm 131:1,2
A Song of degrees of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me…

Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

greatest.

Matthew 18:1
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

Matthew 20:26,27
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; …

Mark 10:43
But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

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Child Greater Greatest Heaven Heavens Humble Humbles Kingdom Little Others Reign Superior Young
Matthew 18
1. Jesus warns his disciples to be humble and harmless,
7. to avoid offenses,
10. and not to despise the little ones;
15. teaches how we are to deal with our brothers when they offend us,
21. and how often to forgive them;
23. which he sets forth by a parable of the king who took account of his servants,
32. and punished him who showed no mercy to his fellow servant.














(4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself.--This, then, was the answer to the question "Who shall be the greatest." The secret of true greatness lay in that unconsciousness of being great, which takes the lowest position as that which of right belongs to it. For a man to "humble himself" with the purpose of attaining greatness would frustrate itself, and reduce humility to an hypocrisy. The "pride that apes humility," the false lowliness of Colossians 2:18, is even more hateful and contemptible than open self-assertion.

As this little child.--That which was to be the result of a deliberate act in the disciples was found in the child's nature as it was. They were to make themselves lowly as he was lowly. The transition from the plural to the singular gives an almost dramatic vividness to the form of our Lord's teaching. We seem to see the child shrinking timidly, with blushing face and downcast eyes, from the notice thus drawn to him.

Verse 4. - Whosoever therefore. This verse gives a direct application of the principle just enunciated, and supplies an answer to the apostles' question. Shall humble himself. Not that a child consciously humbles itself, but is humble by nature. The disciple must become that by deliberate choice which the child is by reason of his constitution and natural disposition. The same is greatest; rather, greater (μείζων), Christ using the same term as the questioners in ver. 1. The more a man annihilates self and casts away pride, conceit, obstinacy, the fitter is he to become a living member of Christ's kingdom. "Quanto humilior, tanto altior," says Thomas Aquinas. But this is a joint work. St. Gregory says well, "The good which a man doeth is both the work of God and the work of man: of God, as being the Author, in giving grace; of man, as being actor, in using grace, yet so that he cooperate with grace by grace" (quoted by Ford, in loc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Therefore,
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

whoever
ὅστις (hostis)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.

humbles
ταπεινώσει (tapeinōsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5013: To make or bring low, humble, humiliate; pass: To be humbled. From tapeinos; to depress; figuratively, to humiliate.

himself
ἑαυτὸν (heauton)
Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

like
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

this
τοῦτο (touto)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

little child
παιδίον (paidion)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3813: Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

greatest
μείζων (meizōn)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

kingdom
βασιλείᾳ (basileia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.

of
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

heaven.
οὐρανῶν (ouranōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 18:4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 18:3
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