Who Is the Greatest?
1 At that time 18:1 Lit hour, 18:1–5 Mk 9:33–37; Lk 9:46–48 the disciples 18:1 Mt 9:10; Mk 10:10; Lk 6:1; Jn 6:3; Ac 6:1 came to Jesus and asked, "So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? " 18:1 Mt 22:24; Jn 3:35; 13:202 He called a small child and had him stand among them. 3 "Truly I tell you," he said, "unless you turn and become like little children, 18:3 Mt 19:14; Mk 10:15; Lk 18:17; 1Co 14:20; 1Pt 2:2you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 18:3 Mt 5:20; 7:21; 19:23–24; Mk 9:47; Jn 3:54 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child — this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5 And whoever welcomes 18:5 Or receivesone child like this in my name welcomes me.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 "See to it that you don’t despise one of these little ones, 18:10 Est 1:14; Lk 1:19; Rv 8:2because I tell you that in heaven their angels 18:10 Ps 34:7; 91:11; Heb 1:14continually view the face of my Father in heaven. 18:10 Some mss include v. 11: For the Son of Man has come to save the lost., 18:10 Mt 6:29; 25:40,45; Lk 15:7,10