Luke 18 17

Luke 18:17 kjv

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Luke 18:17 nkjv

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

Luke 18:17 niv

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Luke 18:17 esv

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

Luke 18:17 nlt

I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

Luke 18 verses

Luke 18 17 Meaning

Luke 18:17 declares a foundational truth concerning entry into God's Kingdom. Jesus states that a radical shift in disposition is required: one must "receive" or welcome the Kingdom of God with the same trusting, humble, and dependent spirit that characterizes a young child. This implies a relinquishment of self-sufficiency, pride, and merit, embracing instead complete reliance on God's grace and provision, much like a child relies wholly on its parents. Without this humble receptivity, spiritual entrance into God's reign is impossible.

Luke 18 17 Context

This verse is immediately preceded by the account of people bringing infants to Jesus for Him to touch, and the disciples rebuking them (Luke 18:15-16). Jesus, seeing this, corrects His disciples, emphasizing that the Kingdom of God belongs to "such as these" (referring to children). He then delivers the radical statement of verse 17. The immediate follow-up to this passage is the interaction with the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18:18-27), who, unlike a child, was unwilling to surrender his self-reliance and earthly possessions to follow Jesus and gain access to the Kingdom. This contrast powerfully illustrates the requirement for childlike receptivity against the obstacles of self-sufficiency and pride. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus frequently challenged conventional notions of greatness, promoting humility and the reversal of status (Luke 9:46-48, Luke 14:7-11), aligning with the nature of Kingdom entry articulated here. Culturally, children in the ancient Near East held no social standing, rights, or economic power, making their dependency total. To call for adults to become like them for Kingdom entry was a profound inversion of prevailing values.

Luke 18 17 Word analysis

• Truly (ἀμὴν - amēn): A transliteration of the Hebrew "amen." When Jesus uses this, especially at the beginning of a statement, it denotes absolute truth, certainty, and divine authority. It signifies that what follows is a solemn, unwavering declaration from God's own voice, requiring careful attention and acceptance.
• I tell you: Emphasizes Jesus' unique divine authority as the speaker, not a prophet merely conveying God's message, but God incarnate stating it directly.
• anyone who will not receive (οὐ μὴ δέξηται - ou mē dexētai):
  • οὐ μὴ (ou mē): This is a strong Greek double negative, indicating an emphatic and absolute refusal or impossibility. It stresses that entry is entirely out of reach without this specific posture.
  • δέξηται (dexētai - aorist subjunctive of dechomai): Means to welcome, accept, take to oneself, embrace with welcome, or admit. It implies a willing, open, and personal acceptance, not merely intellectual assent or a passive acknowledgement. It signifies an active posture of embracing what is given.
• the kingdom of God: The central theme of Jesus' teaching, referring to God's active sovereign rule and reign, which is both a present reality being inaugurated through Christ and a future consummated state. It signifies God's divine dominion over all creation, manifested spiritually in the hearts of those who submit to His Lordship and universally at the end of time. It is not an earthly kingdom of power and prestige, but a spiritual reign that calls for righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
• like a little child (ὡς παιδίον - hōs paidion):
  • ὡς (hōs): "Like," indicating a comparison of disposition or quality, not necessarily age or intellectual capacity.
  • παιδίον (paidion): A small child, often an infant or toddler. The emphasis is on specific qualities:
    • Absolute dependence: Children are completely reliant on their parents for everything – food, shelter, protection, identity, status.
    • Humility: They have no pretense, no social standing to protect, no inherent 'rights' in ancient society, and often no capacity for earning or deserving.
    • Receptivity: They accept gifts without question of their worthiness, simply receiving what is freely offered.
    • Trust: They naturally trust those who provide for them, often without reservation.
    • Lack of self-sufficiency: They possess no works or merits to boast of. This stands in stark contrast to the adult world, particularly the religious leaders of the time, who often prided themselves on their works, knowledge, or social status. It is not an innocence devoid of sin (for all are born into sin), but a state of helpless reliance and trust.
• will never enter it: The strongest negation in Greek (using the double negative ou mē). This highlights the absolute necessity of adopting the childlike posture for participation in the Kingdom of God. There is no alternative path, no other qualification that can circumvent this requirement. It speaks of spiritual entry and participation in God's redemptive work.

Luke 18 17 Bonus section

The teaching in Luke 18:17, echoed in Matthew 18:3-4 and Mark 10:15, is a powerful critique of the human tendency towards self-exaltation and reliance on perceived merits. It directly challenged the dominant cultural and religious values of the time, where social status, wealth, and adherence to intricate legal codes were often seen as indicators of God's favor. Jesus flips this hierarchy on its head, indicating that God's favor and entry into His Kingdom are reserved for those who empty themselves of such claims. This concept forms a significant part of what is sometimes called the "Great Reversal" in biblical theology, where the last become first, the humble are exalted, and the weak are made strong through God. This is not about being childish in terms of immaturity or naivety, but about being childlike in terms of trust, dependence, and unadulterated receptivity.

Luke 18 17 Commentary

Luke 18:17 cuts to the core of Gospel truth, declaring that the gateway to God's Kingdom is not through merit, human effort, high status, or accumulated wisdom, but through a radical reversal of such values. It demands a spiritual disposition mirroring a small child: utter dependence, simple trust, and humble receptivity. This childlikeness is a stark contrast to the self-reliance, pride, and merit-based religious systems of the world. Just as a child cannot earn its way into its parents' family but simply receives belonging as a gift, so too one cannot earn entry into God's Kingdom. It is a gift received through faith, which necessitates surrendering all pretense of self-sufficiency and acknowledging complete reliance on God's grace. This truth is powerfully demonstrated by the Rich Young Ruler immediately following this passage, who failed to enter because he could not humble himself and divest his trust from his wealth. To "receive the kingdom of God" means to accept it as a sovereign gift, rather than striving to achieve it through personal efforts or worthiness. This profound humility is essential for all who seek to enter into and partake of God's reign.