Matthew 18 2

Matthew 18:2 kjv

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

Matthew 18:2 nkjv

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,

Matthew 18:2 niv

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.

Matthew 18:2 esv

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them

Matthew 18:2 nlt

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.

Matthew 18 verses

Matthew 18 2 Meaning

Matthew 18:2 describes a powerful visual teaching moment where Jesus directly addresses His disciples' worldly concept of greatness. After they questioned who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus called a child to Himself and intentionally placed the child right in the midst of His ambitious disciples. This action immediately set the stage for His radical redefinition of greatness, symbolizing that humility, dependence, and simplicity—qualities inherently present in a young child—are essential characteristics for entry into and status within God's Kingdom. The child became a living illustration of the very attitude necessary for spiritual ascendancy.

Matthew 18 2 Context

Matthew 18 opens with the disciples' inquiry about who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, reflecting their prevalent concerns about status and hierarchy, a common aspiration in Jewish culture and even among early Christian groups. This question immediately precedes Jesus' object lesson with the child. Chapters 18 to 20 focus on themes of life within the Christian community, emphasizing humility, forgiveness, avoiding stumbling blocks for others, and the pursuit of lost members. In the broader context of Jesus' ministry, He consistently challenged prevailing notions of power, wealth, and status, advocating for an upside-down kingdom where the last are first and servants are leaders. Children, at this time, held a low social status, without legal rights, power, or significant prestige; they were viewed as dependent and, at best, learners. By calling a child and setting him in their midst, Jesus issued a direct polemic against the societal and even rabbinical focus on external achievements or elevated positions as markers of spiritual significance, instead establishing vulnerability and dependency as foundational Kingdom values.

Matthew 18 2 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): This conjunction serves to link Jesus' action directly to the preceding dialogue. It signifies that His response is an immediate and deliberate follow-up to the disciples' query regarding greatness.
• calling to Him (προσκαλεσάμενος - proskalesamenos): A participle, indicating that Jesus actively and intentionally summoned the child. It suggests a purposeful, solemn invitation to come close to Himself, highlighting His authority and the significance of the upcoming demonstration. This was a pedagogical choice, drawing attention to His lesson.
• a child (παιδίον - paidion): A diminutive noun, referring to a young, generally pre-pubescent child. The use of the diminutive emphasizes not just youth, but also a typical lack of social standing, self-consciousness, worldly ambition, power, and prestige. This term intrinsically carries the ideas of dependence, innocence, receptivity, and an uncorrupted simplicity, making the child the perfect counterpoint to the disciples' quest for hierarchy.
• He set him (ἔστησεν - estēsen): A strong aorist verb, meaning "He caused to stand" or "He placed." This was a deliberate and firm action, indicating that Jesus positioned the child precisely and prominently, making him the absolute focal point of His object lesson. It implies an establishment of status, a direct elevation of what was commonly considered insignificant.
• in their midst (ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν - en mesō autōn): This phrase emphasizes the public and central nature of Jesus' action. The child was not merely near them but specifically placed within their circle, directly confronting their ambitions. It ensured that the child was the literal "center" of their discussion and object lesson, thereby compelling the disciples to engage directly with the humble image. It also implies accessibility, making the child the tangible embodiment of the virtue Jesus would then explain.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And calling to Him a child": This phrase shows Jesus' direct, personal, and intentional engagement with the object of His lesson. It underscores His method of teaching – practical demonstration rather than mere verbal instruction. He specifically selected a "child," a socially inconspicuous figure, to stand against their adult-centric notions of status.
• "He set him in their midst": This highlights the profound impact and symbolic nature of Jesus' act. By elevating the child to a central, prominent position, Jesus inverted the societal hierarchy. The child became a living illustration, demanding attention and conveying a Kingdom principle far more powerfully than words alone could. It was a direct, visual challenge to the disciples' pride and aspirations for earthly rank.

Matthew 18 2 Bonus section

The choice of a child as an object lesson by Jesus here is deeply significant as it contradicts prevailing educational methods where learned adults would debate and exemplify virtue. Instead, Jesus elevates the status of the vulnerable and seemingly insignificant to a place of central importance and didactic power. This visual demonstration, reinforced by similar accounts in Mark and Luke, emphasizes that the principles of the Kingdom are fundamentally opposite to human-centered value systems. This act served not only as an immediate answer but also as the foundation for an extensive discourse in Matthew 18, setting the stage for teachings on the humility required to avoid causing others to stumble (vv. 5-10), the divine value of even "little ones" (vv. 12-14), and the principles of restoration and forgiveness within the community (vv. 15-35). It establishes the concept of the Kingdom as one built upon radical humility and dependency on God, directly challenging any notion of status derived from religious office or personal achievement.

Matthew 18 2 Commentary

Matthew 18:2 encapsulates a pivotal moment where Jesus delivers a radical teaching through a striking visual aid. In response to His disciples' argument about who is the greatest, a query steeped in worldly ambition and self-exaltation, Jesus introduces an immediate, counter-cultural example. He does not provide a theological dissertation or a lengthy discourse initially, but an unforgettable object lesson: He calls a young child and places him directly in their center. This simple yet profound act shatters conventional understandings of power and status.

The child, typically regarded as powerless, dependent, and low on the social ladder, is elevated by Jesus to the position of the quintessential example for Kingdom citizens. The child embodies genuine humility, utter reliance on others, a lack of pretense, freedom from social posturing, and a trusting, open-hearted receptivity. These qualities, far from being signs of weakness, are paradoxically presented by Jesus as the very attributes that signify true greatness and qualify one for entry into and flourishing within the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus challenges His disciples—and all believers—to divest themselves of self-importance and status-seeking, encouraging a humble heart that mirrors a child's trust and simple acceptance, thereby embracing the true path to greatness in God's eyes.