Matthew 18:4 kjv
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:4 nkjv
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:4 niv
Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:4 esv
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:4 nlt
So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 18:1-3 | At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" ...unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. | Context of the disciples' question and prerequisite for entry. |
| Matt 20:26-28 | "...whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..." | Greatness defined by service, not dominion. |
| Matt 23:11-12 | "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Direct statement of the humility-exaltation paradox. |
| Mark 9:35 | Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." | Parallel teaching on servanthood for preeminence. |
| Mark 10:15 | "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." | Emphasizes childlike receptivity for kingdom entry. |
| Luke 9:48 | "...whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me... For he who is least among you all will be great." | Identity with Christ found in receiving the humble; inverse relationship between earthly and kingdom status. |
| Luke 14:11 | "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | General principle of divine reversal of status. |
| Luke 18:14 | "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector illustrating humility. |
| Jas 4:6 | "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.'" | God's favor for the humble, opposition to the proud. |
| Jas 4:10 | "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." | Divine promise for those who humble themselves. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | "...And all of you be clothed with humility toward one another, for 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.' Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time..." | Call to mutual humility and God's eventual exaltation. |
| Phil 2:3-8 | "...but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ... Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus... He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." | Christ's supreme example of self-humbling. |
| Prov 11:2 | "When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom." | Contrast between pride and humility. |
| Prov 22:4 | "By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life." | Rewards for humility connected to fearing God. |
| Mic 6:8 | "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" | God's requirement includes humble walking with Him. |
| Isa 57:15 | "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.'" | God's dwelling with and restoring the humble. |
| Psa 18:27 | "For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks." | God's salvation for the humble and judgment for the proud. |
| Psa 25:9 | "He guides the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way." | God's guidance and teaching for the humble. |
| Zeph 2:3 | "Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have practiced His justice; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you may be hidden in the day of the LORD’s wrath." | Call to seek humility for protection in judgment. |
| John 13:12-16 | After washing the disciples' feet, Jesus taught them to follow His example of servant leadership and humility. | Example of Jesus' humble service for discipleship. |
Matthew 18 verses
Matthew 18 4 Meaning
Matthew 18:4 teaches a core principle of greatness within God's Kingdom: it is achieved not through worldly ambition or status, but through profound humility, specifically by adopting the disposition of a humble child. The verse emphasizes an active choice to humble oneself, aligning with the dependent, unpretentious nature exemplified by a little child, which Jesus presents as the counter-cultural path to true significance in His heavenly realm.
Matthew 18 4 Context
Matthew chapter 18 opens with the disciples' pressing question to Jesus: "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" This query reveals their worldly perspective on greatness, likely influenced by contemporary Jewish leadership structures and the common desire for prestige. In response, Jesus immediately calls a young child, places him in the midst of His adult, status-conscious followers, and uses the child as a living object lesson. He first states in verse 3 that unless they "turn and become like little children," they will "never enter the kingdom of heaven." Verse 4 builds on this, defining the path not just to entry but to greatness within that kingdom. Jesus directly challenges their human-centric understanding of hierarchy, teaching that the path to spiritual eminence is an inversion of societal norms, emphasizing humility over ambition, dependence over self-sufficiency, and simple trust over sophisticated knowledge or power. This teaching stands in stark contrast to the values often propagated by the religious elite of the day, who sought honor, public acclaim, and positions of authority.
Matthew 18 4 Word analysis
- Whoever then (ὃστις οὖν, hostis oun): This conjunction connects directly to the preceding thought (Matt 18:3). It indicates a universal principle, applying to anyone who meets the condition, emphasizing the individual's volitional act.
- humbles himself (ταπεινώσει ἑαυτόν, tapeinōsei heauton):
- tapeinōsei: from tapeinoō, meaning "to lower," "to humble," "to abase." This is a strong verb, indicating an active, deliberate, and internal act of self-reduction, relinquishing one's own perceived importance or rights. It's not passive abasement by others, but an intentional choice.
- heauton: "himself." Reinforces the reflexive nature; the humbling originates from within the individual. This is a fundamental contrast to the world's drive for self-exaltation.
- as this little child (ὡς τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο, hōs to paidion touto):
- hōs: "as," indicating a likeness or resemblance in manner, attitude, or quality, not necessarily in every aspect.
- paidion: "little child," often implying innocence, complete dependence, unpretentiousness, and a lack of concern for status or worldly ambition. Children in that culture had no social standing, rights, or power; they were completely dependent on adults. Jesus highlights this characteristic lack of worldly pride and self-importance, their simple trust and receptivity, not necessarily their innocence from sin.
- touto: "this," referring directly to the child Jesus had called and placed among them.
- is the greatest (οὗτος ἔσται μείζων, houtos estai meizōn):
- houtos: "this one," referring back to the "whoever" who humbles himself.
- estai: "will be," a future indicative, signifying a certainty and a divine decree.
- meizōn: "greater," "the greatest." This is a direct answer to the disciples' question, revealing an inverted scale of values. Worldly greatness involves rising above others; kingdom greatness involves lowering oneself below them.
- in the kingdom of heaven (ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν, en tē basileia tōn ouranōn):
- Matthew's common term for the reign of God. It refers to God's sovereign rule, which is both a present spiritual reality for believers and a future consummated state. The "greatness" is not of this world's system, but a status conferred by God Himself within His divine domain.
Matthew 18 4 Bonus section
The context of Matthew 18:4, following Matthew 18:3, draws a critical distinction between two aspects of "childlikeness." Verse 3 speaks of needing to "turn and become like little children" to enter the kingdom – this is about a fundamental change of heart, a humble receptivity and simple trust required for salvation. Verse 4 then addresses how to become great within that kingdom: by continuing to humble oneself like a child. The first is about entrance, the second about internal spiritual stature and influence. This self-humbling is an ongoing discipline for all believers, reflecting the very character of Christ, who, though divine, "humbled Himself" (Phil 2:8). True kingdom authority and influence flow not from external position, but from the depth of one's surrendered self-abasement before God and service to others.
Matthew 18 4 Commentary
Matthew 18:4 articulates one of Jesus' most radical teachings: true greatness in God's kingdom is diametrically opposed to worldly notions of power, status, and recognition. The disciples, expecting a hierarchical structure similar to earthly kingdoms, sought preeminence. Jesus shatters this expectation by presenting a little child as the exemplar of kingdom greatness.
The key is "humbles himself." This is not a passive state but an active, ongoing choice. It means deliberately choosing to divest oneself of pride, self-sufficiency, and the desire for control or worldly acclaim. It is to consciously place oneself in a position of lowliness and dependence, mirroring the natural state of a child who understands their reliance on others for everything. This "childlikeness" is characterized by trust, receptivity, lack of pretense, and freedom from the anxieties of self-importance or social climbing. It stands in stark contrast to the spiritual pride, self-righteousness, and ambition often observed in the religious leaders of Jesus' day, and indeed, in human nature throughout history.
Jesus' paradox reveals that God's valuation is entirely different from man's. Those who willingly abase themselves for the sake of Christ and His kingdom are the very ones God will exalt. This truth challenges believers to constantly examine their motives, attitudes, and pursuit of honor, encouraging a posture of servant-hearted humility as the pathway to genuine spiritual impact and favor in the sight of God.
Practical usage:
- Instead of seeking recognition, quietly serve behind the scenes.
- When corrected, accept it humbly, learning from the feedback.
- In discussions, prioritize listening over dominating, valuing others' perspectives above your own.