the Second Week after Easter
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Wesley's New Testament
Matthew 18:2
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- InternationalParallel Translations
He called a child and had him stand among them.
And Iesus called a little child vnto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them
And He called a child to Himself and set him among them,
Jesus called a little child to him and stood the child before his followers.
He called a little child and set him before them,
And Iesus called a litle childe vnto him, and set him in the mids of them,
And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,
And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,
Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.
Jesus called a child over and had the child stand near him.
He called a child to him, stood him among them,
And Jesus having called a little child to [him], set it in their midst,
Jesus called a little child to come to him. He stood the child in front of the followers.
So Jesus called a little boy, and made him to stand up in the midst of them,
So Jesus called a child to come and stand in front of them,
And calling a child to himself, he had him stand in their midst
And having called forward a little child, Jesus set him in their midst.
And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,
And he took a little child, and put him in the middle of them,
Yeshua called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them,
Calling a little child forward, he had him stand among them.
And Jeshu called a child, and made him stand in the midst of them,
And Jesus called a child, and placed him in the midst of them,
Iesus called a litle chylde vnto hym, and set hym in the myddest [of them],
And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,
Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them,
So He called a young child to Him, and, bidding him stand in the midst of them,
And Jhesus clepide a litil child, and putte hym in the myddil of hem;
And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,
And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the midst of them,
He called a child, had him stand among them,
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.
Jesus took a little child and put him among them.
He called a child, whom he put among them,
And, calling near a child, he set it in the midst of them,
And Jesus, calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them.
And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them,
Iesus called a chylde vnto him and set him in the middes of them:
And Jesus having called near a child, did set him in the midst of them,
And Iesus called a childe vnto him, and set him in the myddest amonge them,
and Jesus called a child to him, set him in the midst of them,
For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.
Jesus hollered for a little cowboy to come over there. He looked down at the small boy and
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Matthew 19:13, Matthew 19:14, 1 Kings 3:7, Jeremiah 1:7, Mark 9:36, Mark 9:37
Reciprocal: Psalms 34:11 - Come Matthew 7:13 - at Luke 9:47 - took
Cross-References
Communicate to the necessities of the saints, pursue hospitality, Bless them who persecute you;
Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And Jesus called a little child unto him,.... One, very likely, that was in the house, and might belong to the master of it, and which was big enough to come to him at his call. Some have thought that this was Ignatius the martyr, but without any foundation. His own words, in his epistle to the church at Smyrna y, can give no countenance to it; where he says, "for I also know, that after his resurrection he was in the flesh, and I believe that he is." The Latin version indeed renders it thus; "for I also saw him in the flesh after the resurrection, and believe that he exists." But it does not follow from hence that he must be this child, but rather the contrary; since it cannot be thought, that a child so young as this, in half a year after, had it seen Christ, when risen from the dead, could have took so much notice of him, as this version represents Ignatius to do; but it matters not who it was; Christ designed, by this emblem, to give them his sense of the question, and convey some proper instruction to the minds of his disciples:
and set him in the midst of them; that everyone might see him; and upon the very sight of him, had he said no more to them, they might easily have perceived what was his opinion; that he that was but a child, the most humble, and least in his own eyes, would be the greatest: but besides setting the child in such a situation, he pointed to him, saying what follows.
y p. 3. Ed. Voss.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
See also Mark 9:33-41; Luke 9:46-50.
Who is the greatest in the kingdom, of heaven? - By the kingdom of heaven they meant the kingdom which they supposed he was about to set up - his kingdom as the Messiah. They asked the question because they supposed, in accordance with the common expectation of the Jews, that he was about to set up a temporal kingdom of great splendor, and they wished to know who should have the principal offices, and posts of honor and profit. This was among them a frequent subject of inquiry and controversy. Mark Mark 9:34 informs us that they had had a dispute on this subject in the way. Jesus, he says, inquired of them what they had been disputing about. Luke Luke 9:47 says that Jesus perceived the thought of their heart an act implying omniscience, for none can search the heart but God, Jeremiah 17:10. The disciples, conscious that the subject of their dispute was known, requested Jesus to decide it, Matthew 18:1. They were at first silent through shame (Mark), but, perceiving that the subject of their dispute was known, they came, as Matthew states, and referred the master to him for his opinion.
Matthew 18:2, Matthew 18:3
Except ye be converted - The word “converted” means changed or turned.
The verb means to change or turn from one habit of life or set of opinions to another, James 5:19; Luke 22:32. See also Matthew 7:6; Matthew 16:23; Luke 7:9, etc., where the same word is used in the original. It sometimes refers to that great change called the new birth or regeneration Psalms 51:13; Isaiah 60:5; Acts 3:19, but not always. It is a general word, meaning any change. The word “regeneration” denotes a particular change the beginning to live a spiritual life. The phrase, “Except ye be converted,” does not imply, of necessity, that they were not Christians before, or had not been born again. It means that their opinions and feelings about the kingdom of the Messiah must be changed. They had supposed that he was to be a temporal prince. They expected he would reign as other kings did. They supposed he would have his great officers of state, as other monarchs had, and they were ambitiously inquiring who should hold the highest offices. Jesus told them that they were wrong in their views and expectations. No such things would take place. From these notions they must be turned, changed or converted, or they could have no part in his kingdom. These ideas did not fit at all the nature of his kingdom.
And become as little children - Children are, to a great extent, destitute of ambition, pride, and haughtiness They are characteristically humble and teachable. By requiring his disciples to be like them, he did not intend to express any opinion about the native moral character of children, but simply that in these respects they must become like them. They must lay aside their ambitious views and their pride, and be willing to occupy their proper station - a very lowly one. Mark says Mark 9:35 that Jesus, before he placed the little child in the midst of them, told them that “if any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all.” That is, he shall be the most distinguished Christian who is the most humble, and who is willing to be esteemed least and last of all. To esteem ourselves as God esteems us is humility, and it cannot be degrading to think of ourselves as we are; but pride, or an attempt to be thought of more importance than we are, is foolish, wicked, and degrading.
Matthew 18:4
The greatest ... - That is, shall be the most eminent Christian shall have most of the true spirit of religion.
Matthew 18:5
And whoso shall receive one such little child - That is, whoso shall receive and love one with a spirit like this child one who is humble, meek, and unambitious - that is, a real Christian.
In my name - As a follower of me, or because he is attached to me.
Whoso receives one possessed of my spirit, or who loves him because he has that spirit, loves me also. The word “receive” means to approve, love, or treat with kindness; to aid in the time of need. See Matthew 25:35-40.
Mark Mark 9:38 and Luke Luke 9:49 add a conversation that took place on this occasion, which has been omitted by Matthew. John told him that they had seen one casting out devils in his name, and they forbade him, because he followed not with them. Jesus replied that he should not have been forbidden, for there was no one who could work a miracle in his name that could lightly speak evil of him. That is, though he did not attend them though he had not joined himself to their society, yet he could not really be opposed to him. Indeed, they should have remembered that the power to work a miracle must always come from the same source, that is, God; and that he who had the ability given him to work a miracle, and who did it in the name of Christ, must be a real friend to him. It is probable, from this, that the power of working miracles in the name of Christ was given to many who did not attend on his ministry.
Matthew 18:6
Whoso shall offend - That is, cause to fall, or to sin; or who should place anything in their way to hinder their piety or happiness. See notes at Matthew 5:29.
These little ones - That is, Christians manifesting the spirit of little children, 1Jo 2:1, 1 John 2:12, 1 John 2:18, 1 John 2:28.
It were better for him that a millstone ... - Mills, anciently, were either turned by hand (see the notes at Matthew 24:41), or by beasts, chiefly by mules. These last were of the larger kind, and the original words denote that it was this kind that was intended. This was one mode of capital punishment practiced by the Greeks, Syrians, Romans, and by some other nations. The meaning is, it would be better for him to have died before he had committed the sin. To injure, or to cause to sin, the feeblest Christian, will be regarded by Christ as a most serious offence, and will be punished accordingly.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 18:2. A little child — But this child could walk, for he called him to him. Nicephorus says, this was Ignatius, who was afterwards bishop of Antioch, and suffered martyrdom under, and by command of, the Roman Emperor Trojan, in the 107th year of our Lord. But this good father is not much to be depended on, being both weak and credulous.
