Ewangelia Mateusza 18:3

Biblia Tysiąclecia

I rzekł: Zaprawdę powiadam wam: Jeźli się nie nawrócicie i nie staniecie się jako dzieci, żadnym sposobem nie wnijdziecie do królestwa niebieskiego.

Parallel Translations

Biblia Gdańska (1632)
I rzekł: Zaprawdę powiadam wam: Jeźli się nie nawrócicie i nie staniecie się jako dzieci, żadnym sposobem nie wnijdziecie do królestwa niebieskiego.

Biblia Przekład Toruński
3 I powiedział: Zaprawdę mówię wam: Jeśli się nie nawrócicie i nie staniecie się jak dzieci, nie wejdziecie do Królestwa Niebios.

Nowe Przymierze Zaremba
i powiedział: Zapewniam was, jeśli się nie nawrócicie i nie staniecie jak dzieci, na pewno nie wejdziecie do Królestwa Niebios.

Nowa Biblia Gdańska (2012)
oraz powiedział: Zaprawdę, mówię wam: Jeśli nie będziecie zawróceni i nie staniecie się jak dzieci, nie wejdziecie do Królestwa Niebios.

Uwspółcześniona Biblia Gdańska
I powiedział: Zaprawdę powiadam wam: Jeśli się nie nawrócicie i nie staniecie się jak dzieci, nie wejdziecie do królestwa niebieskiego.

Biblia Brzeska (1563)
I rzekł: Zaprawdę powiedam wam: Jesli się nie nawrócicie i nie staniecie się jako dziatki, nie wnidziecie do królestwa niebieskiego.

Biblia Warszawska
I rzekł: Zaprawdę powiadam wam, jeśli się nie nawrócicie i nie staniecie jak dzieci, nie wejdziecie do Królestwa Niebios.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Verily: Matthew 5:18, Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16, John 1:51, John 3:3

Except: Matthew 13:15, Psalms 51:10-13, Psalms 131:2, Isaiah 6:10, Mark 4:12, Luke 22:32, Acts 3:19, Acts 28:27, James 5:19, James 5:20

and become: Mark 10:14, Mark 10:15, Luke 18:16, Luke 18:17, 1 Corinthians 14:20, 1 Peter 2:2

enter: Matthew 5:20, Matthew 19:23, Luke 13:24, John 3:5, Acts 14:22, 2 Peter 1:11

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 3:7 - a little Psalms 51:13 - converted Matthew 7:13 - at Matthew 7:21 - shall Matthew 10:42 - one Matthew 11:25 - and hast Matthew 19:14 - for Matthew 20:25 - called Matthew 21:31 - Verily Mark 9:37 - receive one Mark 10:23 - enter Luke 17:2 - one Luke 22:26 - General John 6:53 - Except Acts 8:31 - How Acts 18:26 - expounded Ephesians 4:14 - no more

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And said, verily I say unto you,.... You may take it for a certain truth, and what may be depended upon, that

except ye be converted or turned; from that gross notion of a temporal kingdom, and of enjoying great grandeur, and outward felicity in this world; and from all your vain views of honour, wealth, and riches,

and become as little children: the Arabic renders it, "as this child"; that is, unless ye learn to entertain an humble, and modest opinion of yourselves, are not envious at one another, and drop all contentions about primacy and pre-eminence, and all your ambitious views of one being greater than another, in a vainly expected temporal kingdom; things which are not to be found in little children, though not free from sin in other respects,

ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven: ye shall be so far from being one greater than another in it, that you shall not enter into it at all; meaning his visible, spiritual kingdom, which should take place, and appear after his resurrection, upon his ascension to heaven, and pouring forth of the Spirit: and it is to be observed, that the apostles carried these carnal views, contentions, and sentiments, till that time, and then were turned from them, and dropped them; for, upon the extraordinary effusion of the Holy Spirit, they were cleared of these worldly principles, and understood the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom; which they then entered into, and took their place in, and filled it up with great success, without envying one another; having received the same commission from their Lord, and Master: so that these words are a sort of prophecy of what should be, as well as designed as a rebuke to them for their present ambition and contentions.

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 18:3. Except ye be converted — Unless ye be saved from those prejudices which are at present so baneful to your nation, (seeking a temporal and not a spiritual kingdom,) unless ye be clothed with the spirit of humility, ye cannot enter into the spirit, design, and privileges of my spiritual and eternal kingdom. The name of this kingdom should put you in mind of its nature. -

1. The KING is heavenly;

2. His SUBJECTS are heavenly-minded;

3. Their COUNTRY is heavenly, for they are strangers and pilgrims upon earth;

4. The GOVERNMENT of this kingdom is wholly spiritual and divine.

See on Matthew 3:2.

And become as little children — i.e. Be as truly without worldly ambition, and the lust of power, as little children are, who act among themselves as if all were equal. The following saying from the Boostan of the poet Saady is very appropriate. "The hearts of infants being free from avarice, what care they for a handful of silver more than for a handful of dust?"