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Little Children

Jesus was asked a question by his disciples. They wanted to know who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. We are unable to tell why the disciples asked this question. Perhaps they were competing among themselves for the preeminent role. Maybe there was active debate on this topic. We do know the response that Jesus gave.

Matthew 18:1-6
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

When Jesus was asked who would be the greatest, he called a child over to the group, sat the child down and then told the disciples that unless they became converted and became as little children, they would not be in the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who humbled themselves as the child would be the greatest. For any who would offend a child, they would be rejected by God.


So how did the child humble himself? When the child was called, he listened to his calling and did not stray where Jesus placed him. How do we offend a child? In this analogy, the child is a Christian, and the offense is an action that causes the Christian to stray from where Jesus placed him, to abandon the calling of our Lord. The story continues in Luke when Jesus was asked what a person could do to inherit eternal life, and when asked this, Jesus replied that a person should keep the 10 commandments and abandon anything that may prevent us from following Christ.

Luke 18:18-30
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.”

Many use these verses to promote a communal philosophy. These verses are not about a communal philosophy, but show the need to abandon anything that may keep us from following Christ, and this includes keeping the commandments.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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