Mat 18:1-4 | PNT | STEP | The Greatest in the Kingdom SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 18: Who Shall Be Greatest?. Becoming As Little Children. Causing the Little Ones to Stumble. Despising the Little Ones. How to Deal with an Offending Brother. Forgiving Those Who Injure Us. Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. At the same time . As Peter returned from paying the tribute money. Came the disciples unto Jesus . Compare and also . Mark says the conversation occurred at Capernaum ( ). Who is the greatest in the kingdom ? The disciples had disputed in the way was to which of them should be chief ministers in the earthly kingdom that they still supposed Christ would establish ( ). Mark also says that before calling the child, Jesus said: "He that would be greatest among you, let him become the servant of all" ( ), the rule of true greatness.

Matthew 18:1-4

The Greatest in the Kingdom SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 18: Who Shall Be Greatest?. Becoming As Little Children. Causing the Little Ones to Stumble. Despising the Little Ones. How to Deal with an Offending Brother. Forgiving Those Who Injure Us. Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.

At the same time. As Peter returned from paying the tribute money.

Came the disciples unto Jesus. Compare Mr 9:33-50 Lu 9:46-50 and also Mt 19:13-15. Mark says the conversation occurred at Capernaum (Mr 9:33).

Who is the greatest in the kingdom? The disciples had disputed in the way was to which of them should be chief ministers in the earthly kingdom that they still supposed Christ would establish (Mr 9:33,34). Mark also says that before calling the child, Jesus said: "He that would be greatest among you, let him become the servant of all" (Mr 9:35), the rule of true greatness. And Jesus called a little child unto him. In order to enforce the words that Mark reports (Mr 9:35), he uses a striking object lesson. This method was a prominent feature of Oriental teaching. Thus it was that Christ washed the disciples' feet (Joh 13:4-17) and Agabus bound his hands and feet with Paul's girdle (Ac 21:11). Except ye be converted. The Revised Version translates, "Except ye turn", which is correct. The Greek word "strepho" translated in the Common Version "be converted" is found in the New Testament in the active voice in every instance but one, and means "to turn". It means something that the subject is "to do", not something that is to be done for him.

Become as little children. Humble, teachable and free from selfish ambition, like little children.

Ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Instead of discussing who should be greatest in the kingdom of heaven, they had better inquire whether they were going to get in at all. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child. This explains the great feature in which they must become as the child. Greatness in the kingdom is not secured by seeking to be greatest. There is a lesson here for Christians, and especially preachers who are ambitious of distinction.