Kretzmann's Popular Commentary
Matthew 18:4
Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Verse Matthew 18:4. _WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL HUMBLE HIMSELF_] So great is the disparity between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdoms of this world, that there is no way of rising to honours in the...
See also Mark 9:33; Luke 9:46. 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....
6. INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS DISCIPLES. CONCERNING FORGIVENESS. CHAPTER 18 1. Concerning the Little Ones and Offences. (Matthew 18:1 .) 2. The Son of Man to Save What is Lost. (Matthew 18:11 .) 3. The Chu...
A CONVERSATION WITH THE TWELVE. For Matthew 18:1, the question of precedence, _cf._ Mark 9:33 *, also Matthew 20:26 f., Mark 10:43 f.,...
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS (Matthew 18:1-35) Matthew 18:1-35 is a most important chapter for Christian Ethics, because it deals with those qualities which should characterize the personal relationships o...
On that day the disciples came to Jesus. "Who, then," they said, "is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" Jesus called a little child and made him stand in the middle of them, and said, "This is th...
AS THIS. Not as this little child humbles himself, for no one but the Lord humbles _Himself._ Compare Philippians 1:2; Philippians 1:7; Philippians 1:8....
_Whosoever therefore shall humble himself_ He who shall be most Christ-like in humility (see Philippians 2:7-9) shall be most like Christ in glory....
ΤΑΠΕΙΝΏΣΕΙ ἙΑΥΤΌΝ. He who shall be most Christ-like in humility (see Philippians 2:7-8) shall be most like Christ in glory. Cp. ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτόν, γενομένος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ....
A LESSON IN HUMILITY. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND LITTLE CHILDREN Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48...
Ver l. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3. And sai...
_THE HEART OF A CHRISTIAN IS CHARACTERIZED HUMILITY AND UNDERSTANDING MATTHEW 18:1-9:_ "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the...
ΌΣΤΙΣ (G3748) всякий. Местоимение родовое, указывает на всякого принадлежащего к данному классу (IGNT, 133). ΤΑΠΕΙΝΏΣΕΙ _fut. ind. act. от_ ΤΑΠΕΙΝΌΩ (G5013) принижать, умалять, усмирять, ΕΑΥΤΌΝ (G14...
DISCOURSE: 1380 A LITTLE CHILD Matthew 18:1. 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...
AND SAID, VERILY, &C.— "So far shall ye be from becoming the greatest in my kingdom, that ye shall not so much_as enter into it,_unless ye be like little children, free from pride, covetousness, and a...
B. RELATIVE STANDING IN THE KINGDOM DEPENDS ON HUMILITY. (18:4) Matthew 18:4 WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL HUMBLE HIMSELF AS THIS LITTLE CHILD, THE SAME IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. The humb...
Section 46 JESUS TRAINS THE TWELVE IN PERSONAL RELATIONS (Parallels: Mark 9:33-50; Luke 9:46-50) TEXT: 18:1-35 A. Humility and True Greatness 1 In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Wh...
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? For the exposition, see the notes at Mark 9:33....
24 See Exo_30:11-16; Exo_38:25-26. 24 According to the law every one who was numbered in Israel, being over twenty years of age, paid half a shekel to shelter his soul (Exo_30:12-14). It was used for...
18:4 Whoever (f-1) He who has that character. greatest (d-13) The Greek word is the comparative, hence 'greater' than others. it is thus characteristic, not personal. 'Greatest' answers to it in Engli...
OFFENDING THE LITTLE ONES. THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT 1-14. Ambition reproved, and humility taught by the example of a little child (Mark 9:33; Luke 9:46)....
SHALL HUMBLE HIMSELF AS THIS LITTLE CHILD] A little child has no pride, knows nothing of worldly rank or position, and is simple, teachable, and loving. In using such an objectlesson, Jesus showed His...
MATTHEW’S GOOD NEWS MATTHEW’S *GOSPEL _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 18 Chapter 18 is the fourth section of what Jesus taught. It ends in the same way as the other sections ‘Now when Jesus had finished...
WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL HUMBLE HIMSELF. — This, then, was the answer to the question “Who shall be the greatest.” The secret of true greatness lay in that unconsciousness of being great, which takes...
CHAPTER 14 Last Words at Capernaum - Matthew 17:22; Matthew 18:1 THE TEMPLE TRIBUTE Matthew 17:22 THE way southward lies through Galilee; but the time of Galilee's visitation is now over, so Jesus...
ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν : the most difficult thing in the world for saint as for sinner. Raphel (_Annot._ in S. S.) distinguishes three forms of self-humiliation: in mind (Philippians 2:3), by words, and by...
_Ambition rebuked_ (Mark 9:33-50; Luke 9:46-50; Luke 15:3-7; Luke 17:1-4)....
REMOVING STUMBLING-BLOCKS Matthew 18:1-9 Our Lord's transfiguration suggested that the time to take up His Kingdom was near; and the Apostles began to arrange their plans. The Master therefore used a...
What a sad state of heart prompted this question! How absolutely opposed to the whole genius of the Master's teaching and example! He replied by an act, and a statement growing out of that act. The ch...
_Greater in the kingdom of heaven, because more conformable to me here on earth. Humble souls, who are little in their own eyes, are so dear and closely united to the Almighty, that Christ declares th...
THE INFANT THE PARAGON Matthew 18:2-5; Mark 9:36-37; Luke 9:48. Mark: “Jesus, calling to Him a little child, placed it in their midst, and said, Truly, I say unto you, Except ye may be converted, and...
"At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (2) And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, (3) And said, Ver...
Chapter 8, which opens the portion that comes before us tonight, is a striking illustration as well as proof of the method which God has been pleased to employ in giving us the apostle Matthew's accou...
_THE CULTIVATION OF HUMILITY_ ‘Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew 18:4 Mark, it is not ‘be humble,’ it is ‘shall...
4._Whosoever shall humble himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. _This is intended to guard us against supposing that we degrade ourselves in any measure by freel...
In chapter 18 the great principles proper to the new order of things are made known to the disciples. Let us search a little into these sweet and precious instructions of the Lord. They may be looked...
WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL HUMBLE HIMSELF,.... Whoever shall entertain mean thoughts of himself, and prefer others to himself, shall behave in a modest humble manner, not affecting dominion over others...
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 4. _Whosoever therefore shall humble, &c._] Children are not lifted up with pride, f...
_And said, Verily I say unto you_ What I say is an undoubted and most important truth, a truth which you ought not only firmly to believe but seriously to lay to heart: _except ye be converted_ Turned...
Though the Lord Jesus has been seen to forego His own rights, He who is by right infinitely great, the disciples show the opposite attitude in desiring some rights above those of others in the kingdom...
1-6 Christ spoke many words of his sufferings, but only one of his glory; yet the disciples fasten upon that, and overlook the others. Many love to hear and speak of privileges and glory, who are wil...
OLBGrk; Ver. 2-4. Mark saith, MARK 9:35, _And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a c...
Clement of Alexandria The Instructor Book I On the question arising among the apostles, "which of them should be the greater," Jesus placed a little child in the midst, saying, "Whosoever, shall humb...
Matthew 18:4 Therefore G3767 whoever G3748 humbles G5013 (G5661) himself G1438 as G5613 this G5124 child G3813 is...
‘And said, “Truly I say to you, Unless you have been turned (or ‘be turned'), and have become as (or ‘become as') little children, you will in no way have entered (or ‘will in no way enter') into the...
THE ONE WHO IS GREATEST IN THE KINGLY RULE OF HEAVEN IS THE ONE WHO HAS LEAST DESIRE TO BE SO AND DOES NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT (18:1-4). The ‘disciples' here are the ones who have ‘gathered' ready to...
Matthew 18:4. HUMBLE HIMSELF AS THIS LITTLE CHILD. Not humble himself as this little child has done, but become humble as this little child is in this company. The absolute innocence of children is no...
The whole chapter forms one discourse, delivered upon one occasion, after the return to Capernaum, probably immediately succeeding the miracle just mentioned. Two distinct topics are spoken of: the _f...
THIS LITTLE CHILD (το παιδιον τουτο). This saying about humbling oneself Jesus repeated a number of times as for instance in Matthew 23:12. Probably Jesus pointed to the child by his side. The ninth...
Matthew 18:1 Becoming like Little Children. I. The disciples had asked our Lord, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And the answer which our Lord made, though it did not give them any pa...
Matthew 18:4 I. Notice the expression, "Whosoever shall humble himself" it is not _be humble_"Whosoever shall humble himself." It implies a process, and then a victory; it recognizes and presupposes a...
Matthew 18:1. _At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?_ The question we have sometimes heard asked in other forms, «Which is the highest...
CONTENTS: Sermon on the child text. Discipline in the church. Unity in prayer. Law of forgiveness. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Peter. CONCLUSION: Those are truly great who are truly humble and good, and...
Matthew 18:1. _Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?_ The comparative μειζων _greater,_ is put here for the superlative. By the kingdom of heaven, they meant the worldly glory of the church in...
THE GREATEST. Humility is the key. There is a lesson here for us all. See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7....
_And Jesus called a little child unto Him._ CHRISTIAN HUMILITY The question of the disciples brings them very distinctly before us, and makes them very real to us, as men like unto ourselves. Nothin...
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 18:1 The Community of the Messiah Revealed. This is the fourth of Jesus’ five major teachings in Matthew’s Gospel (see Introduction: Key Themes). Jesus instructs his disciples...
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 18:2 WHOEVER HUMBLES HIMSELF LIKE THIS CHILD. The humility of a child consists of trust, vulnerability, and the need for the help of a parent....
THE DISCIPLES ARGUE ABOUT WHO WOULD BE THE GREATEST MATTHEW 18:1-6; MARK 9:33-41; LUKE 9:46-50; MATTHEW 18:1 At the same time came the dis
1-35 CHAPTER 18 _At that time came_, &c. There seems to be a discrepancy here with Mark 9:31, where it is said that the disciples disputed about this matter in the way, and that afterwards, when they...
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 18:5. ONE SUCH LITTLE CHILD.—Whether literally or only morally a little child. Our Saviour had reference, we doubt not, to both phases of childhood. That He refers to literal...
EXPOSITION MATTHEW 18:1 _Discourse concerning the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and the mutual duties of Christians_._ _(Mark 9:33; Luke 9:46-42.)...
Now at the same time there came disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 18:1) Oh, boy how they longed for this. You're talking about motivation, and the disc...
1 Peter 5:5; Isaiah 57:15; James 4:10; Luke 14:11; Luke 9:48;...
As this little child. Not, as this little child humbles himself, but, shall make himself humble as this little child is lowly; shall willingly become by spiritual process what the child is by nature....
As if our Lord had said, "That the apostle, or that minister, who thinks as meanly of himself as. little child, and is humble and lowly in his own esteem, he deserves the highest place of dignity and...