V1 – V4 – At times, you would wonder, like the disciples… who is really the greatest person in God’s kingdom? And the Lord answers… He who is like a little child. So, the question is, what are these characteristics of little children, or what is it about them that makes them so great?
Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.“
So clearly, it is about repentance, humility, and trust in the Lord. Look at what these other Bible versions say”
AMP (Amplified Bible) – I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
TPT (The Passion Translation) – “Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable like a little child, you will never be able to enter in. Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this little child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm.
To set some background, this website explains it this way:
“ Jesus begins to answer their question by calling a little child to come over to Him. Some commentators speculate this scene is unfolding at Peter’s house, so perhaps, this is one of his children. Jesus sets the child in the middle of this group of disciples. Children are the most powerless members of most societies. This was especially true in ancient times. Jewish people loved their children, but children had no rights under the law of Moses. They had no status in a very status-conscious culture. They were completely dependent on those who cared for them to provide everything they needed and to protect them from harm. The very fact that Jesus focused the attention of this ambitious group of men on a child may have been remarkable.”
I have these two commentaries that say this:
“He means that a child’s attitudes of easy dependence, trust, unpretentiousness, awareness of weakness, lack of knowledge, and submission to parents illustrate what we as converted adults must become toward God.“
“Jesus tells the disciples that their attitudes of ambition are wrong, and they must change or have no part in His Kingdom. To do this, they must be like small children, who, for the most part, lack arrogance and pride. Children are characteristically humble and teachable.”
Real-life example: One of the things my wife and I have noticed about our firstborn son is that He carefully copies what we do and does it. He does what He sees us doing and is always interested in being around us. He greatly enjoys being in our company and doing all kinds of fun stuff with us. And He cries when we leave: He does not want to be separated from us. And, of course, our son worries about nothing: He does not worry about what He will eat, what He will wear, what kind of house He lives in. etc. I believe that’s exactly what God wants of us. He wants my wife and I to be like our son. Always longing for and loving his presence and communion with Him, being anxious about nothing but fully trusting in Him and obeying Him, and lastly, doing what He, the Lord, does. Some of the things He wants you and I to do include — Loving people, caring for the needy, correcting each other in righteousness, calling people to Him (evangelism), praying for each other, and much more, as directed and commanded by His word.
V5 – V6 – The Lord Jesus then explains another very important teaching regarding how we teach and care for each other. We must be extremely careful not to cause anyone to sin.
In particular, the Amplified version specifies in verse 6: “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching]“
Be careful what you teach others and what you talk to them about. Direct people to Jesus, not away from Him. Don’t teach them things that are not biblical. Dwell on God’s word. Teach God’s word. And be careful to heed all the Holy Spirit’s warnings.
V7 – The world tempts believers and all people to sin, and as the verse explains, God will very strongly judge and punish the one who does the tempting. Oh! Blessed be the Lord. He is fair, just, and righteous.
V8 – However, for us believers, Jesus tells us how to handle temptation. I like how the AMP version puts it:
Matthew 18: 8-9 AMP
If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire. If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life with only one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery hell.
What you feed yourself is always what is going to grow in you. If you let your eyes, ears, feet, hands, etc., do the wrong things… you will definitely be strengthening your flesh. And this is what Jesus explains here. Run away from that source of temptation. Is it social media, Netflix, or a person… remove yourself from such. And I exhort you, dear believer, to focus on the Lord, on the things of the Lord: Bible reading and study, prayer, fellowship, sermons, and more.
The word says in James 4:7 NLT
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I think this wraps up all the above teachings beautifully.
V10 – And lastly, for today, the Lord tells us here that we should be careful not to despise each other. Treat every believer with high esteem because He or She is God’s child.
Or, as John Piper puts it here
“Therefore (!), don’t despise this simple, unimpressive disciple of Jesus! Let his angelic entourage remind you whose son he is. Let this angelic entourage remind you who his older brother is. Put your hand over your critical mouth, and show great esteem (Philippians 2:3) to all ordinary, childlike disciples. If having God as their Father, and Jesus as their Lord does not cause you to exchange your derision for deference, then let the terrifying advocacy and rank of their magnificent angels wake you from your stupor.”