Matthew 18:1-7

Contemporary English Version

Who Is the Greatest?

(Mark 9.33-37; Luke 9.46-48)

18 ^(A) About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ² Jesus called for a child to come over and stand near him. ^3 (B) Then he said:

I promise you this. If you don't change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ But if you are as humble as this child, you are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And when you welcome one of these children because of me, you welcome me.

Temptations To Sin

(Mark 9.42-48; Luke 17.1,2)

⁶ It will be terrible for people who cause even one of my little followers to sin. Those people would be better off thrown into the deepest part of the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their necks! ⁷ The world is in for trouble because of the way it causes people to sin. There will always be something to cause people to sin, but anyone who does this will be in for trouble.