Who Is the Greatest?

18 At that time^[a](A) the disciples^(B) came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ^{(C) 2} He called a small child and had him stand among them. ³ “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children,^(D) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.^{(E) 4} Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes^[b] one child like this in my name welcomes me.

⁶ “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.^{(F) 7} Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offense comes.^{(G) 8} If your hand or your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.^{(H) 9} And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire.^[c](I)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹⁰ “See to it that you don’t despise one of these little ones,^(J) because I tell you that in heaven their angels^(K) continually view the face of my Father in heaven.^[d](L)

Who Is the Greatest?

⁴⁶ An argument started among them about who was the greatest of them.^{(A) 47} But Jesus, knowing their inner thoughts,^[a](B) took a little child and had him stand next to him. ⁴⁸ He told them, “Whoever welcomes^[b] this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.^(C) For whoever is least among you—this one is great.”^(D)

In His Name

⁴⁹ John responded,^(E) “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,^(F) and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.”^(G)

⁵⁰ “Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.”^[c](H)