Humility and Care for Little Ones
Matthew 18:1-9
Matt.18.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Εν: PREP
- εκεινη: DEM,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ωρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- προσηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λεγοντες·Τις: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- αρα: PART
- μειζων: ADJ,nom,sg,m,comp
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- βασιλεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ουρανων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 9:33-34 (structural): Same narrative scene: the disciples dispute/ask about who is greatest and Jesus responds; parallels the immediate context and conflict over status.
- Luke 9:46-48 (structural): A parallel account of the disciples arguing about greatness; Jesus answers by calling a child and teaching that one must become like a child to be greatest.
- Matt.20:20-28 (thematic): Different episode raising the same issue of rank in God's kingdom (request for seats of honor); Jesus redefines greatness as servanthood and humility.
- Luke 22:24-27 (thematic): Later dispute among the disciples about which of them is considered greatest; Jesus teaches that true greatness is humble, servant-like leadership, echoing the theme of Matt 18:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
- At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'
Matt.18.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- προσκαλεσαμενος: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- παιδιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εστησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτο: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- μεσω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
Parallels
- Mark 9:36 (verbal): Mark records the same action wording—Jesus took a child and set him in the midst of the disciples (close verbal and narrative parallel to Matt 18:2).
- Luke 9:47 (verbal): Luke presents the same incident with similar wording (took a child and set him by Jesus), a direct synoptic parallel to Matthew's vignette.
- Matt 19:14 (thematic): In Matthew's later episode Jesus welcomes children and affirms that the kingdom belongs to such as them; thematically linked to the child‑centered teaching of 18:2–4.
- Mark 10:14 (thematic): Mark's account of Jesus rebuking the disciples who hinder children and affirming their place in the kingdom parallels the same teaching motive found in Matthew 18's child episode.
- Luke 18:16 (thematic): Luke's parallel where Jesus invites children to come to him and blesses them echoes the Matthean theme of children as exemplars/objects of kingdom reception present in 18:2–4.
Alternative generated candidates
- He called a little child to him and set the child among them.
- He called a child to him and set him among them,
Matt.18.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν·Αμην: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- εαν: CONJ
- μη: PART
- στραφητε: VERB,aor,pass,subj,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- γενησθε: VERB,aor,mid,subj,2,pl
- ως: CONJ
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- παιδια: NOUN,nom/acc,pl,n
- ου: PART
- μη: PART
- εισελθητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ουρανων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 10:15 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel: Jesus says one must receive the kingdom like a child or will not enter it (very close wording and meaning).
- Luke 18:17 (verbal): Another close Synoptic parallel: the requirement to receive the kingdom of God like a child is stated almost identically.
- Matt.19:14 (verbal): Related saying in Matthew where Jesus welcomes little children and asserts that the kingdom belongs to such as them—same theme of childlikeness and kingdom membership.
- Matt.18:4 (structural): Immediate context/continuation: explains that whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the kingdom, developing the meaning of becoming like children.
- Matt.11:25 (thematic): Thematic parallel on revelation to the childlike/humble: Jesus praises the Father for hiding truth from the wise and revealing it to infants, linking humility/childlikeness with receiving divine truth.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said, Truly I tell you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- and said, 'Truly I tell you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'
Matt.18.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οστις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- ουν: CONJ
- ταπεινωσει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- εαυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ως: CONJ
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- παιδιον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- τουτο: PRON,acc,sg,n
- ουτος: PRO,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- μειζων: ADJ,nom,sg,m,comp
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- βασιλεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ουρανων·: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Luke 18:17 (verbal): Jesus states that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it — closely parallels Matthew's insistence on childlike humility as the condition for greatness in God's kingdom.
- Luke 9:48 (structural): In the context of welcoming a child, Jesus identifies the one who is least as the greatest and links welcoming a child with welcoming him — a structural parallel to Matthew's humility/greatness linkage.
- Mark 9:35 (thematic): Jesus teaches that whoever wants to be first must be last and servant of all; this theme of humble service corresponds to Matthew's call to humble oneself like a child to be greatest.
- Matt.20:26-27 (thematic): In another Matthean saying Jesus redefines greatness as servanthood (whoever would be great must be your servant), echoing the humility-to-greatness motif of 18:4.
- Philippians 2:3-8 (thematic): Paul exhorts believers to humility and cites Christ's self-emptying as the paradigm — a theological parallel emphasizing humility as the path to exaltation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Whoever then humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- Whoever then humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt.18.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ος: PRO,nom,sg,m
- εαν: CONJ
- δεξηται: VERB,aor,mid,subj,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- παιδιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- τοιουτο: ADJ,dat,sg,n
- επι: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- εμε: PRON,acc,sg,1
- δεχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 9:37 (verbal): Nearly identical saying: receiving one of these little children in my name is equated with receiving Jesus; Mark adds receipt of the one who sent him.
- Luke 9:48 (quotation): Parallel wording and context (child placed before the disciples): whoever receives this child in my name receives me, emphasizing the same formula.
- Matt.10:40 (structural): Same structural principle: receiving Jesus’ messengers (or those associated with him) is equivalent to receiving Jesus himself (and by extension, the sender).
- Matt.25:40 (thematic): Thematic parallel: acts of welcome or care toward the 'least' are understood as done to Christ himself—shared ethic of identification with the lowly.
- Luke 18:16-17 (thematic): Jesus’ explicit welcome of children and the valuation of childlike reception links to the theme that receiving children (and the kingdom’s humility) is central to relation with Jesus.
Alternative generated candidates
- And whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.
- And whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.
Matt.18.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- δ᾽αν: PART
- σκανδαλιση: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- ενα: NUM,acc,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- μικρων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- τουτων: DEM,gen,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- πιστευοντων: PARTCP,pres,act,gen,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- εμε: PRON,acc,sg,1
- συμφερει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- κρεμασθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- μυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ονικος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- τραχηλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- και: CONJ
- καταποντισθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πελαγει: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- θαλασσης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 9:42 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel warning—‘whoever causes one of these little ones to stumble’ followed by the millstone-about-the-neck/drowning image.
- Luke 17:2 (verbal): Similar saying using the millstone image and saying it would be better to be cast into the sea than to cause a little one to sin.
- Matt.18:7 (structural): Immediate context: a paired warning about causes of stumbling (προσκώμμα) and the inevitability of offenses, framing 18:6’s admonition.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 (thematic): Paul warns that exercising Christian freedom must not become a stumbling block to weaker believers—same ethical concern about causing others to sin.
- Revelation 18:21 (allusion): Uses the image of a great millstone cast into the sea to signify punitive judgment—echoes the millstone/drowning motif as a symbol of severe retribution.
Alternative generated candidates
- If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
- But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung about his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Matt.18.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουαι: INTJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κοσμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- σκανδαλων·αναγκη: NOUN,gen,pl,n;NOUN,nom,sg,f
- γαρ: CONJ
- ελθειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- σκανδαλα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- πλην: CONJ
- ουαι: INTJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ανθρωπω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- δι᾽ου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- σκανδαλον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 9:42 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel warning: 'woe to the one by whom the stumbling-block comes' (οστις δʼ αν σκανδαλισῃ), same imagery and rebuke about causing others to sin.
- Luke 17:1-2 (verbal): Jesus' teaching that 'it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come' and the severe woe against anyone who causes them—closely parallels Matthew's language and thought (σκανδαλον, woe).
- Matthew 18:6 (structural): Immediate context: a closely related saying in the same chapter instructing harsh judgment on whoever causes 'one of these little ones' to stumble—develops the moral force of 18:7.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 (thematic): Paulic application of the same idea: believers must not use freedom in a way that becomes a 'stumbling block' to the weak—same ethical concern about causing others to sin.
Alternative generated candidates
- Woe to the world because of the occasions of stumbling! It is inevitable that occasions will come, but woe to the person through whom the occasion comes.
- Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it is inevitable that stumbling will come; but woe to the man through whom the stumbling comes!
Matt.18.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ει: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- χειρ: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- σκανδαλιζει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- εκκοψον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- και: CONJ
- βαλε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- απο: PREP
- σου·καλον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εισελθειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ζωην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- κυλλον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- χωλον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δυο: NUM,card
- χειρας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δυο: NUM,card
- ποδας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εχοντα: PART,pres,act,acc,pl,m
- βληθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- πυρ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- αιωνιον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Mark 9:43-47 (verbal): Nearly identical warning to cut off hand or foot that causes sin and be thrown into Gehenna; shares the same hyperbolic bodily mutilation and the image of unquenchable/eternal punishment.
- Matt.5:29-30 (verbal): Uses the same motif of removing a offending body part (eye/hand) to avoid sin; parallels the ethical radicalism and the language of better entering life maimed than keeping members that lead to sin.
- Matt.18:9 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same pericope addressing the eye as an offending member; functions as the complementary clause to 18:8 forming a paired exhortation against stumbling into sin.
- Matt.10:28 (thematic): Shares the theme of fear of divine judgment/Gehenna (hell) and the serious consequences of sin—emphasizes God’s authority over eternal punishment that justifies radical corrective measures.
- Rev.20:14-15 (thematic): Develops the New Testament motif of final, eternal punishment (the lake of fire) comparable to Matthew’s 'eternal fire,' linking the warning about bodily causes of sin to eschatological condemnation.
Alternative generated candidates
- If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, 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 eternal fire.
- If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, 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 eternal fire.
Matt.18.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ει: COND
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οφθαλμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- σκανδαλιζει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- εξελε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- και: CONJ
- βαλε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- απο: PREP
- σου·καλον: PRON,gen,sg,2+ADJ,nom,sg,neut
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- μονοφθαλμον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ζωην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εισελθειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δυο: NUM,card
- οφθαλμους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εχοντα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- βληθηναι: VERB,aor,pas,inf
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γεενναν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πυρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 5:29-30 (verbal): Nearly identical wording about plucking out the eye (and cutting off the hand) to avoid sin, and the contrast of entering life with one eye vs being thrown into Gehenna.
- Mark 9:43-47 (verbal): Parallel saying in Mark with the same harsh imagery (cut off offending members) and references to Gehenna/unchanging judgment, preserving the same ethical urgency.
- Matthew 18:8 (structural): Immediate context in the same chapter giving the parallel instruction about cutting off a hand or foot that causes sin; verse 9 continues the same argument applied to the eye.
- Luke 17:1-2 (thematic): Different metaphor (millstone and sea) but the same theme: the severe fate awaiting those who cause others to stumble and the extreme measures implied to avoid causing such sin.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear 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 unquenchable fire.
- And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away; better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into eternal fire.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'
He called a little child, had him stand among them,
'and said, Truly I tell you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'
Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! It is inevitable that stumbling-blocks come, yet woe to the one through whom the stumbling-block comes.
If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it away; better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and cast it away; better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into eternal fire.