Matthew 18:2

Matthew 18:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
• New International Version (NIV)He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,

Context of Matthew 18:2

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and set him before them, 3and said, “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. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:2 word by word

καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος παιδίον ἔστησεν αὐτὸ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶνRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• calledπροσκαλέωproskaleomai · to call to/summonG4341
• a little childπαιδίονpaidion · childG3813
• and setἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319

Cross-references for Matthew 18:2

• Matthew 19:13Then children were brought to Jesus so that He might place His hands on them [for a blessing] and pray; but the disciples reprimanded them.
• 1 Kings 3:7So now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of David my father; and as for me, I am but a little boy [in wisdom and experience]; I do not know how to go out or come in [that is, how to conduct business as a king].
• Jeremiah 1:7But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am [only] a young man,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
• Mark 9:36Taking a child, He set him before them; and taking him in His arms, He said to them,

Commentaries on Matthew 18:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2A little child - But this child could walk, for he called him to him. Nicephorus says, this was Ignatius, who was afterwards bishop of Antioch, and suffered martyrdom under, and by command of, the Roman Emperor Trojan, in the 107th year of our Lord. But this good father is not much to be depended on, being both weak and credulous.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-6Verses 1-6 See also Mark 9:33-41; Luke 9:46-50. 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. They asked the question because they supposed, in accordance with the common expectation of the Jews, that he was about to set up a temporal kingdom of great splendor, and they wished to know who should have the principal offices, and posts…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-35This fourth major teaching in Matthew (see study note on Matthew 5:1–7:29) focuses on how people responded to the Messiah. The disciples accepted him, while the Jewish leaders and most people did not. As this division increased, Jesus taught his disciples about community life. To follow the standards of Jesus, a community should live with: humility (18:1–5), sensitivity (18:6–9), compassion (18:10–14), discipline (18:15–18), and forgiveness (18:21–35)…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 18:2

• Babes
• Children
• Humility
• Jesus, the Christ
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Gain
• Owe
• Patience
• Great; Greatness
• Jesus Christ
• Matthew, the Gospel of
• Papyrus
• Salvation

Commentaries on Matthew 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings