Matthew 18:3

Matthew 18:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
• New International Version (NIV)And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
• New King James Version (NKJV)and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Context of Matthew 18:3

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2He called a little child and had him stand among them. Then he said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 18:3 word by word

καὶ εἶπεν· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν· ἐὰν μὴ στραφῆτε καὶ γένησθε ὡς τὰ παιδία, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• Exceptἐάνean · ifG1437
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• ye be convertedστρέφωstrephō · to turnG4762
• becomeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• little childrenὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• little childrenπαιδίονpaidion · childG3813
• ye shallεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
• notοὐou · noG3756
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
• of heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772

Cross-references for Matthew 18:3

• Matthew 5:18I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from the Scriptures before everything has come true.
• Matthew 6:2So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
• John 1:51Jesus said to Nathanael, “I can guarantee this truth: You will see the sky open and God’s angels going up and coming down to the Son of Man.”
• John 3:3Jesus replied to Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can see God’s kingdom without being born from above.”
• Matthew 13:15These people have become close-minded and hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see. Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand. And they never return to me for healing!’
• Psalms 51:10Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a faithful spirit within me.
• Psalms 131:2Instead, I have kept my soul calm and quiet. My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother’s arms.
• Isaiah 6:10Make these people close-minded. Plug their ears. Shut their eyes. Otherwise, they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their minds, and return and be healed.”
• Mark 4:12‘They see clearly but don’t perceive. They hear clearly but don’t understand. They never return to me and are never forgiven.’ ”
• Luke 22:32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples.”
• Acts 3:19So change the way you think and act, and turn ⌞to God⌟ to have your sins removed.
• Acts 28:27These people have become close-minded and hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see. Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand. And they never turn to me for healing.” ’
• James 5:19My brothers and sisters, if one of you wanders from the truth, someone can bring that person back.
• Mark 10:14When Jesus saw this, he became irritated. He told them, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me. Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.
• Luke 18:16But Jesus called the infants to him and said, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me! Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.
• 1 Corinthians 14:20Brothers and sisters, don’t think like children. When it comes to evil, be like babies, but think like mature people.

Commentaries on Matthew 18:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Except ye be converted - Unless ye be saved from those prejudices which are at present so baneful to your nation, (seeking a temporal and not a spiritual kingdom), unless ye be clothed with the spirit of humility, ye cannot enter into the spirit, design, and privileges of my spiritual and eternal kingdom. The name of this kingdom should put you in mind of its nature. - The King is heavenly; His Subjects are heavenly-minded; Their Country is heavenly, for…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. 3Like little children means being humble (Matthew 18:4). The disciples had been focused on status and ambition.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 18:3

• Apostles
• Babes
• Children
• Humility
• Jesus, the Christ
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Regeneration
• Righteous
• Salvation
• Symbols and Similitudes
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Gain
• Owe
• Patience
• Baptism (lutheran Doctrine)
• Baptismal Regeneration
• Become
• Conversion
• God
• Great; Greatness
• Jesus Christ

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