Focused Passage

Matthew 18:1-9

Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community

Matthew moves from the disciples’ question about greatness, to Jesus’ child-centered call to humility, to warnings against causing little ones to stumble, to radical action against sin, to the Father’s care for the little ones, to the pursuit of wandering sheep, to procedures for confronting sin and involving the church, to binding and loosing with Christ’s presence, and finally to the necessity of unlimited forgiveness rooted in the King’s mercy.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.

3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.

6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

7 Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.

9 And if your eye causes you to sin, 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 the fire of hell.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

At Ἐν G1722 Preposition that ἐκείνῃ G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular time ὥρᾳ G5610 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταὶ G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural came προσῆλθον G4334 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular [and] asked λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Who Τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular then ἄρα G686 Conjunction is ἐστὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [the] greatest μείζων G3173 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείᾳ G932 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανῶν G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 2

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction [Jesus] invited προσκαλεσάμενος G4341 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular a little child παιδίον G3813 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular to stand ἔστησεν G2476 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτὸ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular vvv ἐν G1722 Preposition vvv αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural among them μέσῳ G3319 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular
Verse 3

Original words

Truly Ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction He said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular unless ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb you change στραφῆτε G4762 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction become γένησθε G1096 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 2nd Person Plural like ὡς G5613 Adverb - τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural little children παιδία G3813 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb you will never enter εἰσέλθητε G1525 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείαν G932 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανῶν G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 4

Original words

Therefore οὖν G3767 Conjunction whoever ὅστις G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular humbles ταπεινώσει G5013 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular himself ἑαυτὸν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular like ὡς G5613 Adverb this τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular little child παιδίον G3813 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular - οὗτός G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular greatest μείζων G3173 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείᾳ G932 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανῶν G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 5

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction whoever ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction welcomes δέξηται G1209 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular a ἓν G1520 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular little child παιδίον G3813 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular like this τοιοῦτο G5108 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular in ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular name ὀνόματί G3686 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular welcomes δέχεται G1209 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Me ἐμὲ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Verse 6

Original words

But δ’ G1161 Conjunction if ἂν G302 Particle anyone Ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular causes σκανδαλίσῃ G4624 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular one ἕνα G1520 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular of these τούτων G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural little ones μικρῶν G3398 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural who τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural believe πιστευόντων G4100 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural in εἰς G1519 Preposition Me {to stumble} ἐμέ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular it would be better συμφέρει G4851 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular for him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular to have ἵνα G2443 Conjunction a large ὀνικὸς G3684 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular millstone μύλος G3458 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular hung κρεμασθῇ G2910 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular around περὶ G4012 Preposition his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular neck τράχηλον G5137 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction to be drowned καταποντισθῇ G2670 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular depths πελάγει G3989 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular of the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular sea θαλάσσης G2281 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 7

Original words

Woe Οὐαὶ G3759 Interjection to the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular world κόσμῳ G2889 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular for ἀπὸ G575 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural causes of sin σκανδάλων G4625 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural - γὰρ G1063 Conjunction [These] τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural stumbling blocks σκάνδαλα G4625 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural must ἀνάγκη G318 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular come ἐλθεῖν G2064 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active but πλὴν G4133 Conjunction woe οὐαὶ G3759 Interjection to the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular man ἀνθρώπῳ G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular through δι’ G1223 Preposition whom οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular [they] σκάνδαλον G4625 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular come ἔρχεται G2064 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 8

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction If Εἰ G1487 Conjunction your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular hand χείρ G5495 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular or G2228 Conjunction your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular foot πούς G4228 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular causes you to sin σκανδαλίζει G4624 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular cut it off ἔκκοψον G1581 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular . . . αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction throw it away βάλε G906 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular . . . ἀπὸ G575 Preposition . . . σοῦ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular It is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular better καλόν G2570 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular for you σοί G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular to enter εἰσελθεῖν G1525 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular life ζωὴν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular crippled κυλλὸν G2948 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction lame χωλόν G5560 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular than G2228 Conjunction to have ἔχοντα G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular two δύο G1417 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural hands χεῖρας G5495 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural [and] G2228 Conjunction two δύο G1417 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural feet πόδας G4228 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural [and] be thrown βληθῆναι G906 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular eternal αἰώνιον G166 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular fire πῦρ G4442 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 9

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular eye ὀφθαλμός G3788 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular causes you to sin σκανδαλίζει G4624 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular gouge it out ἔξελε G1807 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular . . . αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction throw it away βάλε G906 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular . . . ἀπὸ G575 Preposition . . . σοῦ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular It is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular better καλόν G2570 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular for you σοί G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular to enter εἰσελθεῖν G1525 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular life ζωὴν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular with one eye μονόφθαλμον G3442 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular than G2228 Conjunction to have ἔχοντα G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular two δύο G1417 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural eyes ὀφθαλμοὺς G3788 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural [and] be thrown βληθῆναι G906 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular fire πυρός G4442 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular of τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular hell γέενναν G1067 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or the hell of fire; Greek the Gehenna of fire

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.