While on the way to “the house” in Capernaum (likely the home of Peter and Andrew), the disciples argued about who among them was the greatest. After Jesus and the disciples entered the house, he brought up the subject of greatness. Although he was fully aware of their discussion among themselves, he asked them what they had argued about on the road. They appear to have been embarrassed about the incident and did not respond. (Mark 9:33, 34; Luke 9:46; see the Notes section regarding Matthew 18:1.)

Jesus then used the opportunity to teach them about the meaning of greatness in the “kingdom of the heavens,” the realm where his Father is Sovereign. He seated himself and invited the twelve apostles to come to him. In the “kingdom of the heavens,” greatness differed markedly from the kingdoms of the world, where those in positions of prominence and power issued commands and had inferiors serve them. On account of the environment in which they had grown up, the apostles shared this view of greatness. According to Luke 9:47, Jesus knew the “reasoning of their heart,” suggesting that their understanding of greatness reflected their inmost thoughts. Therefore, it must have been very startling for them to hear Jesus’ explanation of greatness. Anyone who wanted to be first or occupy the foremost position would have to conduct himself as being “last of all” or the most insignificant and make himself the “servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

To provide the apostles with an object lesson about true greatness, Jesus asked a child in the home to come to him. This may have been Peter’s son and, therefore, a youngster whom the apostles knew. The boy would have been an example of the essential attributes Jesus wanted his disciples to associate with greatness in God’s kingdom. In expression of his affection for the boy, Jesus had him stand beside him and put his arms around him. (Matthew 18:2; Mark 9:36; Luke 9:47)

After focusing attention on the youngster, Jesus solemnly declared with an introductory “amen” (truly) that, if the disciples did not “turn” or change and become like children, they would not enter the kingdom of the heavens. They needed to rid themselves of all feelings of superiority and reflect the lowly spirit of a child that recognizes and is responsive to parental and other adult authority. (Matthew 18:3) The person who would humble himself, proving himself to be like a responsive, unassuming child would be truly great in the kingdom of God. Moreover, whoever, in Christ’s “name,” received or welcomed such a child or a person manifesting the disposition of an unassuming youngster would be regarded as having welcomed God’s Son and, therefore, also his Father who had sent him. This welcoming in Christ’s name would denote doing so because of recognizing the individual as one who belonged to the Son of God. Jesus’ teaching revealed that the one who made himself the most serviceable or the least one through unassuming laboring for others would prove himself to be great. (Matthew 18:4, 5; Mark 9:37; Luke 9:48; see the Notes section regarding Matthew 18:6.)

Notes:

According to Matthew 18:1, the disciples approached Jesus with the question about who would be the greatest in the “kingdom of the heavens.” In Luke 9:47, this question is represented as a “reasoning of their heart,” and Mark 9:34 indicates that they remained silent about their argument regarding greatness. Thus both Luke 9:47 and Mark 9:34 suggest that the disciples would have wanted to ask Jesus about greatness but were apprehensive about doing so. Therefore, in view of Jesus’ awareness of their unspoken question, Matthew 18:1 could appropriately refer to the disciples as having raised it.

Based on Matthew 18:6 alone, one could conclude that Jesus’ point about stumbling others or giving occasion for offense was part of the discussion relating to greatness. This is, however, not the case. While preserving the content of Jesus’ teaching, Matthew’s condensed account does not include John’s remark, which, according to Mark 9:38 and Luke 9:49, preceded the comments about stumbling.