Matthew 18:2
New International Version
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.

New Living Translation
Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.

English Standard Version
And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them

Berean Standard Bible
Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.

Berean Literal Bible
And having summoned a child, He set it in their midst,

King James Bible
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

New King James Version
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,

New American Standard Bible
And He called a child to Himself and set him among them,

NASB 1995
And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,

NASB 1977
And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,

Legacy Standard Bible
And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,

Amplified Bible
He called a little child and set him before them,

Christian Standard Bible
He called a small child and had him stand among them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them.

American Standard Version
And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,

Contemporary English Version
Jesus called for a child to come over and stand near him.

English Revised Version
And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He called a little child and had him stand among them.

Good News Translation
So Jesus called a child to come and stand in front of them,

International Standard Version
Calling a little child forward, he had him stand among them.

Majority Standard Bible
Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.

NET Bible
He called a child, had him stand among them,

New Heart English Bible
He called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them,

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the midst of them,

Weymouth New Testament
So He called a young child to Him, and, bidding him stand in the midst of them,

World English Bible
Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jesus having called near a child, set him in the midst of them,

Berean Literal Bible
And having summoned a child, He set it in their midst,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jesus having called near a child, did set him in the midst of them,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jesus, having called a young child, set it in the midst of them,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst.

New American Bible
He called a child over, placed it in their midst,

New Revised Standard Version
He called a child, whom he put among them,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So Jesus called a little boy, and made him to stand up in the midst of them,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Yeshua called a boy and stood him in their midst.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And Jesus called a little child to him, and placed him in the midst of them,

Godbey New Testament
And Jesus calling a little child to Him, placed it in the midst of them,

Haweis New Testament
And Jesus calling a little boy, set him in the midst of them,

Mace New Testament
and Jesus called a child to him, set him in the midst of them,

Weymouth New Testament
So He called a young child to Him, and, bidding him stand in the midst of them,

Worrell New Testament
And, having called a little child to Him, He placed it in the midst of them,

Worsley New Testament
And Jesus calling to Him a little child, set it in the midst of them,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Greatest in the Kingdom
1At 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.…

Cross References
Mark 9:36-37
Then He had a little child stand among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, / “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.”

Luke 9:47-48
But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him. / And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”

Matthew 19:13-15
Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them. / But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” / And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.

Mark 10:13-16
Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. / But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. / Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ...

Luke 18:15-17
Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them. / But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. / Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

1 Corinthians 14:20
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

John 3:3
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

Galatians 4:19
My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

Psalm 131:1-2
A song of ascents. Of David. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me. / Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Isaiah 11:6
The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them.

Isaiah 28:9
Whom is He trying to teach? To whom is He explaining His message? To infants just weaned from milk? To babies removed from the breast?

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.


Treasury of Scripture

And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the middle of them,

Matthew 19:13,14
Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them…

1 Kings 3:7
And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

Jeremiah 1:7
But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

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Bidding Child Jesus Little Middle Midst Stand Young
Matthew 18
1. Jesus warns his disciples to be humble and harmless,
7. to avoid offenses,
10. and not to despise the little ones;
15. teaches how we are to deal with our brothers when they offend us,
21. and how often to forgive them;
23. which he sets forth by a parable of the king who took account of his servants,
32. and punished him who showed no mercy to his fellow servant.














Jesus invited
This action by Jesus is significant as it demonstrates His intentional teaching method. Jesus often used everyday situations and objects to convey deeper spiritual truths. By inviting a child, He sets the stage for a lesson on humility and greatness in the kingdom of heaven. This invitation is a call to attention, emphasizing the importance of what He is about to teach.

a little child
In the cultural context of the time, children were considered low in social status and without power or influence. By choosing a child, Jesus challenges the disciples' understanding of greatness and status. The child represents innocence, dependence, and humility, qualities that are essential for those who wish to enter the kingdom of heaven. This act also foreshadows the value Jesus places on the "least of these" throughout His ministry.

to stand among them
The act of placing the child among the disciples is symbolic. It visually represents the centrality of humility and childlike faith in the community of believers. This positioning among the disciples serves as a direct contrast to their previous discussions about who would be the greatest in the kingdom. It underscores the message that true greatness is found in humility and service, not in status or power. This moment is a practical demonstration of Jesus' teaching that the last shall be first, and the first shall be last (Matthew 19:30).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in the New Testament, the Son of God, who is teaching His disciples about the kingdom of heaven.

2. Little Child
Represents innocence, humility, and dependence, which Jesus uses as an example for His disciples.

3. Disciples
Followers of Jesus who are being taught about the values of the kingdom of heaven.

4. Setting
This event takes place during Jesus' ministry, likely in a house in Capernaum, where He often taught His disciples.
Teaching Points
Childlike Humility
Jesus uses a child to illustrate the humility required to enter the kingdom of heaven. Believers are called to adopt a posture of humility, recognizing their dependence on God.

Innocence and Purity
The child represents innocence and purity. Christians are encouraged to pursue purity in their thoughts and actions, striving to live lives that reflect the holiness of God.

Dependence on God
Just as a child depends on their parents, believers are to depend on God for guidance, provision, and strength. This dependence fosters a deeper relationship with God.

Teachability
Children are naturally teachable and open to learning. Christians should maintain a teachable spirit, eager to grow in their understanding of God's Word and His will for their lives.

Community and Care
Jesus' action of calling a child among the disciples highlights the importance of community and caring for the vulnerable. Believers are called to create welcoming and nurturing environments for all, especially the least among us.(2) Jesus called a little child unto him.--As the conversation was "in the house" (Mark 9:33), and that house probably was Peter's, the child may have been one of his. As in other like incidents (Matthew 19:13; Matthew 21:15-16), we may recognise in our Lord's act a recognition of the special beauty of childhood, a tender love for the gracious trust and freedom from rivalry which it shows when, as yet, the taint of egotism is undeveloped. St. Mark adds that He folded His arms round the child as in loving fondness, and, before He did so, uttered the warning words, "If any one will (wishes to) be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." A late tradition of the Eastern Church identified the child with Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, taking the name which he gave himself as passive, ???????? (Theo-phoros), "one who had been carried or borne by God." Ignatius himself, however, uses it in its active sense, "one who carries God within him."

Verse 2. - A little child. Our Lord teaches, not only by spoken parables, but by symbolical actions also. This was not a mere infant, as Christ is said to have called him unto him. A tradition, mentioned by Nicephorus ('Hist. Eccl.,' 2:35), asserts that this child was the famous martyr Ignatius. Set him in the midst of them. Taking him in his arms, as St. Mark tells. What a picture of Christ's tenderness and human love! From the boy's trustfulness and submission he draws a needed lesson for the ambitious apostles.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Jesus] called
προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesamenos)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4341: To call to myself, summon. Middle voice from pros and kaleo; to call toward oneself, i.e. Summon, invite.

a little child
παιδίον (paidion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3813: Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian.

to stand
ἔστησεν (estēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2476: A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.

among them.
μέσῳ (mesō)
Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3319: Middle, in the middle, between, in the midst of. From meta; middle (neuter) noun).


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NT Gospels: Matthew 18:2 Jesus called a little child to himself (Matt. Mat Mt)
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