The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven^(A)

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

² He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,^(B) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.^{(C) 4} Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.^{(D) 5} And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.^(E)

Causing to Stumble

⁶ “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.^{(F) 7} Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!^{(G) 8} If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble,^(H) cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to stumble,^(I) 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.^(J)

³³ They came to Capernaum.^(A) When he was in the house,^(B) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.^(C)

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”^(D)

³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms,^(E) he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”^(F)

Causing to Stumble

⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,^(A) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.^{(B) 43} If your hand causes you to stumble,^(C) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,^(D) where the fire never goes out.^{(E) [44] [a] 45} And if your foot causes you to stumble,^(F) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{(G) [46] [b] 47} And if your eye causes you to stumble,^(H) pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,^{(I) 48} where

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted^(K) with fire.

⁵⁰ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?^(L) Have salt among yourselves,^(M) and be at peace with each other.”^(N)

⁴⁶ An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.^{(A) 47} Jesus, knowing their thoughts,^(B) took a little child and had him stand beside him. ⁴⁸ Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.^(C) For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”^(D)

³⁴ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?^{(A) 35} It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.^(B)

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”^(C)

Sin, Faith, Duty

17 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble^(A) are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.^{(B) 2} It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones^(C) to stumble.^(D)

²⁰ Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”^(A)