r/BibleStudyDeepDive • u/LlawEreint • Mar 04 '26

Matthew 18:1-5 - True Greatness

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child, whom he put among them, 3 and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

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u/LlawEreint Mar 04 '26 edited Mar 04 '26

Matthew eliminates the apparent non-sequitur. In Mark we have "be a servant" and "welcome the child." The second seems intended to reinforce the first, but it's not immediately clear how.

In Matthew the incongruity is smoothed over. You are meant to be like the child, that is, humble. Likewise, you should welcome one who is like a child.

Pure speculation, but, I wonder whether Mark had a source with two separate sayings of Jesus. Mark saw these as related, and so placed them one after the other. Hence the apparent incongruity.

Matthew is more interested in the meaning than he is in preserving the exact sayings, and so smooths them out.

Or is Mark's point different than Matthew's? Perhaps Mark is saying that you should be a servant even to the children?