As Humble as a Child (5/24/2026)

“Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:04).

Pride has never been the way to the heart of God, and here Jesus makes a rather startling statement to bring that point home to those who are listening to Him. Jesus is attempting to get His disciples to discard their pride, ambition, and jealousy and to put on a cloak of humility.

Their question about the “greatest in the kingdom” shows their hearts are not in the right place (verse 1). It would do no good for the disciples to go about as ministers of Jesus’ new kingdom so long as their main concern is about their position in that kingdom.

Rather Jesus’ followers must put off any distinctions of rank and become meek and lowly in heart if they are to influence the world around them to want to be a part of the kingdom. Jesus puts the idea on a level that any can understand: He says to be as humble as a child to achieve greatness in the kingdom.

That message rings just as true for us today as it did to these first century followers of Jesus: arrogance and pride will lead to spiritual failure—only humility like that of a child will bring success and will allow us to be the kind of influence on others that Jesus wants us to be.