Matthew 18:4 (WEB)
Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Catechism · 1
“To become a child in relation to God is the condition for entering the kingdom.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 18:3-4.
Fathers and councils · 23
John Chrysostom
“Teaching them to be lowly, and to trample under foot worldly pride, He doth receive them, and takes them in His arms, and to such as them promises the kingdom; which kind of thing He said before also.” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 3, 4.
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Tertullian
“…to their teaching and practising?—first by His own example, then by all other arguments; while He tells (them) that “the kingdom of heavens” is “children’s;” while He associates with these (children) others who, after marriage, remained (or became) virgins;” while He calls (them) to (copy) the simplicity of the…” — editor's note: See Matt. xviii. 1–4; xix. 13–15; Mark x. 13–15.
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Clement of Alexandria
“On the question arising among the apostles, “which of them should be the greater,” Jesus placed a little child in the midst, saying, “Whosoever, shall humble himself as this little child, the same shall be the greater in the kingdom of heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xviii. 4.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
The disciples seeing one piece of money paid both for Peter and the Lord, conceived from this equality of ransom that Peter was preferred before all the rest of the Apostles.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Thus they suffered a human passion, which the Evangelist denotes by saying, “At the same time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, “Who pray thee, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Ashamed to shew the…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Herein we ought to be imitators of the disciples, that when any question of doubt arises among us, and we find not how to settle it, we should with one consent go to Jesus, Who is able to enlighten the hearts of men…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Jesus seeing their thoughts would heal their ambitious strivings, by arousing an emulation in lowliness; whence it follows, “And Jesus calling a little child, set him in the midst of them.”
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He chose, I suppose, quite an infant, devoid of any of the passions.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
One whose tender age should express to them the innocence which they should have. But truly He set Himself in the midst of them, a little one who had come “not to be ministered unto, but to minister,” [Matt 20:28]…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
He calls infants all who believe through the hearing of faith; for such follow their father, love their mother, know not to will that which is evil, do not bear hate, or speak lies, trust what is told them, and…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Except ye be converted” from this ambition and jealousy in which you are at present, and become all of you as innocent and humble in disposition as you are weak in your years, “ye shall not enter into the kingdom of…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
In the understanding of grace, or in ecclesiastical dignity, or at least in everlasting blessedness.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or otherwise; “Whoso shall humble himself as this little child,” that is, whoso shall humble himself after My example, “he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” It follows, “And whoso receiveth one such little one…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Not only if ye become such yourselves, but also if for My sake you shall pay honour to other such, ye receive reward; and as the return for the honour you pay them, I entail upon you the kingdom. He puts indeed what…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
For whoever is such that he imitates Christ’s humility and innocence, Christ is received by him; and by way of caution, that the Apostles should not think, when such are come to them, that it is to themselves that…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And to make this word the rather received, He subjoins a penalty in what follows, “Whoso offendeth one of these little ones, &c.” as though He had said, As those who for My sake honour one of these, have their…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Observe that he who is offended is a little one, for the greater hearts do not take offences. And though it may be a general declaration against all who scandalize any, yet from the connection of the discourse it may…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
But how can he who has been converted, and become as a little child, be yet liable to be scandalized? This may be thus explained. Every one who believes on the Son of God, and walks after evangelic acts, is converted…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
When it is said, “It is better for him that a mill-stone be hanged about his neck,” He speaks according to the custom of the province; for among the Jews this was the punishment of the greater criminals, to drown…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
To correspond with the foregoing, He should have said here, Receiveth not Me, which were bitterer than any punishment; but because they were dull, and the before-named punishment did not move them, by a familiar…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Mystically; The work of the mill is a toil of blindness, for the beasts having their eyes closed are driven round in a circle, and under the type of an ass we often find the Gentiles figured, who are held in the…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
Otherwise; What is denoted by the sea, but the world, and what by the mill-stone, but earthly action? which, when it binds the neck in the yoke of vain desires, sends it to a dull round of toil. There are some who…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Whoso offendeth one of these little ones,” that is so humble as He would have his disciples to be, by not obeying, or by opposing, (as the Apostle says of Alexander, [margin note: 2 Tim 4:15]) “it were better for…
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Cross-references · 6
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 18:2–6 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §526.
Cited together in Catechism §526.
Cited together in Catechism §526.
Cited together in Catechism §526.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 18:2–6 (Catena Aurea).