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Matthew 18:2-6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3 (A)and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,[a] you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 (B)Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 [b]And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

Temptations to Sin. 6 (C)“Whoever causes one of these little ones[c] who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

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Footnotes

  1. 18:3 Become like children: the child is held up as a model for the disciples not because of any supposed innocence of children but because of their complete dependence on, and trust in, their parents. So must the disciples be, in respect to God.
  2. 18:5 Cf. Mt 10:40.
  3. 18:6 One of these little ones: the thought passes from the child of Mt 18:2–4 to the disciples, little ones because of their becoming like children. It is difficult to know whether this is a designation of all who are disciples or of those who are insignificant in contrast to others, e.g., the leaders of the community. Since apart from this chapter the designation little ones occurs in Matthew only in Mt 10:42 where it means disciples as such, that is its more likely meaning here. Who believe in me: since discipleship is impossible without at least some degree of faith, this further specification seems superfluous. However, it serves to indicate that the warning against causing a little one to sin is principally directed against whatever would lead such a one to a weakening or loss of faith. The Greek verb skandalizein, here translated causes…to sin, means literally “causes to stumble”; what the stumbling is depends on the context. It is used of falling away from faith in Mt 13:21. According to the better reading of Mk 9:42, in me is a Matthean addition to the Marcan source. It would be better…depths of the sea: cf. Mk 9:42.
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Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.