Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Humility and danger

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus.

“So, then,” they said, “who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

² Jesus called a child and stood her in the middle of them.

³ “I’m telling you the truth,” he said. “Unless you turn inside out and become like children, you will never, ever, get into the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ So if any of you make yourselves humble like this child, you will be great in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And if anyone welcomes one such child in my name, they welcome me.

⁶ “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to trip up,” he went on, “it would be better for them to have a huge millstone hung around their neck and be drowned far out in the deep sea. ⁷ It’s a terrible thing for the world that people will be made to stumble. Obstacles are bound to appear and trip people up, but it will be terrible for the person who makes them come.”