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Matthew 18:1-4,23 - Compare All Versions

Matthew 18:1-4 NIV (New International Version)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:23 NIV (New International Version)

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Matthew 18:1-4 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:23 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

Matthew 18:1-4 NLT (New Living Translation)

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18:23 NLT (New Living Translation)

“Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.

Matthew 18:1-4 CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

At that time  , the disciples  came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ”  He called a small child and had him stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children,   you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.   Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child — this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:23 CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Matthew 18:1-4 KJV (King James Version)

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:23 KJV (King James Version)

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Matthew 18:1-4 NKJV (New King James Version)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:23 NKJV (New King James Version)

Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Matthew 18:1-5 MSG (The Message)

At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?” For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.

Matthew 18:23-25 MSG (The Message)

“The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.

Matthew 18:1-4 NASB2020 (New American Standard Bible - NASB)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him among them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:23 NASB2020 (New American Standard Bible - NASB)

“For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

Matthew 18:1-4 AMP (Amplified Bible)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” [Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48] He called a little child and set him before them, and said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:23 AMP (Amplified Bible)

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

Matthew 18:1-4 NET (New English Translation)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, had him stand among them, and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:23 NET (New English Translation)

“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.