Matthew 18:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What message does Christ convey to them? He unveils their innermost thoughts and addresses their emotions, not merely their spoken words. He called the young man and asserted, “Except ye be converted, and be as this young man, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” You are concerned, He remarks, with who ranks higher and engage in debates over status. Yet I declare, anyone who is not humble like all is unworthy of the kingdom of heaven. He illustrates this with a compelling example.

Recognizing that the desire for greatness had captivated the disciples, the Lord guided them by presenting a modest child as an example of humility.

He may have chosen a child to symbolize youth and demonstrate the essence of purity, or He may have appeared among them as a child, reflecting His purpose to serve rather than to be served, thus providing a model of humility for them to follow. Some suggest that He was referring to the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus instilled within His followers to transform their arrogance into a spirit of humility.

Mark states, "And taking a child, He set him in the midst of them," while Luke recounts, "He took a child and set him by Himself." In these acts, first, He places the child among them, then positions him beside Himself, and finally, He embraces him. Through the example of this child, He seeks to extinguish their desires.

What can be said about the Lord? He had previously demonstrated humility by consenting to pay a tax that He had no obligation to cover. Now, in His desire to emphasize the importance of humility to His genuine followers, He uncovers their inner thoughts and addresses their emotions rather than their spoken words. JESUS, having summoned a child—traditionally thought to be St. Ignatius the Theotokos—placed him among them.

Recognizing the misconception among His disciples and their fixation on traditional Jewish ideas regarding the Messiah's reign, Jesus gently took a child, embraced him, and said: "You are contending over who holds the highest rank in the kingdom of heaven; you are debating which of my followers deserves the most esteemed position there. It is ambition, pride, and vanity that are fueling your arguments. Yet you have neglected the words I spoke, that only the poor in spirit, the humble, and the meek—those devoid of pride and ambition—shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Let me remind you, unless you turn from ambition and pride to embrace humility and meekness, not only will you fail to be first in the Kingdom of Heaven, but you will also be excluded from it entirely. Unless you become like little children, innocent of such vices, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

Christ then brought the child close, positioned him beside them, and encouraged them to embody the same qualities as children—namely innocence, humility, and simplicity—stating that only in doing so could they enter the kingdom of heaven. Through this illustration, He reaffirmed the teaching He had previously shared during the Sermon on the Mount, a lesson they had seemingly neglected.

"Jesus summoned a child, representing purity and innocence, a child free from arrogance, vanity, jealousy, and discontent, embodying numerous virtues such as simplicity, humility, and serenity, without boasting about these qualities. This reflects a profound wisdom, the ability to possess admirable traits without falling into pride (Chrysostom). As noted in the later account of Nicephorus, this child was Ignatius, who would go on to become the bishop of Antioch, receiving this title in relation to the Theotokos."

To illustrate the principle of humility more clearly to his disciples, the Lord took a child, set him in their midst, and embraced him, declaring, "Amen I say to you, unless you turn - again to the same thing, i.e. to humility, from which you have deviated, and you will be like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." St. John Chrysostom explains that a child exemplifies ‘neither envy, nor vanity, nor a desire for dominance, but embodies a profound quality of simplicity, kindness, and humility.’ These characteristics, inherent to the untainted soul of a child, when reflected in an adult, acquire a moral dimension and form the essential foundation for his spiritual existence.