Matthew 18:3

Dutch Statenvertaling (Importantia edition)

En zeide: Voorwaar zeg Ik u: Indien gij u niet verandert, en wordt gelijk de kinderkens, zo zult gij in het Koninkrijk der hemelen geenszins ingaan.

Wat betekent dit?

Jesus says that unless you change and become like a little child, you won't enter the kingdom of heaven. This means having innocence, humility, and dependence on God.

Uitgelegd voor kinderen

Imagine you're playing with your toys and suddenly you remember something very important: to get into the best playground ever, you have to be as sweet and simple as when you were a baby. That's what Jesus is saying here!

Historische achtergrond

Matthew wrote this Gospel around AD 80-90 for Jewish Christians. The cultural context was one of conflict between traditional Judaism and the emerging Christian faith, emphasizing humility and childlike trust in God.

Toepassing voor vandaag

A modern scenario could be a person trying to earn their way into heaven through good deeds but forgetting to have a humble heart like a child, thus missing out on true salvation.

Onderwerpen

• humility
• salvation
• faith
• childhood innocence
• kingdom of heaven
• entrance requirements

Gerelateerde verzen

• Mark 10:13-16
• Luke 9:46-50
• 1 Corinthians 13:11
• James 1:5
• Psalm 25:8

Veelgestelde vragen

Why must we become as little children?

Jesus teaches that just like a child, one should have simplicity and reliance on God's grace rather than relying on one’s own merits.

What does it mean to be 'converted' in this verse?

Being converted means undergoing a change of heart, turning away from self-reliance and towards trusting in God with pure faith.

How can adults apply this teaching practically?

Adults can practice humility by admitting their need for God’s grace and learning to trust Him as they would have done when they were young children.

Does being like a child mean we should act childish?

No, it does not imply acting childish but rather having the purity of heart and innocence in faith that children often demonstrate.