Matthew 18:1-6:
18:1In that hour the learning-disciples came-towards Jesus saying, “Who consequently is greater in the kingdom of the heavens?” .2And having called a young-child towards-himself he caused it to-stand in their midst .3and he said, “With-certainly I say to you, except you may be turned and you may become as the young-children you may never go into the kingdom of the heavens; .4therefore he-who will humble himself as this young-child this-person is the greater in the kingdom of the heavens, .5and who if-ever may accept one young-child of-this-kind on my name he accepts me; .6but who ever may offend one of these small-ones, the (small-ones) believing into me, it contributes to him in order that a donkey-millstone may be hung around his neck and he may be caused-to-sink in the open-area of the sea.
During that hour, following the events recorded in chapter 17 having arrived in Capernaum, the learning-disciples (students) came towards Jesus saying, “Who consequently is greater in the kingdom of the heavens (correspondingly who is comparatively larger in importance, etc, within the sphere of action of God’s kingdom, from God’s viewpoint)?” The kingdom of the heavens = the kingdom of God / God's kingdom. The word "kingdom" refers to all that is contained within God's sovereignty, His kingly or royal dominion and government and rule and territory and power, etc. The words "the heavens" literally refer to the areas above the earth, but figuratively refer to God's spirit realm. The usage of the plural form "heavens" gives great emphasis and expansive greatness to God's kingdom.
And when Jesus invited a young-child towards himself, he made it stand in the middle of them and he said, “With-certainly (amen, surely, truly!) I say to you, except (unless it would ever happen that) you may be turned (towards my invitation, the call from me) and you may become as the young/little children (and you would cause yourselves to become in comparison to the young children who respond appropriately to my calling them) you may never go into the kingdom of the heavens (double negative in the Greek for emphasis: not not = never go from outside into the inside of God's kingdom).”
“Therefore (following-on logically from what I have just spoken) he who will humble himself as this young-child (who will actively bring himself to lowliness, cause himself to be in a position of humbleness with respect to what God says, and I say what God tells me to say, in comparison to this little child who came to me when I called him and allowed me to cause him to stand here in our midst), this-person is the greater in the kingdom of the heavens….” Here, Jesus uses the comparison of the young child in their midst to a person who humbles himself relative to what God says which is what Jesus says also. This is the kind of person who is comparatively greater within the sphere of action of God’s kingdom from God’s viewpoint, than those people who do not humble themselves.
Jesus continues, “…and who if-ever may accept one young-child of-this-kind on my name he accepts me (who, if it should ever happen, would welcome, subjectively receive one little child of this sort, such a child being a person who humbles himself, resting or based upon my name – he accepts me).” A name is a word or phrase given to a person, etc, to be called and known-by, in order to designate and describe the distinguishing and distinctive constitution, character, quality, workings, etc. When the Scriptures talk about something being done resting/based on the name of someone or something else, we ought to understand that it incorporates the fullness of everything involved with the one named, here it is the name of Jesus (Matthew 1:21) who is the Lord and the Christ (Acts 2:36). Jesus is not talking about literally accepting little children – Jesus is saying that anyone who would accept a humble-person (humble relative to God and Jesus), basing his acceptance upon the name of Jesus Christ, would be accepting Jesus himself – not literally of course, but from God’s and Jesus’ viewpoint his acceptance would be the same, and it will be judged as such by them.
“But who ever may offend one of these small-ones, emphatically the small-ones presently and actively believing into me (who ever would cause one of these small-ones to stumble, would be a trap-stick as when bait is attached and if it is struck or hit against it springs the trap hurting these small-ones, small in the sense of not having a title or a great name or position in the community but who believe, have faith-in, trust into or regarding me whereby I am the object of their belief, including what I say and do), it contributes to him (it brings together or confers help and benefit to him, it is conducive to his well-being) for the purpose and result that a donkey-millstone may be hung around his neck and he may be caused to sink in the open-area of the sea.”
The donkey millstone (a millstone pertaining to a donkey/ass) refers to a very large and heavy millstone used to grind wheat, corn, etc. Usually two millstones were used – the lower stone was smaller and stationary, but the top stone was larger with a hole in the middle to allow the wheat to be poured in and then it was moved round and round by a donkey if it was very large and heavy (if it was small and comparatively light, then the women would do this work). The open sea refers to that part of the sea that is far from land and deep and therefore a person could not pull himself out from it on his own.
[Reference: Matthew 5:19 and 20, 10:40; Mark 9:33-42; Luke 9:46-48; Philippians 2:5-11.]
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