At what time did the disciples approach Jesus to ask him who the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is?
The phrase at that time
(Matthew 18:1) links back to the miracle of the temple tax in the fish, in which Peter had played a leading role (Matthew 17:24–27). Shortly before, Jesus had also called him rock
(Matthew 16:18), and had taken him, with two other disciples, up the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1). This all prompted the question of who would hold what position in the kingdom of God.
The phrase at that time
(Matthew 18:1) refers back to the discussion regarding the temple tax and the miracle of the fish, in which Peter had played a leading role (Matthew 17:24–27). Not long before that, Jesus had also called him rock
(Matthew 16:18), and had taken him, along with two other disciples, up the mountain where the transfiguration took place (Matthew 17:1). This is why the disciples were occupied with the question of who would hold what position in the kingdom of God.1
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”