At first glance, Matthew 18:5 may seem unrelated to the earlier verses, which spoke of becoming like a child, while Jesus now speaks of receiving such a child, but both images link to the earlier question. The disciples want to be great and to stay close to Jesus, but they must rather become small and see him in the children whom he calls and leads. The disciples’ greatest ministry is in the smallest members of the church. The disciples must see that the kingdom is not about their greatness, but about welcoming the children into that kingdom. Jesus shows the children as the kingdom’s highest priority—those who obey his voice and are on the way leading to that kingdom. Among them is where he will be found. The phrase such a child
(Matthew 18:5) may also refer back to Matthew 18:3–4 and thus not mean a child in the literal sense but rather one who has the disposition needed to come to God as their abba-Father. This would imply that the text speaks of the children of God. Whoever welcomes believers, who, by worldly standards, are insignificant, with kindness and hospitality, receives Jesus himself (Matthew 10:40; Matthew 25:40). Receiving someone in Jesus’ name means receiving them for Christ’s sake and not because they are a sweet child or something of that kind. Whoever receives such a child of God opens his home for Jesus himself by acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, which brings all the blessings that Jesus has obtained. This is how the kingdom operates: bringing a glorious reward for all who obey Christ’s commands.
At first glance, Matthew 18:5 may seem to be coming out of nowhere and being disconnected from the preceding verses. Those verses spoke of becoming like a child, while Jesus here speaks of receiving such a child. Yet both images are closely linked by the introductory question. The disciples desire to be great and to remain close to the Master—but they must instead become small and learn to recognize his presence in the children whom he calls and leads. The greatest ministry field of the disciples lies among the smallest members of the body of Christ. The disciples need to learn that the kingdom is not primarily about their own honour or prominence, but rather about welcoming the children of men into that kingdom. Jesus himself here identifies the little ones as the highest priority of the kingdom of heaven—those who obey his voice and are on the road leading to that kingdom. There, among them, is where he is to be found.1
The phrase such a child
(Matthew 18:5) could refer back to Matthew 18:3–4 and as such not refer to a child in the literal sense but rather to a person who has received the disposition needed to approach God as their abba-Father. This would imply that the text speaks of the children of God and whoever welcomes these believers—people who, by worldly standards, are insignificant—with kindness and hospitality, receives Jesus himself (Matthew 10:40; Matthew 25:40).
Receiving someone in Jesus’ name means receiving them in light of the revelation of Jesus, that is, for Christ’s sake and not because the person happens to be a sweet child or something of that kind. Whoever receives such a humble child of God opens his home for Jesus himself in that it constitutes an acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, which is accompanied by all the blessings that Jesus has obtained. This is how the kingdom of God operates: that within the kingdom there is a glorious reward for those who obey Christ’s commands.2
5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,