Matthew 18:3

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

and said,“I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 1 Pet 2:2 : 2 And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,
  • Mark 10:14-15 : 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them,“Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
  • Matt 19:14 : 14 But Jesus said,“Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
  • 1 Cor 14:20 : 20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
  • Jas 5:19-20 : 19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, 20 he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
  • Luke 18:16-17 : 16 But Jesus called for the children, saying,“Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
  • Luke 22:32 : 32 but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
  • Ps 131:2 : 2 Indeed, I have calmed and quieted myself like a weaned child with its mother; I am content like a young child.
  • Matt 5:20 : 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!
  • John 3:3 : 3 Jesus replied,“I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
  • John 3:5 : 5 Jesus answered,“I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
  • Acts 28:27 : 27 For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.”’
  • Ps 51:10-13 : 10 Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me! 11 Do not reject me! Do not take your holy Spirit away from me! 12 Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey! 13 Then I will teach rebels your merciful ways, and sinners will turn to you.
  • 2 Pet 1:11 : 11 For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.
  • Acts 3:19 : 19 Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out,
  • Acts 14:22 : 22 They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying,“We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.”
  • John 1:51 : 51 He continued,“I tell all of you the solemn truth– you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
  • Luke 13:24 : 24 “Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
  • Matt 6:2 : 2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward!
  • Matt 6:5 : 5 Private Prayer“Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward!
  • Matt 6:16 : 16 Proper Fasting“When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward!
  • Matt 13:15 : 15 For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
  • Isa 6:10 : 10 Make the hearts of these people calloused; make their ears deaf and their eyes blind! Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, their hearts might understand and they might repent and be healed.”
  • Matt 5:18 : 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.
  • Matt 19:23 : 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples,“I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!
  • Mark 4:12 : 12 so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven.”

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Luke 18:15-18
    4 verses
    90%

    15Jesus and Little Children Now people were even bringing their babies to him for him to touch. But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them.

    16But Jesus called for the children, saying,“Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

    17I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

    18The Wealthy Ruler Now a certain leader asked him,“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

  • Mark 10:13-16
    4 verses
    88%

    13Jesus and Little Children Now people were bringing little children to him for him to touch, but the disciples scolded those who brought them.

    14But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them,“Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

    15I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

    16After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.

  • Matt 18:4-6
    3 verses
    85%

    4Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

    5And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.

    6“But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea.

  • Matt 18:1-2
    2 verses
    81%

    1Questions About the Greatest At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying,“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

    2He called a child, had him stand among them,

  • John 3:3-7
    5 verses
    78%

    3Jesus replied,“I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

    4Nicodemus said to him,“How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time, can he?”

    5Jesus answered,“I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

    6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

    7Do not be amazed that I said to you,‘You must all be born from above.’

  • Matt 19:13-14
    2 verses
    78%

    13Jesus and Little Children Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded those who brought them.

    14But Jesus said,“Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

  • Matt 18:10
    74%

    10The Parable of the Lost Sheep“See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

  • Mark 9:36-37
    2 verses
    73%

    36He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,

    37“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

  • Matt 5:20
    73%

    20For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!

  • Matt 8:11-12
    2 verses
    72%

    11I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,

    12but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

  • Mark 10:23-25
    3 verses
    71%

    23Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

    24The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them,“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

    25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

  • Matt 18:14
    71%

    14In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost.

  • Matt 3:2
    70%

    2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

  • Luke 9:47-48
    2 verses
    70%

    47But when Jesus discerned their innermost thoughts, he took a child, had him stand by his side,

    48and said to them,“Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

  • John 3:12
    70%

    12If I have told you people about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

  • Matt 19:23-24
    2 verses
    70%

    23Then Jesus said to his disciples,“I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!

    24Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.”

  • Luke 13:3
    70%

    3No, I tell you! But unless you repent, you will all perish as well!

  • John 13:33
    70%

    33Children, I am still with you for a little while. You will look for me, and just as I said to the Jewish religious leaders,‘Where I am going you cannot come,’ now I tell you the same.

  • Mark 9:42
    69%

    42“If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.

  • Luke 18:24-25
    2 verses
    69%

    24When Jesus noticed this, he said,“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

    25In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

  • Luke 17:2
    69%

    2It would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

  • Matt 11:11
    68%

    11“I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is!

  • Luke 13:5
    68%

    5No, I tell you! But unless you repent you will all perish as well!”

  • Matt 3:8
    68%

    8Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance,

  • Mark 4:12
    68%

    12so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven.”

  • 1 Cor 13:11
    68%

    11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways.

  • Matt 4:17
    67%

    17From that time Jesus began to preach this message:“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”

  • Matt 21:31
    67%

    31Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said,“The first.” Jesus said to them,“I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God!

  • Matt 23:13
    67%

    13“But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.