Matthew 18:1
New International Version
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

New Living Translation
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

English Standard Version
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Berean Standard Bible
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Berean Literal Bible
In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens?"

King James Bible
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

New King James Version
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

New American Standard Bible
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

NASB 1995
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

NASB 1977
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Legacy Standard Bible
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Amplified Bible
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Christian Standard Bible
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

American Standard Version
In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And in that hour the disciples approached to join Yeshua and they were saying, “Who is truly the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Contemporary English Version
About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Douay-Rheims Bible
AT that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?

English Revised Version
In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

Good News Translation
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, asking, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"

International Standard Version
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom from heaven?"

Literal Standard Version
At that hour the disciples came near to Jesus, saying, “Who, now, is greater in the kingdom of the heavens?”

Majority Standard Bible
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

New American Bible
At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

NET Bible
At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

New Revised Standard Version
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

New Heart English Bible
In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

Webster's Bible Translation
At the same time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

Weymouth New Testament
Just then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who ranks higher than others in the Kingdom of the Heavens?"

World English Bible
In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Young's Literal Translation
At that hour came the disciples near to Jesus, saying, 'Who, now, is greater in the reign of the heavens?'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Greatest in the Kingdom
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.…

Cross References
Matthew 18:2
Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.

Mark 9:33
Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?"

Luke 9:46
Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

Luke 22:24
A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest.


Treasury of Scripture

At the same time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

the same.

Mark 9:33
And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

Who.

Matthew 20:20-28
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him…

Matthew 23:11
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Mark 9:34
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

in.

Matthew 3:2
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 5:19,20
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven…

Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Jump to Previous
Disciples Greater Greatest Heaven Heavens Higher Hour Jesus Kingdom Others Ranks Reign Time
Jump to Next
Disciples Greater Greatest Heaven Heavens Higher Hour Jesus Kingdom Others Ranks Reign Time
Matthew 18
1. Jesus warns his disciples to be humble and harmless,
7. to avoid offenses,
10. and not to despise the little ones;
15. teaches how we are to deal with our brothers when they offend us,
21. and how often to forgive them;
23. which he sets forth by a parable of the king who took account of his servants,
32. and punished him who showed no mercy to his fellow servant.














XVIII.

(1) Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?--St. Mark records more fully that they had disputed about this in the way, that our Lord, knowing their thoughts (Luke 9:47), asked them what had been the, subject of their debate, and that they were then silent. We may well believe that the promise made to Peter, and the special choice of the Three for closer converse, as in the recent Transfiguration, had given occasion for the rival claims which thus asserted themselves. Those who were less distinguished looked on this preference, it may be, with jealousy, while, within the narrower circle, the ambition of the two sons of Zebedee to sit on their Lord's right hand and on His left in His kingdom (Matthew 20:23), was ill-disposed to concede the primacy of Peter.

Verses 1-35. - Discourse concerning the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and the mutual duties of Christians. (Mark 9:33-50; Luke 9:46-50.) Verses 1-4. - The greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Verse 1. - At the same time; literally, in that hour. The narrator connects the following important discourse with the circumstances just previously related. Peter had completed the business of the didrachma, and had rejoined the body of disciples. These, according to St. Mark, had disputed about precedency on the way to Capernaum. Fired with the notion that their Master would ere long publicly assert his Messianic claims, which, in their view, implied temporal sovereignty and secular power, they looked forward to becoming dignitaries in this new kingdom. Three of them had been honoured with special marks of favour; one of them had been pre-eminently distinguished: how would it be when the coming empire was established? This had been the subject of conversation, and had given rise to some contention among them. Christ had marked the dispute, but had said nothing at the time. Now he gives them a lesson in humility, and teaches the spiritual nature of his kingdom, in which earthly pride and ambition find no place. From St. Mark we learn that Jesus himself took the initiative in the discourse, asking the disciples concerning their disputation on the road; and, when they were ashamed to answer, he added, "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." Our Gospel here takes up the story. The paradox seemed incomprehensible; so they put the question, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? The Greek is, Τίς ἄρα μαίζων ἐστὶν κ.τ.λ.; who then is greater? Vulgate, Quis, putas, major est? The illative particle "then" refers to what is recorded in St. Mark (Mark 9:34), or to some such difficulty in the querists' mind. They make the inquiry in the present tense, as though Christ had already selected the one who was to preside; and by the kingdom of heaven they mean the Messianic kingdom on earth, concerning which their notions did not yet rise above those of their contemporaries (comp. Acts 1:6). The comparative in the original, "greater," is virtually equivalent to the superlative, as it is translated in the Authorized Version. Such a question as the above could not have been asked had the apostles at this time recognized any absolute pre-eminence in Peter or acknowledged his supremacy.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
At
Ἐν (En)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

that
ἐκείνῃ (ekeinē)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1565: That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.

time
ὥρᾳ (hōra)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5610: Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

disciples
μαθηταὶ (mathētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

came
προσῆλθον (prosēlthon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4334: From pros and erchomai; to approach, i.e. come near, visit, or worship, assent to.

to Jesus
Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

[and] asked,
λέγοντες (legontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“Who
Τίς (Tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

then
ἄρα (ara)
Conjunction
Strong's 686: Then, therefore, since. Probably from airo; a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive.

is
ἐστὶν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[the] greatest
μείζων (meizōn)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

kingdom
βασιλείᾳ (basileia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.

of
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

heaven?”
οὐρανῶν (ouranōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.


Links
Matthew 18:1 NIV
Matthew 18:1 NLT
Matthew 18:1 ESV
Matthew 18:1 NASB
Matthew 18:1 KJV

Matthew 18:1 BibleApps.com
Matthew 18:1 Biblia Paralela
Matthew 18:1 Chinese Bible
Matthew 18:1 French Bible
Matthew 18:1 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Matthew 18:1 In that hour the disciples came (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 17:27
Top of Page
Top of Page