Luke 18:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus makes the children the standard: the kingdom of God must be received as a little child receives it, or not entered at all.
What Does Luke 18:17 Mean?
'Verily I say unto you' marks the saying as solemn. Jesus lifts the moment with the infants into a rule for every adult listening: the kingdom is not achieved, negotiated, or deserved — it is received, the way a child receives everything, with open hands and unguarded trust.
A small child does not pretend to be self-sufficient; it simply takes what love gives. That posture is the only door into the kingdom — which is why the self-made find the entrance so hard, and the lowly slip in ahead of them. The verse quietly echoes the publican: empty hands are the entrance requirement, and they are the one thing anyone can bring.
Luke 18:17 in the Original Language
dechomai (δέχομαι), 'receive' -- to welcome, to accept as a gift.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 18:17
What does Luke 18:17 mean?
Jesus makes the children the standard: the kingdom of God must be received as a little child receives it, or not entered at all.