Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 18:3

"and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 18:3 (ASV)

And said, Truly I say to you,

"And said, Truly I say to you" – to you, men or women, who think highly of yourselves and want to know who is greatest, implying that each of you thinks you are pretty good as you are.

Unless you are converted, and become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Someone said to me this morning, "This is a growing day."

"Ah!" I said, "I hope we will all grow spiritually. Which way?"

He asked, "Smaller or larger?" Let it be smaller, brethren. That will be the surest way of growth, certainly. If we can become much less today, we will be growing. We have grown up, as we call it; let us grow down today and become like little children, or else we will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The apostles were converted in one sense, but even they needed a further conversion. They needed to be converted from self-seeking to humbleness and content.

A little child has no ambitious dreams. He is satisfied with little things. He trusts. He aims not at greatness. He yields to command.

There is no entering into the kingdom of heaven but by descending from fancied greatness to real lowliness of mind and becoming as little children. To rise to the greatness of grace, we must go down to the littleness, the simplicity, and the trustfulness of childhood.

Since this was the rule for apostles, we may depend upon it we cannot enter the kingdom in any less humbling manner. This truth is verified by our Lord’s solemnly attesting word, Verily I say unto you.