Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 18:4

"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 18:4 (ASV)

The lower down, the higher up. In a certain sense the way to heaven is downward in our own esteem certainly. He must increase; I must decrease. And when that straight-backed letter I, which often becomes so prominent, vanishes altogether, till there is not an iota of it left, then we shall become like our Lord.

In the kingdom of heaven, the least is the greatest. The most humble is the most exalted. The one who will fulfill the lowest offices for fellow believers will be highest in their esteem.

We need to endeavor to make ourselves truly lowly in mind, and if, through almighty grace, we succeed in this, we will take high degrees in the school of love.

What a kingdom this is, in which everyone ascends by willingly going down! It is wisdom for a person to humble themselves, because in this way they will escape the necessity of being humbled.

Children do not try to be humble, but they are, and the same is true for truly gracious people. The imitation of humility is sickening. The reality is attractive. May grace work this in us!