John Calvin 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)

Unless you are converted. The conversion he now speaks of must be referred to the example of little children. Previously, they had been too much accustomed to ordinary human customs; and if they were to gain their objective, they would have to pursue a completely different course.⁴⁹⁹ Everyone wished for himself the first or the second rank; but Christ does not allot even the lowest place to any man who does not lose sight of distinctions and humble himself. On the contrary, he says,

⁴⁹⁹ “Il leur est besoin de tourner bride, et de s’accoustumer a tout cela;” — “they must wheel round, and get accustomed to all this.”;” — “they must wheel round, and get accustomed to all this.”