John Calvin 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)

Whosoever shall humble himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. This is intended to guard us against supposing that we degrade ourselves in any way by freely surrendering every kind of distinction. And from this we may obtain a short definition ⁵⁰⁰ of humility. That man is truly humble who neither claims any personal merit in the sight of God, nor proudly despises fellow believers, or aims at being thought superior to them, but considers it enough that he is one of the members of Christ, and desires nothing more than that the Head alone should be exalted.

⁵⁰⁰ “La vraye definition;” — “the true definition.”;” — “the true definition.”