Harmony of The Gospels: Topic 99

The Four Gospels arranged into a single narrative
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(99) Who Is the Greatest In the Kingdom of Heaven?

Matthew 18:1-9, Mark 9:33-50, Luke 9:46-50

      [A]At that same time, while He was in the house at Capernaum, His disciples came to Him and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

      But Jesus asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”

      They kept silent, for on the road they had argued among themselves which one of them would be the greatest.

      [B]Jesus had perceived the thought of their heart, so He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Then He called a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, [C]“Truly, I tell you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. [D]Therefore whoever will humble himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [E]And whoever receives a little child like this in my name receives me; and whoever receives me also receives Him who sent me. For he who is least among you all shall be great.”

      [F]And John said, “Master, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he does not follow us.”

      [G] “Do not forbid him,” Jesus said to John. “No one who does a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me, for he who is not against us is for us and on our side. [H]Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, truly, I tell you, he shall not lose his reward. [I]And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and be cast into the depths of the sea and drowned.

      [J]“Woe to the world because of its offenses! For indeed, offenses must come; but woe to the man through whom they come! [K]If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut them off and throw them away. It is better for you to enter life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet and be cast into hell -- the everlasting fire that shall never be extinguished -- where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’[1] [L]And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life and the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes and be cast into hell fire, [M]where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’[1] [N]For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. [O]Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”


(99) Who Is the Greatest In the Kingdom of Heaven?

Matthew 18:1-9, KJV

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.


(99) Who Is the Greatest In the Kingdom of Heaven?

Mark 9:33-50, KJV

33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. 38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part. 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. 42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.


(99) Who Is the Greatest In the Kingdom of Heaven?

Luke 9:46-50, KJV

46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, 48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. 49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.


(1) Isa. 66:24


[A] Mt 18:1, Mk 9:33-34, Lk 9:46 [B] Mt 18:2, Mk 9:35-36, Lk 9:47 [C] Mt 18:3 [D] Mt 18:4 [E] Mt 18:5, Mk 9:37, Lk 9:48 [F] Mk 9:38, Lk 9:49 [G] Mk 9:39-40, Lk 9:50 [H] Mk 9:41 [I] Mt 18:6, Mk 9:42, [J] Mt 18:7 [K] Mt 18:8, Mk 9:43-46 [L] Mt 18:9, Mk 9:47 [M] Mk 9:48 [N] Mk 9:49 [O] Mk 9:50


Harmony of The Gospels: The Four Gospels arranged into a single narrative

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