The answer is: He who humbles himself as a little child

Matthew 18 vs 4

In Matthew 18:4, Jesus takes a surprisingly simple approach to a complex question. When asked about greatness in the kingdom of heaven, he holds a little child close and essentially flips the conventional idea on its head. Greatness isn’t about power or prestige—it’s genuinely about humility. Jesus elevated the status of children when society often sidelined them.

Here's a cool tidbit: in many Judaic traditions, children are seen as miniature adults, but Jesus' teaching points out the value of the childlike spirit—innocence, naiveté, and a pure approach to faith. He emphasizes qualities like trust and openness, ones that adults often lose as they take on social roles and expectations. The child symbolizes an important trait: the willingness to learn and accept truth without the filters of preconceptions.

Interestingly, this theme of humility echoes throughout biblical literature. Proverbs extols the value of a humble spirit (Proverbs 11:2), and James famously mentions, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Also, Jesus would later act out this principle by washing his disciples’ feet—a potent lesson in humility for his followers.

In 21st-century contexts, the call to embrace a childlike spirit can resonate powerfully: in a world so often ruled by ego and competition, perhaps the greatest victory lies in our capacity for humility and compassion. So, who really is the greatest in this shifting landscape? It might just be those who recognize the strength in being humble.