SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:3
Y dijo: De cierto os digo, que si no os convirtis, y fuereis como nios, no entraris en el Reino de los cielos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:3
Verse 3. Except ye be converted] Unless ye be saved from those prejudices which are at present so baneful to your nation, (seeking a temporal and not a spiritual kingdom,) unless ye be clothed with the spirit of humility, ye cannot enter into the spirit, design, and privileges of my spiritual and eternal kingdom. The name of this kingdom should put you in mind of its nature.-1. The KING is heavenly; 2. His SUBJECTS are heavenly-minded; 3. Their COUNTRY is heavenly, for they are strangers and pilgrims upon earth; 4. The GOVERNMENT of this kingdom is wholly spiritual and divine. See on chap. iii. 2. And become as little children] i.e. Be as truly without worldly ambition, and the lust of power, as little children are, who act among themselves as if all were equal. The following saying from the Boostan of the poet Saady is very appropriate. "The hearts of infants being free from avarice, what care they for a handful of silver more than for a handful of dust?"
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. And said, verily I say unto you , etc.] You may take it for a certain truth, and what may be depended upon, that except ye be converted or turned ; from that gross notion of a temporal kingdom, and of enjoying great grandeur, and outward felicity in this world; and from all your vain views of honour, wealth, and riches, and become as little children : the Arabic renders it, as this child; that is, unless ye learn to entertain an humble, and modest opinion of yourselves, are not envious at one another, and drop all contentions about primacy and pre-eminence, and all your ambitious views of one being greater than another, in a vainly expected temporal kingdom; things which are not to be found in little children, though not free from sin in other respects, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven : ye shall be so far from being one greater than another in it, that you shall not enter into it at all; meaning his visible, spiritual kingdom, which should take place, and appear after his resurrection, upon his ascension to heaven, and pouring forth of the Spirit: and it is to be observed, that the apostles carried these carnal views, contentions, and sentiments, till that time, and then were turned from them, and dropped them; for, upon the extraordinary effusion of the Holy Spirit, they were cleared of these worldly principles, and understood the spiritual nature of Christs kingdom; which they then entered into, and took their place in, and filled it up with great success, without envying one another; having received the same commission from their Lord, and Master: so that these words are a sort of prophecy of what should be, as well as designed as a rebuke to them for their present ambition and contentions.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Christ spoke many words of his sufferings, but only one of his glory yet the disciples fasten upon that, and overlook the others. Many love to hear and speak of privileges and glory, who are willing to pass by the thoughts of work and trouble. Our Lord set a little child befor them, solemnly assuring them, that unless they were converted and mad like little children, they could not enter his kingdom. Children, when very young, do not desire authority, do not regard outwar distinctions, are free from malice, are teachable, and willingl dependent on their parents. It is true that they soon begin to sho other dispositions, and other ideas are taught them at an early age but these are marks of childhood, and render them proper emblems of the lowly minds of true Christians. Surely we need to be daily renewed in the spirit of our minds, that we may become simple and humble, a little children, and willing to be the least of all. Let us daily stud this subject, and examine our own spirits.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S αμην 281 HEB λεγω 3004 5719 V-PAI-1S υμιν 5213 P-2DP εαν 1437 COND μη 3361 PRT-N στραφητε 4762 5652 V-2APS-2P και 2532 CONJ γενησθε 1096 5638 V-2ADS-2P ως 5613 ADV τα 3588 T-APN παιδια 3813 N-APN ου 3756 PRT-N μη 3361 PRT-N εισελθητε 1525 5632 V-2AAS-2P εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF βασιλειαν 932 N-ASF των 3588 T-GPM ουρανων 3772 N-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Be converted (strafhte). The word converted has acquired a conventional religious sense which is fundamentally truthful, but the essential quality of which will be more apparent if we render literally, as Rev., except ye turn. The picture is that of turning round in a road and facing the other way.Shall not enter (ou mh eiselqhte). But the double negative is very forcible, and is given in Rev. in noise. So far from being greatest in the kingdom of heaven, ye shall not so much as enter.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:3 {Except ye turn and become} (ean me strafete kai genesqe). Third-class condition, undetermined but with prospect of determination. Straphte is second aorist passive subjunctive and genesqe second aorist middle subjunctive. They were headed in the wrong direction with their selfish ambition. "His tone at this time is markedly severe, as much as when He denounces the Pharisaism in the bud He had to deal with" (Bruce). The strong double negative ou me eiselthte means that they will otherwise not get into the kingdom of heaven at all, let alone have big places in it.
