What Did Jesus Mean When He Said to Become Like Children?

 Have you ever heard someone say that we should be like children because children are innocent, trusting, and naïve?

But is that what Yeshua was teaching in Matthew 18?

Sometimes, we can misunderstand Scripture when we focus on what we associate with a particular word or idea rather than examining what Jesus was actually saying.

When Yeshua spoke about becoming like children, He was addressing something that often stands in the way of our relationship with Elohim: pride.

What Did Jesus Actually Say?

“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 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. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 18:1–4 (KJV)

Notice what prompted this teaching.

The disciples asked Yeshua who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

They were concerned with greatness, position, and standing. Yet Yeshua responded by placing a child among them and teaching them about humility.

He did not tell them to become naïve or abandon their ability to think critically.

He told them to humble themselves.

The context reveals the lesson: greatness in the kingdom of heaven is not about elevating yourself above others. It begins with humility.

Pride Wants to Be Greater Than Others

Human pride can be subtle.

It is not always expressed through arrogance or boasting. Sometimes, it appears in our need to be right, our reluctance to admit when we are wrong, or our desire to be seen as more knowledgeable or important than someone else.

We can even allow pride to influence how we approach Scripture.

Instead of being willing to learn, we become determined to defend what we already believe. Instead of accepting correction, we look for reasons to justify ourselves.

But how can we grow in wisdom if we believe we already know everything?

Proverbs 11:2 (KJV) says:

“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”

Humility allows us to recognise that we still have things to learn.

It allows us to receive correction, examine our understanding, and acknowledge when we have been mistaken.

A humble person does not need to pretend to know everything. They are willing to be taught.

Childlike Humility Is Not Childish Thinking

There is an important difference between being childlike in humility and being childish in our thinking.

Yeshua was not instructing His followers to become gullible or to believe everything they were told without question.

In fact, Scripture teaches us to exercise discernment.

“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” - 1 Corinthians 14:20 (KJV)

Notice the distinction.

Paul explicitly tells believers not to remain children in their understanding. We are called to grow in discernment while remaining free from malice.

Being humble does not mean switching off your mind. It means recognising that your own understanding is not the ultimate authority.

We can question our assumptions without becoming defensive. We can seek understanding without needing to prove ourselves superior to others.

And we can stand firmly in biblical truth without allowing our pride to become more important than the truth itself.

God calls us to grow in understanding while remaining humble in heart.

Humility Requires Us to Put Our Pride Aside

One of the greatest obstacles to spiritual growth is the belief that we have nothing left to learn.

When pride takes hold, we can become more concerned with protecting our image than correcting our mistakes.

We may know Scripture, speak about God, and recognise the mistakes of others, yet struggle to acknowledge our own shortcomings.

But knowledge alone does not mean we have developed a humble heart.

James 4:6 (KJV) says:

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

This is a serious reminder.

We cannot allow pride to rule our hearts while expecting to grow closer to Elohim.

Humility requires us to examine ourselves honestly. It means being willing to submit our thinking to God's Word, even when the truth challenges what we want to believe.

It means recognising that being corrected is not the same as being defeated.

The goal is not to win every argument. The goal is to walk in truth.

Conclusion: Are You Willing to Be Taught?

When Yeshua told His disciples to become like children, He was not praising ignorance or encouraging naïvety.

He was teaching them to abandon their pursuit of greatness through pride and to humble themselves before Elohim.

A childlike attitude, in this context, means letting go of the need to elevate ourselves and recognising that we must come before God with humility.

We cannot grow spiritually if we are unwilling to learn. We cannot receive correction if we insist that we are always right. And we cannot allow God's Word to transform our thinking if we continually place our pride above His truth.

So ask yourself:

Are you approaching God's Word with a willingness to be taught, or are you only looking for confirmation of what you already believe?

True humility is not thinking that you know nothing. It is recognising that you are not above correction, and that God's wisdom is greater than your own.

That is the heart of Yeshua's teaching in Matthew 18.

https://www.yeshuachristislife.com/post/what-did-jesus-mean-when-he-said-to-become-like-children