Whoever humbles himself like this child: as a comparison of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation will immediately indicate, Good News Translation reverses the order of the two clauses in this verse. Like this child may prove difficult because it lacks an explicit comparison. Barclay (“It is the man who thinks as little of his importance as this little child”) and Phillips (“It is the man who can be as humble as this little child”) both attempt to spell out the meaning clearly, as does New American Bible (“Whoever makes himself lowly, becoming like this child”). One may also translate: “Who becomes as humble as this child” or “… as a child.”

The person who humbles himself accepts a position of low status, considers himself insignificant, or is meek. The examples of Barclay and New American Bible above are good renderings.

For greatest in the kingdom of heaven, see comments at Matthew 18.1.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .