Mat 18:3 Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Christ is saying that we have to turn outselves around and turn back time, not only to become a child again, but to become a little child again in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

This is one of the many places where Christ indicated that the kingdom of heaven is a state of awareness more than it is a place.

What is the difference between a young child and an adult, or for that matter, an older child? Children llive much more "in the moment" than adults do. They do not see the world through a layer of assumptions. They accept that that they don't know anything about the world, but they are excited to discover what the world holds.

If we think about it from Christ's normal view of looking at the world as the spiritual, the physical, the mental, and the emotions, the differences are clear. Young children are more closely connected with the spiritual, that is, the magic content of the world. They see the world as inherently mysterious and miraculous.

Children don't worry about their physical needs except when they feel them. They enjoy their bodies because they allow them to interact with the world, but they don't worry about their bodies or their health.

Mentally, young children just want to learn. They are curious. It is what they don't know that interests them. Perhaps this is the biggest difference between adults and children. Adults think they know something when the truth is that our ignorance is as vast as the universe. A child is open to learning. An adult clings to what he or she knows. Children accept that they have a lot to learn. Adults do not.

Emotionally, children connect to the people who they have direct relationships with. Children have no concern about the opinions of society. One of Christ's big themes is that our social concerns blind us to what is real.



"Converted" is from strephô, which means "to turn around," "to wheel around," "to turn about," "to sprain" (as in "to turn" an ankle), "to twist," "to braid," "to give back," (return) and "to convert." It is always interesting how our words for ideas such "turn" have taken on so many of the same ancillary meanings.

"Children" is from paidion, which means "a young child."


"Enter" is from eiserchomai, which means both "to go into," "to come in," "to enter," "to enter an office," "to enter a charge," (as in court) and "to come into one's mind."