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In Matthew, Jesus says his disciples must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. The Shepherd of Hermas has a similar picture, ranking believers who stay like infants without deceit as the most glorious in God's sight.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Matthew 18:3
New Testament
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child, had him stand among them, 3 and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! 4 Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea.
Shepherd of Hermas 106:3
Early Christian
1 “And from the twelfth mountain, which was white, those who believed are people like this: they are like infants into whose hearts no deceit enters, and they have not learned what wickedness is, but have always remained like infants. 2 People like this live in God’s kingdom without question, because they did not defile the commandments of God in any way, but continued as children all their days with the same mind. 3 So all of you,” he said, “who remain like infants, without deceit, will be more glorious than all those mentioned before; for all infants are glorious in God’s sight, and come first in His sight. So blessed are all of you who have rid yourselves of wickedness and have clothed yourselves in innocence; you will live for God first of all.”
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Notes and References
“... The twelfth mountain is all white and from it come the innocents, a vision of an ideal church and ideal believers with which Hermas is not dealing directly. [...] It is something of a puzzle that Hermas would interject such an ideal at the end of a heartening portrayal of real people with real problems, except that perhaps he thought he had to say it under the influence of the Christian ideal of childlike innocence. [...] Then, surprisingly in view of the previous verses, such people will have first priority in heavenly life [...] rather than the martyrs of the previous chapter. [...] Matt 18:3-6, 10; Mark 9:36-37; Luke 9:47-48; 1 Pet 2:1-2. ...”
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