>>510776273Matthew 18
1 At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them,
3 And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.
6 But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.
==end scripture.
Clearly, we are to become as children and accept the Word of God and not be a smart ass and think too much and twist the Word of God like the Pharisees did, for they bore false witness so as to commit murder yet dared not set foot in Fort Antonia least they become unclean before passover! Many Christians are like that to this day.
The "little ones" are all those who accept the Word of God (Jesus Christ) for what he says, not the twisted truth of the "explainers" who change the very meaning of the Lord's word.
Proud, "smart" people destroyed the word of God, sinners like Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Smyth... they all destroyed the word of God, replacing Christ with their own words, out of pride. Christ warned against this.
It was not a passage about abusing children, other than the Children of God.