Who will enter the kingdom of heaven? It is a question that is answered in various ways in the Bible. Paul answered it by indicating the kinds of people who will not enter the kingdom of God (1Cor.6:9-10). Jesus told Nicodemus in John chapter 3, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (See John 3:3-5).
In the passage we are considering here (Mat.18:1-5), the disciples ask Jesus a question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” However, the question Jesus answers, at least initially, is something like, “Who will enter the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus said that it is only those who are converted, and humble themselves as little children who enter the kingdom of God. In essence, it is only those who recognize their low spiritual state before God, and depend entirely upon Him who enter His kingdom. Jesus taught this in the sermon on the mount when He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Mat.5:3).
A person cannot secure a place in the kingdom of heaven because of who he is or what he has done. Those who enter the kingdom of heaven have humbled themselves before God, and depend on what Christ the Son of God did for them when He died for their sins and rose again!