Is become like little children prove that teachings of Christ were opposed to the dictum of knowledge?


Those sentences which are colored in orange are from Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati book Satyarth Prakash (The Light of Truth) and those which are colored in black are Jerry Thomas’s response.


"Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (18:3.)

C. If the conversion of a man by the offering of his will be the cause of his entering into heaven and his not doing so the cause of his going to hell, it is clear then that no one can take upon himself the sins or virtues of another,. And the use of the expression "except ye…..become as little children" etc., shows that most of the teachings of Christ were opposed to the dictum of knowledge and contrary to the laws of nature, and he also wished that the people should accept them like children without questioning their validity, in other words, accept them with their eyes closed.

 Plenty of Christians have blind faith like children, otherwise why should they believe in such things as are opposed to reason and science. It is also clear that had not Christ himself been destitute of knowledge and understanding like children, he would not have taught other to become as children, since a man always wants to make others like himself.


Answer: Once again, Maharishi makes the erroneous interpretation and application though the text itself is very clear.

First, conversion is the acceptance of LORD Jesus Christ as the personal savior. The Bible does not teach that everyone will go to heaven due the atonement death of LORD Jesus Christ but only those who accepted the atonement death of LORD Jesus Christ. So, this no way contradicts the concept of atonement death of LORD Jesus Christ.

The passage starts with the question of who is the greatest among the Kingdom of heaven to which the LORD Jesus Christ told this and explained further by the importance of the least. The child like nature here refers to humbling ourselves than being ignorant.

Matthew 18:1-10 “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,  and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!  "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast [it] from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.  And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast [it] from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 

Who except one whose methods are against the dictum of knowledge can conclude that LORD Jesus Christ taught us to be ignorant.