Matthew 18:1
Matthew 18:11At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
receives little JW commentary; it is treated as the narrative setup for the disciples' question about greatness in the Kingdom, with Jesus's reply (vv. 2-5) emphasising childlike humility. JW publications use the passage devotionally rather than apologetically; the question of structural authority within the church is handled elsewhere via Acts 15.
Matthew 18 is one of the New Testament's clearest pictures of how disputes are actually meant to be handled in the church — and the picture is decentralised, local, and Scripture-anchored. Pair with vv. 15-20 (the pattern for handling sin in the church: one-on-one first, then with witnesses, then before the assembly), and with (Paul rebuking Peter publicly even after the Acts 15 council). The New Testament's actual model of authority is local elders accountable to their congregations, mutual correction even between apostles, and ultimate appeal to Scripture. The Watchtower's "Acts 15 as template for a perpetual Governing Body" reading makes Acts 15 do work the rest of the New Testament refuses.