Who Is the Greatest?^(A)

³³ Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] went to Capernaum. When they went into a house there, he asked them, “What were you ·arguing about [discussing] on the road?” ³⁴ But they did not answer, because their ·argument [discussion] on the road was about which one of them was the greatest.

³⁵ Jesus sat down and called ·the twelve apostles [the Twelve] to him. He said, “Whoever wants to be ·the most important [first] must be last of all and servant of all.”

³⁶ Then Jesus took a small child and had ·him [or her; ^Cthe Greek here does not specify gender] stand among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said, ³⁷ “Whoever ·accepts [welcomes; receives] a child like this in my name [^Cas a representative or follower of Jesus] accepts me. And whoever ·accepts [welcomes; receives] me accepts [not only me, but] the One who sent me.” [^CChildren had low social status, so the saying indicates concern for the lowly.]

Who Is the Greatest?^(A)

18 At that time the ·followers [disciples] came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

² Jesus called a little child to him and stood the child before his ·followers [disciples]. ³ Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you must ·change [or turn from your sins; convert; ^Lturn] and become like little children. Otherwise, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven [^Ltherefore] is the one who makes himself humble [and becomes] like this [little] child.

⁵ “[^LAnd] Whoever ·accepts [welcomes; receives] a child ·in my name [^Cas a representative or follower of Jesus] ·accepts [welcomes; receives] me [^Cindicates concern for the lowly; children had low social status].

Who Is the Greatest?^(A)

⁴⁶ Jesus’ followers began to have an argument about which one of them ·was [would be] the greatest. ⁴⁷ Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he took a little child and stood the child beside him. ⁴⁸ Then Jesus said, “Whoever ·accepts [welcomes; receives] this little child in my name ·accepts [welcomes; receives] me [^Cchildren had low social status, so the saying indicates concern for the lowly]. And whoever ·accepts [welcomes; receives] me ·accepts [welcomes; receives] the One who sent me, because whoever is least among you all is really the greatest.”