Mark 9:37

37 "¹Whoever * receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever * receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me."

Mark 9:37 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 9:37

Whosoever shall receive one of such children
That is, any believer, who is like to such a child for humility, meekness, and lowliness of mind; and so the Syriac version renders it, (aylj) (anh Kya) , "one like to this child": and so the Arabic and Persic versions; for it cannot be thought that Christ's meaning is, that whoever takes up any little child, embraces, and takes notice of it, as he did, does what is after related; but that whoever shows respect, and performs the least office of love and kindness to the meanest believer, comparable to a little child, for the above excellent qualities, and he does this, says Christ,

in my name;
on account that he belongs to Christ, is one of his, bears his image, partakes of his grace, is loved by him, and shall be glorified with, him: such is Christ's great regard to his humble followers, that he takes it all one as if done to himself:

he receiveth me;
this humble believer, being a member of his, and like unto him, and respected by him;

and whosoever shall receive me;
Christ, in any of his members:

receiveth not me;
that is, not him only; for he does receive him, otherwise there would be a contradiction in the words; but his meaning is, that he does not hereby receive him, by receiving one of his, nor him so much, as his Father:

but him that sent me;
for as showing respect to one of Christ's members, is showing respect to him; so showing respect to Christ, is showing respect to his Father, from whence he came, by whom he was sent, in whose name he acted, and whose work and service he was concerned in.

Mark 9:37 In-Context

35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."

36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,

37 "Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me."

38 John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us."

39 But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 10:40; Luke 10:16; John 13:20

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "one of such children"