34
But they kept quiet. On the way, they had argued about which one of them was the most important person.
35
Jesus sat down and called for the Twelve to come to him. Then he said, "If you want to be first, you must be the very last. You must be the servant of everyone."
36
Jesus took a little child and had the child stand among them. Then he took the child in his arms. He said to them,
37
"Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me doesn't welcome only me but also the One who sent me."
Anyone Who Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name. We told him to stop, because he was not one of us."
39
"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me.
40
Anyone who is not against us is for us.
41
"What I'm about to tell you is true. Suppose someone gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to me. That one will certainly not go without a reward.
Leading People to Sin
42 "What if someone leads one of these little ones who believe in me to sin? If he does, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.
43
"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter God's kingdom with only one hand than to go into hell with two hands. In hell the fire never goes out.