Luke 9:47

47 and Jesus having seen the reasoning of their heart, having taken hold of a child, set him beside himself,

Luke 9:47 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 9:47

And Jesus perceiving the thought of their heart
Not by any words he had heard; for the dispute was on the road, as they came along behind him; but as the omniscient God, who is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, he was privy to all their ambition, and the vanity of their minds, and to all their reasonings and debates: though he was before them, and out of the reach of hearing of them: and when he came to Capernaum, after having asked them what they disputed about by the way;

he took a child and set him by him.
The Ethiopic version reads, "before them", the disciples; and Matthew and Mark say, "he set him in the midst of them"; all which were true, Jesus sitting in the midst of them; so, that the child he set by him, was in the middle of them and before them; (See Gill on Matthew 18:2).

Luke 9:47 In-Context

45 And they were not knowing this saying, and it was veiled from them, that they might not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

46 And there entered a reasoning among them, this, Who may be greater of them?

47 and Jesus having seen the reasoning of their heart, having taken hold of a child, set him beside himself,

48 and said to them, `Whoever may receive this child in my name, doth receive me, and whoever may receive me, doth receive Him who sent me, for he who is least among you all -- he shall be great.'

49 And John answering said, `Master, we saw a certain one in thy name casting forth the demons, and we forbade him, because he doth not follow with us;'