Lukas 9:48

48 und sprach zu ihnen: Wer dies Kind aufnimmt in meinem Namen, der nimmt mich auf; und wer mich aufnimmt, der nimmt den auf, der mich gesandt hat. Welcher aber der Kleinste ist unter euch allen, der wird groß sein.

Lukas 9:48 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 9:48

And said unto them, whosoever shalt receive this child,
&c.] Or "one such little child", as in ( Matthew 18:5 ) and so the Syriac version here, "a child like to this"; and the Arabic version, "one like to this child"; not in age, but in meekness and humility; one that is not proud and haughty, ambitious of worldly honour, and envious at the superior state of others: whoever receives such an one into his house and heart, and the Gospel he preaches,

in my name;
because he belongs to me, is sent by me, and represents me, and delivers my message:

receiveth me;
represented by him, and will be so taken:

and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth him that sent me;
(See Gill on Mark 9:37)

For he that is least among you all;
that is so, in his own opinion, and behaves as such in his conduct, who is lowly and meek, and humble; and so the Ethiopic version, rather interpreting than translating, renders it, "for he that makes himself humble, who is lesser than all"; who considers himself as the least of the apostles, and unworthy to be one, as did the Apostle Paul:

the same shall be great;
shall be highly honoured with gifts, and made greatly useful, as the above mentioned apostle was: a saying like this, the Jews have ^F21;

``every one, (wmue Nyjqmh) , "that makes himself little", for the words of the law in this world, (lwdg hven) , "shall be made great" in the world to come;''

that is, in the days of the Messiah: and again it is said by ^F23 them,

``worthy is he that makes himself little in this world, how great and high shall he be in that world!--whoever is little shall be great, and he that is great shall be little.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 T. Bab Bava Metzia, fol. 85. 2.
F23 Zohar in Num. for. 70. 1. & Tosaphta in Zohar in Gen. fol. 76. 2.

Lukas 9:48 In-Context

46 Es kam auch ein Gedanke unter sie, welcher unter ihnen der Größte wäre.

47 Da aber Jesus den Gedanken ihres Herzens sah, ergriff er ein Kind und stellte es neben sich

48 und sprach zu ihnen: Wer dies Kind aufnimmt in meinem Namen, der nimmt mich auf; und wer mich aufnimmt, der nimmt den auf, der mich gesandt hat. Welcher aber der Kleinste ist unter euch allen, der wird groß sein.

49 Da antwortete Johannes und sprach: Meister, wir sahen einen, der trieb die Teufel aus in deinem Namen; und wir wehrten ihm, denn er folgt dir nicht mit uns.

50 Und Jesus sprach zu ihm: Wehret ihm nicht; denn wer nicht wider uns ist, der ist für uns.