33
So they came to Capernaum; and when in the house He asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?"
34
But they remained silent; for on the way they had debated with one another who was the chief of them.
35
Then sitting down He called the Twelve, and said to them, "If any one wishes to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."
36
And taking a young child He made him stand in their midst, then threw His arms round him and said,
37
"Whoever for my sake receives one such young child as this, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not so much me as Him who sent me."
38
"Rabbi," said John to Him, "we saw a man making use of your name to expel demons, and we tried to hinder him, on the ground that he did not follow us."
39
"You should not have tried to hinder him," replied Jesus, "for there is no one who will use my name to perform a miracle and be able the next minute to speak evil of me.
40
He who is not against us is for us;
41
and whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, I solemnly tell you that he will certainly not lose his reward.
42
"And whoever shall occasion the fall of one of these little ones who believe, he would be better off if, with a millstone round his neck, he were lying at the bottom of the sea.
43
If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off: it would be better for you to enter into Life maimed, than remain in possession of both your hands and go away into Gehenna, into the fire which cannot be put out.