Mark 9:37 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."

NIV: "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

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

CSB: "Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me."

NLT: Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.'

KJV: Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

NKJV: “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

Shortly after Jesus again tells the disciples He will die and be raised (Mark 9:30–32), He finds them squabbling about what the hierarchy of power will look like when He defeats the Romans and establishes His kingdom. He explains to them that their perspective is wrong. A leader doesn't seek power. A leader seeks ways to help those who have no power, like children.

"Receive" is from the Greek root word dechomai. One of the definitions is to be willing to accept someone's company; the New International Version uses "welcome." While the disciples argue over who is greatest, Jesus tells them to take interest in the most vulnerable who can do nothing for them. When He says that whoever receives a child receives Him, He is saying that He—God—arranges such circumstances as opportunities for us to act in faith and obedience.

It is good to receive and care for children; it is best to do so in Jesus' name. To act in Jesus' "name" means to act as His representative by doing something He would do in the way He would do it. "In Jesus' name" isn't a way to click "send" on a prayer. It is meant to convey a submission of the act or desire to the will and authority of Christ.

Luke 14:16–24 gives a practical reason for Jesus' exhortation to accept the powerless: they are the ones who will come. In the Parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus describes a man who throws a party and invites many respectable friends. One by one, the friends give their excuses. When he realizes no one will come, the man tells his servants to go "to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled" (Luke 14:23).

Mark 9:33–37 relates an argument about who is the most significant of Jesus' followers. This opens the door for a discussion on who His followers will be and what will be expected of them. While the disciples value position, Jesus values the lowly, the trusting (Mark 9:39–40), the protective (Mark 9:42), the disciplined (Mark 9:43–47), and those who are refined, consistent, and able to work together without arguing who is greatest (Mark 9:49–50). This section is also recorded in Matthew 18:1–6 and Luke 9:46–48.

Mark chapter 9 contains an account of Jesus' transfiguration, where three of the disciples witness Him in a glorified form. In this passage, Jesus also heals a demon-possessed boy. His teachings in this section include a prediction of His death and resurrection, and corrections to the disciples' errors on questions of pride and temptation.

Mark 9 continues Jesus' efforts to teach the disciples who He is, what He has come to do, and what their role is in His mission. The chapter begins with the transfiguration, where Peter, James, and John catch a glimpse of Jesus' glory, and ends back in Capernaum. Jesus spends most of that time teaching. Although the disciples do quarrel with the scribes, the misconceptions and errors Jesus addresses come from the disciples, themselves, not outsiders. In the next chapter, He will leave Galilee and travel toward Jerusalem and the cross.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.