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| The Parallel Passages in Mark and Luke. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
19. The Parallel Passages in Mark and Luke.
But let us consider also the like account in the other
Evangelists. Mark,5939 then, says, that
the Twelve reasoned in the way as to which of them was the
greatest. Wherefore He sat down, and called them, and teaches who
is the greatest, saying, that he who became last of all by means of his
moderation and gentleness, would as the greatest obtain the first
place, so that he did not receive the place of one who was being
ministered unto, but the place of one who ministered, and that not to
some but not to others, but to all absolutely; for attend to the words,
“If any man would be first he shall be last of all, and minister
of all.”5940 And next to
that He says, that “He,”—Jesus
to-wit—“took a little child, and set him in the midst of
His own disciples, and taking him in His arms, He said unto them,
Whosoever shall receive one of the little children in My name receiveth
Me.”5941 But what was
the little child which Jesus took and placed in His arms, according to
the deeper meaning in the passage? Was it the Holy Spirit?
And to this little child, indeed, some were likened, of whom He said,
“Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in My name
receiveth Me.” According to Luke, however, the reasoning
did not arise spontaneously in the disciples, but was suggested to them
by the question, “which of them should be
greatest.”5942 And Jesus,
seeing the reasoning of their heart, as He had eyes that see the
reasonings of hearts,—seeing the reasoning of their
heart,—without being questioned, according to Luke, “took
the little child and set him,” not in the midst alone, as Matthew
and Mark have said, but now, also, “by His side,” and said
to the disciples, not only, “Whosoever shall receive one such
little child,” or, “Whosoever shall receive one of such
little ones in My name receiveth Me,” but, now going even a step
higher, “Whosoever shall receive this little child in My name
receiveth Me.”5943 It is
necessary, therefore, according to Luke, to receive in the name of
Jesus that very little child which Jesus took and placed by His
side. And I know not if there be any one who can interpret
figuratively the word, “Whosoever shall receive this little child
in My name.” For it is necessary that each of us should
receive in the name of Jesus that little child which Jesus then took
and set by His side; for he lives as immortal, and we must receive him
from Jesus Himself in the name of Jesus; and without being separated
from him, Jesus is with him who receives the little child, so that
according to this it is said, “Whosoever shall receive this
little child in My name receiveth Me.” Then, since the
Father is inseparable from the Son, He is with him who receives the
Son. Wherefore it is said, “And whosoever shall receive Me
receives Him that sent Me.”5944 But he
who has received the little child, and the Saviour, and Him that sent
Him, is least of all the disciples of Jesus, making himself
little. But, so far as he
belittles himself, to that extent does he become great; as that very
thing, which caused him the more to make himself little, contributes to
his advance in greatness; for attend to what is said, “He that is
least among you all the same is great;” but in other manuscripts
we read, “The same shall be great.” Now, according to
Luke, “If any one shall not receive the kingdom of God as the
little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.”5945 And this expression is ambiguous; for
either it means that he who receives the kingdom of God may become as a
little child, or, that he may receive the kingdom of God, which has
become to him as a little child. And perhaps here those who
receive the kingdom of God receive it, when it is as a little child,
but in the world to come no longer as a little child; and they receive
the greatness of the perfection in the spiritual manhood, so to speak,
which perfection is manifested to all who in the present time receive
it, when it is here as a little child.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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