Whosoever shall receive one such child as this in my name receiveth me. And whosoever shall receive me receiveth not me but him that sent me.
και λαβων παιδιον εστησεν αυτο εν μεσω αυτων και εναγκαλισαμενος αυτο ειπεν αυτοις
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Jesus states that not only will you be greatly rewarded when you approach life with the innocence of a child, but in welcoming others in my name, you will also gain the kingdom of heaven. This is because in embracing me, you embrace the One who sent me. Witness the strength found in humility and an earnest, unpretentious spirit; it invites within us the presence of the Son and the Father, and consequently, the Holy Spirit as well.
Do not allow your brother to come into your home without first offering a prayer, for "When you see your brother, you have seen your Lord" (cf. Heb. 8:11). This is particularly important if he is a stranger, for he might be an angel in disguise (cf. Heb. 13:2). Furthermore, when your brothers welcome you, prioritize spiritual blessings over worldly indulgences.
In the end, the Lord, having already exemplified the virtue of self-humiliation by willingly accepting the stipulation that he would not pay tribute, aimed to underscore the essential nature of this quality in his disciples. He brought a child and placed it among them—traditionally believed to be Ignatius the Theologian—and said, "All of you must become like little children in spirit to truly belong to the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of the Messiah." This humility and simplicity are vital; anyone who seeks to elevate themselves above others must first humble themselves to the status of this child. The more one embraces a childlike disposition, the less one will be preoccupied with one’s own status and dignity.
In contrast, those who aspire to be first must become the last of all and the servant of everyone, as stated in Mark 10:35. The humility exhibited by the Son of Man serves as a crucial lesson on this very humility. Then, tenderly embracing the child, He further remarked, "Whoever receives this child in My name welcomes Me, just as I accept anyone who receives you—be it Peter, Andrew, Philip, or Thomas. It is not the appearance of the messenger that matters, but the name of the one who sent them. My Father regards everyone equally. So why pursue the preeminence of one over another?"
In the Gospel, Luke recounts how Jesus, understanding the inner thoughts of His disciples, imparted the teaching of humility. Mark adds that Christ arrived at a home in Capernaum and posed the question of what they were debating among themselves. When they fell silent, embarrassed by their discussion about greatness, He began to instruct them on the importance of humility. Matthew further notes that the disciples approached Jesus, asking, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" There is no apparent contradiction among these accounts. It's plausible that the disciples initially remained quiet, and subsequently, one dared to present the question that was on everyone's mind.
In response to their inquiry, Christ, as recorded by Mark, articulated a fundamental principle regarding relationships within His new kingdom: "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." He then placed a child among them and, embracing the child, emphasized that resembling children—characterized by humility, innocence, and a lack of concern for social status—is essential for true followers of the kingdom of heaven. Following this, He instructed the apostles on how they should regard children, asserting that whoever welcomes a child in His name welcomes Him, indicating that such a child is a part of His kingdom. Here, Christ also refers to literal children, who are vulnerable and without merit before God, representing the least in the kingdom. More importantly, He was directing the apostles on how to approach spiritual children, new believers who, like literal children, may struggle in their faith and have yet to grow in piety.
Jesus addressed them, saying, “If anyone desires to be first, he must be last of all and a servant of all.” Aware of their unspoken thoughts, the disciples approached Him, seeking clarity about their confusion and dispute. They inquired, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” The apostles struggled to let go of their Jewish conceptions of the Messiah's kingdom, viewing it similarly to earthly realms and wondering about their respective statuses within it. Though they had been informed that entry into the heavenly Kingdom requires one to willingly assume a position of humility on earth—serving others rather than exerting power—it's clear they had not grasped the essence of this teaching. They still sought to identify who among them would be esteemed in that kingdom.
Observing their misunderstanding and their steadfast adherence to a worldly mindset, Jesus took a child, embraced him, and remarked, “You are debating who holds the highest rank in the kingdom of heaven; you are concerned with which of my disciples will gain the most distinguished position. Your aspirations, pride, and vanity are the driving forces behind this contention. Yet, you've overlooked my lesson that only those who are humble in spirit, meek, and not filled with pride will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, free from these flaws, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Thus, whoever humbles himself like this child will be considered the greatest in that Kingdom; he will truly be my disciple. Remember this: whoever welcomes one such child in my name, provides assistance to him in his need, and serves him, is welcoming me, and since I am within the Father and the Father is within me, to receive me is to receive the Father who sent me.
As they continued towards Capernaum, a dispute arose among them regarding who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The Lord overheard their disagreement, and upon reaching the city, He inquired about their conversation on the journey. This query stirred their consciences, leading to their shame. In response, Christ took a child, set him among them, and encouraged them to embody the qualities of children—innocence, humility, and simplicity—asserting that only in this manner could they enter the kingdom of heaven. Through this poignant illustration, He reiterated the teachings He had previously shared during the Sermon on the Mount, which they had now completely overlooked.
As Blessed Theophylact notes, the disciples, still holding onto ‘human thoughts,’ engaged in a discussion as they traveled, which led the Lord to impart a significant moral teaching. Once they arrived at the house, they sought the Lord's counsel, asking, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Aware of their ambitious intentions, Jesus cautioned them, asking, “What were you discussing among yourselves on the way?” They fell silent, ashamed to admit they had debated who among them was the greatest. The Lord then positioned Himself with the twelve apostles and instructed them, “Whoever desires to be first must become the last and a servant to all.” This command, which Jesus would later clarify (Matt.
20:25-28), acknowledges the different roles and ranks within His Church, established by Him (Eph. 4:11). While it is natural to aspire for greater honor, it forbids the usurpation of others’ positions and encourages seeking elevation through humility. To further illustrate this lesson on humility, the Lord brought a child among them and, embracing it, declared, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” According to St. John Chrysostom, a child embodies qualities devoid of envy, pride, or a longing for superiority, instead possessing a virtuous simplicity and humility. These attributes, inherent in an untainted child's spirit, must be cultivated in adults, forming the essential basis of their spiritual lives. The Lord continued, stating, “Whoever humbles himself like this child will be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven,” indicating that those who adopt the humility, simplicity, and innocence of a pure soul are the true adherents of Christ’s teachings. He concluded, emphasizing that “whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me; for the least among you is the greatest.”
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 13 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS