⁴⁶An argument started among them about who was the greatest of them.^ar ⁴⁷But Jesus, knowing their inner thoughts,^C^as took a little child and had him stand next to him. ⁴⁸He told them, “Whoever welcomes^D this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.^at For whoever is least among you—this one is great.”^au

IN HIS NAME

⁴⁹John responded,^a “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,^b and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.”^c

⁵⁰“Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.”^E^d

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Footnotes

C the thoughts of their hearts
DOr receives, throughout the verse
EOther read against us is for us

Cross references

ar Mt 18:1–5; Mk 9:33–37; Lk 22:24
as Mt 9:4
at Mt 10:40,42; Lk 10:16; Jn 13:20
au Lk 22:26
a Mk 9:38–40
b Mt 7:22; 12:27; Mk 16:17; Lk 10:17; Ac 19:13
c Nm 11:28
d Mt 12:30; Lk 11:23

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

“Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest. But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side. Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”

John said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.”

But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And an argument developed among them as to who of them might be greatest. But Jesus, because he knew the thoughts of their hearts, took hold of a child and had him stand beside him and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the one who is least among you all—this one is great.”

And John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow in company with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, because whoever is not against you is for you.”

KJV 1900King James Version

Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

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