Luke 9:46-62

English Standard Version

Who Is the Greatest?

^46 (A)An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. ⁴⁷ But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side ⁴⁸ and said to them, ^(B)“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and ^(C)whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For ^(D)he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us

^49 (E)John answered, “Master, we saw someone ^(F)casting out demons in your name, and ^(G)we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” ⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, ^(H)for the one who is not against you is for you.”

A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus

⁵¹ When the days drew near for ^(I)him to be taken up, ^(J)he set his face ^(K)to go to Jerusalem. ⁵² And ^(L)he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of ^(M)the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. ⁵³ But ^(N)the people did not receive him, because ^(O)his face was set toward Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell ^(P)fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”^{[a] 55} But he turned and rebuked them.^{[b] 56} And they went on to another village.

The Cost of Following Jesus

⁵⁷ As they were going ^(Q)along the road, ^(R)someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” ⁵⁹ To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ And Jesus^[c] said to him, “Leave ^(S)the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and ^(T)proclaim the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹ Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, ^(U)but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” ⁶² Jesus said to him, ^(V)“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”