Mark 9:33-41

English Standard Version

Who Is the Greatest?

³³ And ^(A)they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house ^(B)he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the way ^(C)they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. ³⁵ And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, ^(D)“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and ^(E)taking him in his arms, he said to them, ^37 (F)“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and ^(G)whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

^38 (H)John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone ^(I)casting out demons in your name,^[a] and ^(J)we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” ³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. ^40 (K)For the one who is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ For truly, I say to you, ^(L)whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.