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.

Temptations to Sin

^42 (M)“Whoever causes one of ^(N)these little ones who believe in me to sin,^{[b] (O)}it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. ^43 (P)And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to ^(Q)hell,^[c] to ^(R)the unquenchable fire.^{[d] 45 (S)}And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into ^(T)hell. ^47 (U)And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into ^(V)hell, ⁴⁸ ‘where ^(W)their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire.^{[e] 50 (X)}Salt is good, ^(Y)but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? ^(Z)Have salt in yourselves, and ^(AA)be at peace with one another.”

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.”