An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”
49 Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
The disciples have just heard Jesus tell them that “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men” (Luke 9:44). Earlier, He had taught them that anyone who wishes to follow Him must deny himself and take up his cross daily (Luke 9:23). Immediately after Luke tells us that the disciples do not understand Jesus’ words about His coming suffering, an argument arises among them about which of them is the greatest.
Jesus knows what is happening within their hearts. Rather than simply telling them to stop arguing, He takes a child and places the child beside Him. In the society of that time, a child possessed little status or power. By placing the child at His side, Jesus gives the disciples a visible lesson about greatness in the Kingdom of God: greatness is found not in rank or recognition, but in receiving and serving those who are lowly.
He tells them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” To receive the child “in my name” means to welcome the child for Jesus’ sake, as His disciple. Jesus identifies Himself with the lowly person who is welcomed. Therefore, in receiving such a person, the disciple receives Jesus Himself; and in receiving Jesus, he receives the Father who sent Him (see Luke 10:16; John 13:20).
Jesus then gives the principle that overturns the disciples’ struggle for rank: “the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Greatness in God’s Kingdom is measured by humility and service rather than by prestige, recognition, or control. Jesus will return to this lesson when another dispute over greatness arises among the apostles: “let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant” (Luke 22:26). Jesus Himself is their example: “I am among you as the one who serves” (Luke 22:27). This teaching reflects a theme that runs throughout Luke’s Gospel. Mary had proclaimed that God “has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly” (Luke 1:52). The disciples must learn to see greatness according to God’s measure rather than according to the ordinary human desire for position and importance.
John’s response shows that this lesson reaches beyond rivalry within the group. He tells Jesus that the disciples saw someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name and tried to stop him “because he does not follow in our company.” Their concern has shifted from who is greatest among themselves to who belongs within the boundaries of their own group. A similar incident occurred in the time of Moses. When Joshua wanted Moses to stop two men who were prophesying, Moses answered, “If only all the people of the LORD were prophets! If only the LORD would bestow his spirit on them!” (Numbers 11:29). Jesus likewise tells John, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Jesus teaches the disciples that God’s work extends beyond the boundaries they themselves recognize. The man is acting “in Jesus’ name,” and Jesus teaches His disciples to recognize the good being done rather than oppose someone simply because he is outside their own company. Luke will show this lesson developing further in Acts. When the Holy Spirit is given to Gentiles, Peter asks, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?” (Acts 10:47; see also Acts 11:17). God’s grace and His saving work are not possessions that disciples control.
The two incidents therefore belong together. The disciples first compete with one another over who is greatest, and then they try to stop someone outside their company who is acting in Jesus’ name. Jesus corrects both attitudes. The disciple of Christ seeks greatness through humble service and recognizes with gratitude the good that God accomplishes through others.
Lord Jesus, free us from the desire for recognition and teach us to serve with humility. Help us to welcome the lowly in Your name and to rejoice whenever Your saving work is being done. Amen.
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Sources and References
- The New American Bible, Revised Edition. Washington, DC: Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 2011. Notes on Luke 9:46–50.
- Hahn, Scott, and Curtis Mitch. The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010. 126.
- Casciaro, Jose Maria, gen. ed. The Navarre Bible: New Testament, Expanded Edition. Dublin: Four Courts Press; New York: Scepter Publishers, 2008. 289.
- Brown, Raymond E., Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990. 700, para. 118.
- Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2018. 190–91.
- Aguilar Chiu, Jose Enrique, et al., eds. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. New York: Paulist Press, 2018. 1064.
- Collins, John J., Gina Hens-Piazza, Barbara Reid, OP, and Donald Senior, CP, eds. The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century. 3rd fully rev. ed. London: T&T Clark, 2022. 1323–24.
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