Mark 9:33-37 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 9:30-40

Here, I. Christ foretels his own approaching sufferings. He passed through Galilee with more expedition than usual, and would not that any man should know of it (Mark 9:30); because he had done many mighty and good works among them in vain, they shall not be invited to see them and have the benefit of them, as they have been. The time of his sufferings drew nigh, and therefore he was willing to be private awhile, and to converse only with his disciples, to prepare them for the approaching... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 9:32-35

9:32-35 So they came to Capernaum. When Jesus was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" They remained silent. for on the road they had been arguing with each other who was to be greatest. So Jesus sat down, and called the Twelve, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to be first, he must be the last of all, and the servant of all." Nothing so well shows how far the disciples were from realizing the real meaning of Jesus' Messiahship as this does. Repeatedly... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 9:36-37

9:36-37 Jesus took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And he took him up in the crook of his arm and said to them, "Whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me, but him who sent me." Jesus is here still dealing with the worthy and the unworthy ambition. He took a child and set him in the midst. Now a child has no influence at all; a child cannot advance a man's career nor enhance his prestige; a child cannot... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 9:33

And he came to Capernaum ,.... Where he met with the collectors of the tribute money, and paid it to them, as related by Matthew, Matthew 17:24 , though Mark takes no notice of it. The Vulgate Latin and the Syriac versions, read in the plural number, "they came"; Christ and his twelve apostles; and which is the sense of the words, read in the singular number; for Christ came not alone, but with his disciples: and being in the house ; of Simon and Andrew, very likely where he used to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 9:34

But they held their peace ,.... Fearing a reprimand, for their vanity and affectation of worldly grandeur: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest ; that is, who should be advanced to the highest post, and have the greatest place of authority, honour, and dignity, in the temporal kingdom of the Messiah, they expected would be in a little time set up; for notwithstanding what Christ had said to them, concerning his being given up to the power of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 9:35

And he sat down ,.... As their master, as one having authority; and in order to examine into this matter, and pass judgment upon it: and called the twelve ; all the disciples, who though they might not be all engaged in this dispute, nor equally criminal, yet were all, possessed of the same notion; and therefore Christ calls them all unto him, what he had to say, being pertinent unto them all: and saith unto them, if any man desire to be first ; to have the pre-eminence, and be in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 9:36

And he took a child ,.... Which was in the house, and which he called unto him, and set by him, as the other evangelists observe: and set him in the midst of them ; his disciples, that all might see and learn from this instance; and when he had taken him in his arms ; and embraced him, to show his great regard to humility, and humble persons: he said unto them ; the following words. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 9:37

Whosoever shall receive one of such children ,.... That is, any believer, who is like to such a child for humility, meekness, and lowliness of mind; and so the Syriac version renders it, טליא איך הנא , "one like to this child": and so the Arabic and Persic versions; for it cannot be thought that Christ's meaning is, that whoever takes up any little child, embraces, and takes notice of it, as he did, does what is after related; but that whoever shows respect, and performs the least... read more

Adam Clarke