Luke 9:48

9:48 and said to them, “Whoever welcomes 1  this child 2  in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.” 3 

Luke 15:2

15:2 But 4  the Pharisees 5  and the experts in the law 6  were complaining, 7  “This man welcomes 8  sinners and eats with them.”

1 tn This verb, δέχομαι (decomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).

2 sn Children were very insignificant in ancient culture, so this child would be the perfect object lesson to counter the disciples’ selfish ambitions.

3 tn Grk “among you all, this one is great.” The absence of a comparative term here makes the point that comparison should not be done.

4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

5 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

6 tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

7 tn Or “grumbling”; Grk “were complaining, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

8 tn Or “accepts,” “receives.” This is not the first time this issue has been raised: Luke 5:27-32; 7:37-50.