Mark 9:37

9:37 “Whoever welcomes ¹  one of these little children ²  in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Mark 10:24

10:24 The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, ³  “Children, how hard it is ⁴  to enter the kingdom of God!

Mark 13:12

13:12 Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against ⁵  parents and have them put to death.

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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 “But answering, Jesus again said to them.” The participle ἀποκριθείς (apokriqeis) is redundant and has not been translated.

⁴ tc Most mss (A C D Θ Ë^1,13 28 565 2427 Ï lat sy) have here “for those who trust in riches” (τοὺς πεποιθότας ἐπὶ [τοῖς] χρήμασιν, tou" pepoiqota" epi [toi"] crhmasin); W has πλούσιον (plousion) later in the verse, producing the same general modification on the dominical saying (“how hard it is for the rich to enter…”). But such qualifications on the Lord’s otherwise harsh and absolute statements are natural scribal expansions, intended to soften the dictum. Further, the earliest and best witnesses, along with a few others (א B Δ Ψ sa), lack any such qualifications. That W lacks the longer expansion and only has πλούσιον suggests that its archetype agreed with א B here; its voice should be heard with theirs. Thus, both on external and internal grounds, the shorter reading is preferred.

⁵ tn Or “will rebel against.”