Discovery BoxLuke 9:48 
Context9:48 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
Context15:2 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.
