But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

THE GREATEST DISCIPLE.

And they came to Capernaum:  and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were ye reasoning on the way?”

But they held their peace:  for they had disputed one with another on the way, who was the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he said unto them, “If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”

And he took a little child, and set him in the midst of them:  and taking him in his arms, he said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me:  and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.”

John said unto him, “Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followed not us.”

But Jesus said, “Forbid him not:  for there is no man who shall do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.  For he that is not against us is for us.  For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because ye are Christ’s, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.  But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great mill-stone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.

“Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!  And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee:  it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.  And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:  it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  For every one shall be salted with fire.  Salt is good; but if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another.

“See that ye despise not one of these little ones:  for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.  How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?  And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.