But they did not understand these words, and they were afraid to ask Him. He came to Capernaum; And when he was in the house, he asked them, "What have you been discussing among yourselves on the way?" They were silent: because on the way they reasoned among themselves who was greater. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them, Whosoever will be first, let him be last of all, and servant of all. And he took the little child, and set him in the midst of them, and embraced him, and said to them, Whosoever receiveth one of these children in my name receiveth me; but whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.

The disciples, still having human thoughts, argued among themselves about which of them was greater and more honorable with Christ. But the Lord, although He does not forbid the desire for greater honor (for He commands us to desire higher degrees), nevertheless does not allow us to steal the primacy from others; on the contrary, He wants us to attain exaltation through humility. Thus he placed a child in the midst of the disciples and teaches us to be like him. A child does not seek glory, does not envy, does not remember evil. And not only then, says Jesus, will you receive a great reward when you yourselves are like a child, but if you receive others like you for my sake, and for this you will receive the kingdom of heaven, inasmuch as you receive me; but when you receive me, you will receive him who sent me. Do you see what power humility and a simple and guileless disposition have? This instills in us the Son and the Father, and, consequently, the Holy Spirit.

And John said, "Teacher! we have seen a man who casts out demons in Thy name, and does not follow us; and they forbade him, because he does not follow us. Jesus said, "Do not rebuke him, for no one who has done a miracle in my name can soon curse me." For he who is not against you is for you.

It is not out of emulation or envy that the son of thunder forbids that man to cast out demons, but desires that all who call on the name of Christ should follow Christ, and that all the disciples should be one body. At the beginning of the Gospel preaching, it happened that some, impelled by the passion of love of glory, desired to perform signs; but seeing how powerful the name of Jesus was, they called upon it, and thus performed signs, although they were strangers and unworthy of the grace of God. For it pleased the Lord that the preaching should be spread also through the unworthy. What about the Saviour? He did not allow John to rebuke the one who performed the signs: "Do not rebuke him," he says, "for no one who has done a miracle in My name can soon curse Me." That is, how will he curse Me who by My name gains glory for himself and by calling upon Me performs miracles? Apparently, the Lord contradicts Himself, for in another place He says: "He who is not with Me is against Me." But these words are spoken about demons who try to distract those who exist from God and scatter God's inheritance, and here we are talking about people who are led to God through others who work miracles.

And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ's, verily I say unto you, shall not lose his reward. And whoever offends one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and thrown into the sea.

"Not only do I not forbid him who works miracles in My name, but if anyone gives you anything, even the least for My sake, and not for the sake of the people of the world, he shall not be deprived of his reward." And he spoke about the cup of water, referring to people who excuse themselves with poverty. If," he says, "you give me a cup of water, and nothing can be less than this, and it will not be lost with you. Thus, if you honor one of the little ones, then you will please God; If you offend one of the little ones, then you have sinned: it would be better to hang a millstone around your neck. By this he expresses that in such a case we will be subjected to the heaviest punishment. The Lord indicated sensual torment in order to frighten us with this visible example.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than to go with two hands into hell, into the unquenchable fire, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life lame, than to be cast into hell with two feet, into the unquenchable fire, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy eye offends thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to be cast into hell with two eyes, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is a good thing; but if the salt is not salty, how will you correct it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace among yourselves.