10. DISPUTE ABOUT WHO SHALL BE IN THE KINGDOM Mark 9:33-37 (Matthew 18:1-35; Luke 9:46-50) 33 And they came to Capernaum:--Capernaum was his headquarters and the center of his operations in Galilee. He has once more returned to the base of his operation. This city was highly favored of Jesus, who taught frequently there, and also did many mighty works in that place and vicinity. The citizens did not, however, improve their opportunities, and were doomed to severe judgment in consequence of it. (Matthew 11:23.) and when he was in the house he asked them, What were ye reasoning on the way?--Aside from Jesus the disciples discussed among themselves who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1.) They asked the question because they wished to know who would have the principal offices and posts of favor and profit. Luke (Luke 9:47) says that Jesus perceived the thought of their heart. This act implies omniscience, for none can search the heart but God. (Jeremiah 17:10.) The disciples, conscious that the subject of their dispute was known, asked Jesus to decide it. He did so by using a little child as an object lesson. (Matthew 18:2-4.) 34 But they held their peace:--For the moment they were silent, being confounded with the question, and probably ashamed to own to the truth. for they had disputed one with another on the way, who was the greatest.--That is, the most eminent, doubtless among themselves. This dispute shows their worldly views of the kingdom of God. They expected the kingdom to be a temporal earthly kingdom, and that those who are greatest now would be greatest when it was set up. Aspirations for greatness are proper and right provided the mind has a correct estimate of what true greatness is. Self-denying service in his kingdom is true greatness. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve;--Whether all the apostles were involved in the dispute over who should be the greatest in the kingdom or not, all of them had mistaken ideas about the kingdom of God and needed the instructions Jesus now purposes to give. Hence he called all of them to hear. and he saith unto them, If any man would be first,--In rank and honor. Or as expressed by them, "the greatest." There were probably as many candidates to be "first" as there were hearers of these words. he shall be last of all, and servant of all.--The path that leads to the highest honors in the kingdom of God is through humility. (Matthew 20:27; Matthew 23:12.) In God's kingdom the high is lowered, the lowly exalted, and hence all come to a spiritual level. "Servant" is not a slave but a minister. (Colossians 1:25.) A waiter--an attendant--one who renders voluntary service. The thought is, he shall be the most distinguished Christian who is the most humble, and who is willing to be esteemed least, and last of all. To esteem ourselves as God esteems us is humility. And it cannot be degrading to think of ourselves as we are. But pride, as an attempt to be thought of more importance than we are, is foolish, wicked, and degrading. To be willing to sacrifice self, and to be servant of all, even to the least disciples, was the path to true distinction and honor. 36 And he took a little child, and set him in the midst of them:--Here Jesus introduces an object lesson regarding humility. Children are, to a great extent, destitute of ambition, pride and haughtiness. They are characteristically humble and teachable. By requiring his disciples to become like them (Matthew 18:3), he did not mean to express any opinion about the moral character of children, but simply that in these respects they should become like them. That is, they should lay aside their ambitious views, and pride, and be willing to occupy their proper station--a very lowly one as compared with their present views of greatness. and taking him in his arms, he said unto them,--Christians must be childlike. (1) Both in mind and speech (1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 Corinthians 13:11); (2) in humility and freedom from jealousy (1 Corinthians 14:20); (3) in teachableness and submission to divine authority (1 Corinthians 6:1). 37 Whosoever shall receive--Cordially to his heart and fellowship. It means to approve, love, or treat with kindness to aid in time of need. one of such little children--That is, whoso shall receive and love one with a spirit like this child--one who is humble, meek, unambitious, is a real Christian. By reference to Matthew (18), it will be seen that it has reference to the humble disciple who should be in disposition as a little child. in my name, receiveth me:--Whoso receiveth one possessed of my spirit, and who, because he has that spirit, receives him, receives me also; because such a one is his representative and one with himself. and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.--In receiving a representative of Christ, we not only receive Christ himself, but the Father also. Here he pointed out their nearness to himself and the honor and esteem in which he holds them. He traces the relation back to his Father. The Father is represented in Christ, and Christ in his true followers. He teaches that his kingdom is spiritual, and that humility and a childlike spirit are essential to true greatness. Children are not to be despised. Children and their improvement are the hope of the church, and of every worthy secular enterprise. The human hands that can hold these must soon lose their power to grasp. A child's hand must soon take their places. A child's hand is on the door of all domestic and foreign missions. If mothers wish to guide the world, they must do it at home with their children. They can never do it at the ballot box nor in civil offices--neither can they do it at card parties and club meetings while their children are running loose on the streets or trained by colored cooks and housemaids. They ought to realize that "the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that guides the world" and learn to stay at home and out of politics, and teach and train their children in the way God intended they should.