Lucas 9:46

And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them was the greatest. But when Jesus saw the reasoning of their heart, he took a child, and set him by his side, and said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this little child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same is great.

WHO IS THE GREATEST?

This dispute about who was the greatest took place somewhere between the uplands of Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed the Lord, and Capernaum. So little did the Twelve, at that time, understand what Jesus had been saying of the cross, as the only way of life, that they were occupied with the question of rank among themselves. If they had already reached Capernaum, which may have been true, the incident reported could have taken place in the home of Peter and Andrew where Jesus often stayed. This would give some plausibility to the very ancient tradition to the effect that the child Jesus took in his arms and set beside him was one of Peter's children. "Clement of Alexandria especially mentions that this apostle had children."[7]

This passage, more than any other, has enlisted the service of the entire Christian world upon behalf of little children; and this is a most wonderful service. However, the passage goes beyond the physical care and provision for earth's children. As Spence noted, "The child stands as a type of the humble and childlike disciple."[8] As spelled out more fully in Matthew and Mark, Jesus was here making the humility of little children to be the badge of greatness in the kingdom of God. This is evident in his connecting them, as he did here, with himself, and himself with the Father, the lesson being that, just as Jesus had emptied himself, forsaking all earthly honors, and being found among men as a servant, in the same manner the truly great follower of Christ must exhibit the example of his Lord. This was squarely opposed to the jealous jockeying of the disciples over who would be the head man in the kingdom.

[7] H. D. M. Spence, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), Vol. 16, Luke, p. 242.

[8] Ibid., p. 243.