BURKITT : | Mr 9:1 | Mr 9:2 | Mr 9:3-8 | Mr 9:9-13 | Mr 9v14-29 | Mr 9:30-32 | Mr 9:33-37 | Mr 9:38-42 | Mr 9:43-48 | Mr 9:49 | Mr 9:50 | KJV
Reference
33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. (Mark 9:33-37 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
It may justly seem a wonder, that when our blessed Saviour discoursed so frequently with his disciples about his sufferings, they should at the same time be disputing among themselves about precedency and pre-eminency, which of them should be the greatest, the first in place, and the highest in dignity and honour.
But from this instance, we may learn, That the holiest and best of men are subject to pride and ambition, prone to covet worldly dignity and greatness, ready to catch at the bait of honour, to affect precedency before and superiority over others. The apostles themselves were touched, if not tainted, with the itch of ambition. To cure this, our Saviour preaches to them the doctrine of humility.
Where observe, 1. Our Lord doth not say, he that is fist, but he that desireth to be first, shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Teaching us, That all persons in general, and ministers in particular, ought not to seek out places of dignity and pre-eminency for themselves, but be sought out for them: he that is first in seeking them usually least deserves them, and last obtains them; If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all.
Observe 2. Our Saviour teaches his disciples humility by the type and example of a little child, which he set before them as the proper emblem of humility; showing them, that they ought to be as free from ambition as a young child, which affects nothing of precedency or superiority. Such as are of highest eminency in the church of Christ, ought to be adorned with humility and look upon themselves as lying under the greatest obligations to be most eminently useful and serviceable for the church’s good.
Observe 3. How exceeding dear and precious such persons are to Christ, who resemble little children in true humility and lowliness of mind; assuring the world, that whatsoever kindness or respect they show to them, be accounts shown to himself; He that receiveth them, says Christ, receiveth me. So near is the union, so dear the relation, betwixt Christ and his members, that whatever good or evil is done to them, he reckons it as done unto himself.