Such were the hopes awakened by the Transfiguration and the following miracles that the disciples were led to speculate upon their relative position in the Kingdom. Jesus therefore took a little child for His text, and preached to them a sermon on humility. How constantly the Master speaks of the little ones! He says that we must be converted to become like them; that to cause them to stumble will involve terrible penalties; that they are not to be despised; that each has an angel of the Father's presence-chamber appointed to his charge; that to seek and to save one He is prepared as the shepherd to traverse the mountains; that it is not the Father's will that one of them should perish. How infinitely tender and humble was His love for them!
Let us strive to cut off whatever causes us to stumble. It may be a friendship, a pastime, a pursuit, a course of reading; but there must be no quarter given, no excuse accepted. As soon as the soul dares to make this supreme renunciation, there is an accession of life. Whenever the body loses the use of one member, such as the eye, there is an accession of vigor in others; so, to deny the lower is to open the door to the higher, and, though maimed, to enter into life. Mark 9:44-48 evidently refer to the valley of Hinnom, where fires were kept burning to consume waste. [source]
Chapter Summary: Mark 9
1Jesus is transfigured 11He instructs his disciples concerning the coming of Elijah; 14casts forth a deaf and mute spirit; 30foretells his death and resurrection; 33exhorts his disciples to humility; 38bidding them not to prohibit such as are not against them, 42nor to give offense to any of the faithful
Mark 10:16He took them in his arms [εναγκαλισαμενος] A distinct rebuke to the protest of the over-particular disciples. This word already in Mark 9:36. In Luke 2:28 we have the full idiom, to receive into the arms So with tender fondling Jesus repeatedly blessed It was a great moment for each mother and child. [source]
Luke 9:47Took a little child [επιλαβομενος παιδιον] Second aorist middle participle of the common verb επιλαμβανω epilambanō Strictly, Taking a little child to himself (indirect middle). Mark 9:36 has merely the active λαβων labōn of the simple verb λαμβανω lambanō Set him by his side “In his arms” Mark 9:36 has it, “in the midst of them” Matthew 18:3 says. All three attitudes following one another (the disciples probably in a circle around Jesus anyhow) and now the little child (Peter‘s child?) was slipped down by the side of Jesus as he gave the disciples an object lesson in humility which they sorely needed. [source]
What do the individual words in Mark 9:36 mean?
Andhaving takena childHe setitinmidstof themhaving taken in [His] armsHe saidto them
Greek Commentary for Mark 9:36
Wyc. renders ordained. [source]
The verb is found only in Mark, and only he records this detail. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 9:36
See on Mark 9:36. [source]
A distinct rebuke to the protest of the over-particular disciples. This word already in Mark 9:36. In Luke 2:28 we have the full idiom, to receive into the arms So with tender fondling Jesus repeatedly blessed It was a great moment for each mother and child. [source]
Second aorist middle participle of the common verb επιλαμβανω epilambanō Strictly, Taking a little child to himself (indirect middle). Mark 9:36 has merely the active λαβων labōn of the simple verb λαμβανω lambanō Set him by his side “In his arms” Mark 9:36 has it, “in the midst of them” Matthew 18:3 says. All three attitudes following one another (the disciples probably in a circle around Jesus anyhow) and now the little child (Peter‘s child?) was slipped down by the side of Jesus as he gave the disciples an object lesson in humility which they sorely needed. [source]