The Least Among You Is Great

46Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them might be the greatest.

47But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and set him beside himself,

48And he said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you—this one is great.”

49Then John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us.”

50But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

51It happened, when the days of his being taken up were being fulfilled, that he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

52And he sent messengers ahead of him. And they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for him.

53And they did not receive him, because his face was going toward Jerusalem.

54When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

55But he turned and rebuked them.

56And they went on to another village.

57And as they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

59Then he said to another, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”

60But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

61And another also said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first permit me to say farewell to those in my house.”

62But Jesus said, “No one who has put his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”