Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Luke 9:48 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 48. 48And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this 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 shall be great.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Luke 9:48 receives a child and locates greatness with the least rather than using children as props.
Read It With
- Luke 9:46–9:50
Read Luke 9:48 with 9:46–9:50. In isolation, this contribution—receives a child and locates greatness with the least rather than using children as props—can be detached from its speaker, audience, scene or teaching sequence, and outcome. The complete unit establishes: Jesus answers the disciples' status dispute by receiving a child and identifying the least as great, then rejects John's attempt to stop an outsider acting in Jesus' name.
Why This Verse Appears Here
Luke 9:48 receives a child and locates greatness with the least rather than using children as props. This precise contribution belongs inside “Greatness Receives a Child and Refuses Team Possession” because Jesus answers the disciples' status dispute by receiving a child and identifying the least as great, then rejects John's attempt to stop an outsider acting in Jesus' name.
Follow the Context
- Identify the actors, setting, and initiating speech or action in Luke 9:46–9:50.
- Jesus answers the disciples' status dispute by receiving a child and identifying the least as great, then rejects John's attempt to stop an outsider acting in Jesus' name.
- Hold this material interpretive limit in view: The child represents low status and dependence, not sentimental innocence alone. The outsider saying addresses a particular non-hostile actor and does not eliminate discernment about harmful ministry.
What This Verse Is Not Saying
This verse does not detach its specific contribution—receives a child and locates greatness with the least rather than using children as props—from the complete unit or override the unit's explicit boundary: The teaching does not instrumentalize children, excuse unaccountable leaders, erase safeguarding, or let a brand own all faithful work.
What Remains True
Luke 9:48 receives a child and locates greatness with the least rather than using children as props. Read inside Luke 9:46–9:50, this contribution supports the unit's proportionate truth: Jesus answers the disciples' status dispute by receiving a child and identifying the least as great, then rejects John's attempt to stop an outsider acting in Jesus' name. Its use remains accountable to affected people and the unit's explicit boundary.
How It Can Shape Life
- Luke 9:48 receives a child and locates greatness with the least rather than using children as props. Its faithful response is proportionate to that role: Measure greatness by receiving low-status children and welcome good done beyond one's own group; safeguard children and refuse institutional possession of God's work.
Teach It Back
Explain Luke 9:48's specific contribution to Luke 9:46–9:50: receives a child and locates greatness with the least rather than using children as props. Include the preceding and following movement, one source-controlled uncertainty, one affected person or group, and what the verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Luke 9:46–9:50 — Greatness Receives a Child and Refuses Team PossessionSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact displayed KJV wording, verse order, paragraph metadata, supplied-word markup, and coverage.
Exact location: Luke 9:46–9:50, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM-derived repository corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording and sentence relations; the edition is not treated as a complete apparatus.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT official repository, data/sblgnt/text/Luke.txt, 9:46–9:50
Open the Luke Greek text file ↗open translation and translator notes
NET Bible First Edition Notes: Luke
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Verse-level translation, syntax, KJV-language clarification, historical notes, Synoptic parallels, and textual alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible First Edition Luke PDF, exact tn/tc/sn entries attached to Luke 9:46–9:50
Open source ↗