Mark 9:37

ἕν τῶν τοιούτων παιδίων. Anyone of similar childlike character. Nothing is said about his coming in the Name of the Lord: πᾶς δὲ ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου δεχθήτω (Didache xii. 1).

δέξηται ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου. “Receiveth on the basis of My Name,” “name” being here used in the common signification of “character.” He who does this, not because he is fond of children or of simple persons, but because they represent to him the Christlike character, has the honour of having Christ as his guest. Cf. Mark 9:39; Mark 13:6. Mk also uses ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι (Mark 9:38), ἐν ὀνόματι (Mark 9:31; Mark 11:9), and διὰ τὸ ὄνομα (Mark 13:13). See on 3 John 1:7; also Deissmann, Bibl. St. pp. 146, 196.

οὐκ ἐμὲ δέχεται. Οὐκ = οὐ μόνον. “Not only receives Me” or “Not so much receives Me”; cf. Mark 10:45. “I will have mercy and not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6) does not condemn sacrifice but says that mercy is far better; cf. Luke 10:20; Luke 14:12; Luke 23:28; John 12:44. What is negatived in such expressions, as being defective, is included, with a great deal more, in the affirmative clause. Blass, § 77. 12. This Saying is Johannine in tone and carries us far in Christology; cf. Luke 10:16. Abbott, Johannine Grammar, § 25, 93. Both ἀποστέλλω (Matthew 10:40; Luke 9:48; John 3:17, etc.) and πέμπω (Luke 12:13; John 4:34, etc.) are used of the mission of the Son. See on John 1:33.