Matthew 18:5

Shall receive] i.e. with affection, honour, and respect, and with the design of learning from them the special lesson, which they have to teach, viz. humility: cp. Matthew 10:40, where 'receiveth you' means 'receiveth your teaching.' One such little child] Not a literal child, but a childlike, humble person of any age. This is the meaning even in St. Luke, who writes, 'this little child,' because the child is taken as representing a class. In my name] i.e. for my sake. Receiveth me] Christ is honoured when His saints are honoured for their likeness to Him. St. Mark (cp. also St. Luke) adds, 'and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.' Between Matthew 18:5 and Matthew 18:6 St. Mark and St. Luke insert a saying of John's about a man who was casting out devils in Christ's name.

6-9. Mark 9:42 :; cp. also Luke 17:1