Who Is the Greatest?

³³ And ^(A)they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house ^(B)he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the way ^(C)they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. ³⁵ And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, ^(D)“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and ^(E)taking him in his arms, he said to them, ^37 (F)“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and ^(G)whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

^38 (H)John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone ^(I)casting out demons in your name,^[a] and ^(J)we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” ³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. ^40 (K)For the one who is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ For truly, I say to you, ^(L)whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

Temptations to Sin

^42 (M)“Whoever causes one of ^(N)these little ones who believe in me to sin,^{[b] (O)}it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. ^43 (P)And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to ^(Q)hell,^[c] to ^(R)the unquenchable fire.^{[d] 45 (S)}And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into ^(T)hell. ^47 (U)And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into ^(V)hell, ⁴⁸ ‘where ^(W)their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire.^{[e] 50 (X)}Salt is good, ^(Y)but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? ^(Z)Have salt in yourselves, and ^(AA)be at peace with one another.”

The Request of James and John

^35 (A)And James and John, ^(B)the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us ^(C)whatever we ask of you.” ³⁶ And he said to them, ^(D)“What do you want me to do for you?” ³⁷ And they said to him, “Grant us ^(E)to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, ^(F)in your glory.” ³⁸ Jesus said to them, ^(G)“You do not know what you are asking. Are you able ^(H)to drink the cup that I drink, or ^(I)to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” ³⁹ And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, ^(J)“The cup that I drink ^(K)you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, ^(L)you will be baptized, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, ^(M)but it is for those for whom it has been ^(N)prepared.” ⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. ^42 (O)And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles ^(P)lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But ^(Q)it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,^{[a] 44} and whoever would be first among you must be ^(R)slave^[b] of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but ^(S)to serve, and ^(T)to give his life as a ransom for ^(U)many.”