1. 'Ev ixtivp rip upq, in that hour) when they had heard of the freedom of the children, declared in ch. xvii. 26 (which accounts for the use of cipa, then, in this passage) ; and when they had seen that Peter, James, and John (ch. xvii. 1), had been all summoned to the Mount. — ri; cipa,, x.r.A., who then, etc.) They put the question indefinitely in ivords, but in their own hearts they think of themselves.1 — h ry $a(si\iiq. ruv oupavuv, in the king dom of heaven) See that thou enter there : do not enquire before hand what are the several portions allotted to each therein.
2. Tlaioiov, a little child} A diminutive, to rebuke the disciples who sought great things. It is said to have been Ignatius — 6 ^£op o'fo;.2 Without doubt it must have been a child of excel lent disposition and sweetest appearance who was then present by Divine appointment. — IK /ABSU ayr£i>, in the midst of them) see Gnomon on Mark ix. 36.
3. K«/ s?^£K, and said) By asking ivho is the greatest ? each of the disciples might offend himself, his fellow-disciples, and the child in question. The Saviour's words (ver. 3-20) meet all these offences, and declare His own and His Father's anxiety for the salvation of souls. We perceive hence the connection between the different portions of His speech. — w$ ra <zaio!a, as little children} They must possess a wonderful degree of humility, simplicity, and faith to be proposed as an example to adults. Scripture exhibits everywhere favour towards little children. —
e, ye shall not enter) So far from being the greatest,
1 In Mark ix. 33, 34, and Luke ix. 46, 47, the fact is stated with some little change in the form in which the circumstances appear ; namely, the dis ciples, after that they had disputed on the way, and were on that account set to rights by our loving Saviour, were at first silent : but then, all having been convened together by the Saviour, some finally proposed the question to Him. Harm., p. 381, 382. Comp. Michaelis in der Einleitung, etc., T. ii., p. m. 911, etc.— E. B.
3 Considerable difference of opinion exists as to the meaning of this word : some rendering it " one who was carried by GOD," in allusion to the circum stance mentioned in the text ; others explaining it to mean " otic who carried GOD always about with him, sc. in his heart." — (I. B.)