And said unto them, whosoever shalt receive this child,.... Or "one such little child", as in Matthew 18:5 and so the Syriac version here, "a child like to this"; and the Arabic version, "one like to this child"; not in age, but in meekness and humility; one that is not proud and haughty, ambitious of worldly honour, and envious at the superior state of others: whoever receives such an one into his house and heart, and the Gospel he preaches,
in my name; because he belongs to me, is sent by me, and represents me, and delivers my message:
receiveth me; represented by him, and will be so taken:
and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth him that sent me;
For he that is least among you all; that is so, in his own opinion, and behaves as such in his conduct, who is lowly and meek, and humble; and so the Ethiopic version, rather interpreting than translating, renders it, "for he that makes himself humble, who is lesser than all"; who considers himself as the least of the apostles, and unworthy to be one, as did the Apostle Paul:
the same shall be great; shall be highly honoured with gifts, and made greatly useful, as the above mentioned apostle was: a saying like this, the Jews have u;
"every one, המקטין עצמו, "that makes himself little", for the words of the law in this world, נעשה גדול, "shall be made great" in the world to come;''
that is, in the days of the Messiah: and again it is said by w them,
"worthy is he that makes himself little in this world, how great and high shall he be in that world!--whoever is little shall be great, and he that is great shall be little.''
u T. Bab Bava Metzia, fol. 85. 2. w Zohar in Num. for. 70. 1. & Tosaphta in Zohar in Gen. fol. 76. 2.