7:5 The Pharisees and the experts in the law asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat 1 with unwashed hands?”
Mark 9:37
9:37 “Whoever welcomes 2 one of these little children 3 in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
1 tnGrk “eat bread.”
2 tn This verb, δέχομαι (decomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).
3 snChildren were very insignificant in ancient culture, so this child would be the perfect object lesson to counter the disciples’ selfish ambitions.