Mark 9:37

9:37 “Whoever welcomes ¹  one of these little children ²  in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Mark 10:39

10:39 They said to him, “We are able.” ³  Then Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I experience,

Mark 12:15

12:15 But he saw through their hypocrisy and said ⁴  to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius ⁵  and let me look at it.”

[9:37]  ¹ tn This verb, δέχομαι (decomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).

[9:37]  ² sn Children were very insignificant in ancient culture, so this child would be the perfect object lesson to counter the disciples’ selfish ambitions.

[10:39]  ³ sn No more naïve words have ever been spoken as those found here coming from James and John, “We are able.” They said it with such confidence and ease, yet they had little clue as to what they were affirming. In the next sentence Jesus confirms that they will indeed suffer for his name.

[12:15]  ⁵ tn Grk “Aware of their hypocrisy he said.”

[12:15]  ⁶ tn Here the specific name of the coin was retained in the translation, because not all coins in circulation in Palestine at the time carried the image of Caesar. In other places δηνάριον (dhnarion) has been translated simply as “silver coin” with an explanatory note.