And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side,
- BSB But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him.
- NKJV And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him,
- NASB But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their hearts, took a child and had him stand by His side,
- NLT But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, sets a little child beside Him. He uses a child to teach the true measure of greatness.
Overview
Jesus perceives the prideful reasoning of their hearts, showing His insight into the inner person. By placing a child at His side, He prepares an object lesson that overturns their notions of greatness. The act signals that the kingdom values the lowly and overlooked.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Ps 139:23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
- Luke 5:22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
- John 16:30Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
- 1 Cor 14:20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
- John 2:25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
- Heb 4:13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
- Rev 2:23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
- Matt 9:4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
- Ps 139:2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
- Matt 19:13–15Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
- 1 Pet 2:1–2Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
- John 21:17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
- Mark 10:14–15But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
- Luke 7:39–40Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
- Jer 17:10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
- Matt 18:2–4And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 9:47 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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