“Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
With this word the Lord connects the receiving of the humble with the receiving of God the Father. Here the matter is not only about literal children, though they too are included in this saying, but about all who are small, unprotected, insignificant, or humble believers. To receive such a person in Christ’s name means to welcome him with love and respect as someone who belongs to Christ. This overturns the worldly notion of greatness. Whoever wants to draw near to God must not despise the little ones. Spiritual greatness is seen not in whom you want to be seen with, but in whom you are ready to receive for Christ’s sake.