Mar 9:37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name...
Mar 9:37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receives me: and whosoever shall receive me, receives not me, but him that sent me.
Alternative: Who shall welcomes a young child such as this in my name, welcome me: and if someone shall welcome me, they don't welcome me but my sending.
Christ uses the phrase "in my name" to represent his spiritual presence as opposed to his person. We have seen it three times so far in the Gospel. In Mat 24:5, it is used to describe those who represent themselves as the reincarnation or second coming of Christ. In Mat 18:20, it is used to describe Christ's presence among those who gather in his name. Mat 18:5 is Matthews' version of this verse.
The meaning of this verse becomes clearer in light of the theme of this chapter, the difference between the temporal world and the spiritual. A name is not the physical person. It is the idea of that person, the concept of that person. The divine concept--as opposed to our human conceptions--is what Christ's calls the "spirit" from pneuma (pneuma), which means "blast," "wind," "breath," "the breath of life," and "divine inspiration."
We should welcome young child as an embodiment of spirit of Christ because they are, as Christ was, full of God's spirit not the world's. This is not about welcoming the person of Christ, but his sending from God.
"Receive" is from dechomai, (dechomai) which means "welcome," "accept," and "entertain" when applied to people. It means "take," "accept," and "receive" when applied to things.
"Such" is from toioutos (toioutos), which means "such as this," "so great a thing," ""such a condition," "such a reason," "and suchlike."
"Children" is from paidion (paidon). which means "little child" or "young child," (up to seven years) "infant" or "young slave."
"Name" is from onoma, which means "name." It means both the reputation of "fame," and "a name and nothing else," as opposed to a real person.
"Him that sent me" is the Greek, apostellô (apostello), which is our source of the word "apostle." It means "to send off," "to send away," or "to dispatch."
