36. Jesus took a little child and had the child stand among them. Then he took the child in his arms. He said to them,
37. "Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me doesn't welcome only me but also the One who sent me."
38. "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name. We told him to stop, because he was not one of us."
39. "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me.
40. Anyone who is not against us is for us.
41. "What I'm about to tell you is true. Suppose someone gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to me. That one will certainly not go without a reward.
42. "What if someone leads one of these little ones who believe in me to sin? If he does, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.