9:37a
Whoever welcomes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as welcomes is literally “receives” (as in the Revised Standard Version). It refers to helping people by accepting them into your home and giving them food and drink.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
Whoever receives (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Whoever accepts (New Century Version)
-or-
Whoever welcomes and helps
-or-
Whoever shows hospitality to
in My name: The phrase in My name probably modifies the verb “welcomes” (as in the Good News Bible). It indicates that someone welcomes and helps others because he is a follower of Jesus.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
welcomes…on my behalf (New Living Translation)
-or-
welcomes…for my sake (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
welcomes Me: The verb welcomes is the same verb that was used earlier in the verse, but it is used in a figurative way here. By welcoming a child, you honor Jesus.
If people in your area will think that the words welcomes Me only refer to literally welcoming Jesus himself, you may want to include some implied information. For example:
it is the same as welcoming me
-or-
it is like he is welcoming me
-or-
honors me
The word Me is emphasized in the Greek. If your language has a natural way to emphasize the word Me, you may want to do so. For example:
It is I that he is welcoming.
9:37b
and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me: This expression indicates that welcoming Jesus is like welcoming God.
welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me: In this context the expression welcomes not only Me means “does not welcome only me.” When someone welcomes Jesus, he also welcomes the one who sent Jesus. For example, the Good News Bible says:
welcomes not only me but also the one who sent me
the One who sent Me: The phrase the One who sent Me refers to God. If people in your area will not understand that this phrase refers to God, you may need to make this explicit. For example:
my Father who sent me (New Living Translation)
-or-
God who sent me
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