In several translations (Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible) a new paragraph is introduced with verse 5. This is apparently done on the basis of the assumption that (1) child serves as the connecting link between the two paragraphs, and that (2) the application of Jesus’ teaching begins with verse 5. On the other hand, it is just as logical to propose that the verse forms a natural conclusion to the discussion of who is the greatest, and that “one of these little ones” of verse 6 is actually the connecting link between the two paragraphs.

Whoever may be “any person who,” or it can be restructured slightly in a phrase like “If someone welcomes a child like this one in my name, that person welcomes me.”

Receives was discussed in 10.40. “Welcomes” (Good News Translation) or “accepts” are the most common ways of expressing the word here.

One such child (Good News Translation “one such child as this”) is fairly representative of what appears in most all translations. “A child like this one” is also common. Child may refer either to an actual child or, more probably, to “the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child” of verse 4. By means of a footnote New Jerusalem Bible indicates that the second of these two alternatives is intended here.

In my name is a literal rendering of the Greek text; Moffatt and Phillips, who are among the very few who avoid a literal translation, have “for my sake.” One may also translate “because of me” or “because he is one of my disciples.”

Receives me is translated “welcomes me” by Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, and New International Version (similarly Phillips). The picture is that of welcoming or accepting a person into one’s group or home. Translators normally render receives me with the same verb they used at the beginning of the verse for receives one such child.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .