took them up in his arms He ever giveth more than men ask or think. He had been asked only to touch the children. He takes them into His arms, lays His Hands upon them, and blesses them. Twice we read of our Lord taking into His arms, and both times they were children whom He embraced, and both times the scenes are recorded only by St Mark (Mark 9:36; Mark 10:16).

blessed them Rather, He blesses them, according to some MSS. The present tense is in keeping with the graphic style of the Evangelist.

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