Mark provides a series of parables in chronological order matched to the overall story of the Bible. This one is about Egypt.
The argument over who is greatest continues with Jesus calling together the 12 disciples and then calling out a little child. The following is the account.
42 Mark 9:33
42 Mark 9:33-37 34ܗܢܘܢ ܕܝܢ ܫܬܝܩܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܐܬܚܪܝܘ ܗܘܘ ܓܝܪ ܒܐܘܪܚܐ ܚܕ ܥܡ ܚܕ ܕܡܢܘ ܪܒ ܒܗܘܢ ܀ 35ܘܝܬܒ ܝܫܘܥ ܘܩܪܐ ܠܬܪܥܤܪ ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ ܡܢ ܕܨܒܐ ܕܢܗܘܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܢܗܘܐ ܐܚܪܝܐ ܕܟܠ ܐܢܫ ܘܡܫܡܫܢܐ ܕܟܠ ܐܢܫ ܀ 36ܘܢܤܒ ܛܠܝܐ ܚܕ ܘܐܩܝܡܗ ܒܡܨܥܬܐ ܘܫܩܠܗ ܥܠ ܕܪܥܘܗܝ ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ ܀ 37ܟܠ ܡܢ ܕܢܩܒܠ ܐܝܟ ܗܢܐ ܛܠܝܐ ܒܫܡܝ ܠܝ ܗܘ ܡܩܒܠ ܘܡܢ ܕܠܝ ܡܩܒܠ ܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܠܝ ܡܩܒܠ ܐܠܐ ܠܡܢ ܕܫܕܪܢܝ ܀ 38ܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܝܘܚܢܢ ܪܒܝ ܚܙܝܢ ܐܢܫ ܕܡܦܩ ܫܐܕܐ ܒܫܡܟ ܘܟܠܝܢܝܗܝ ܥܠ ܕܠܐ ܢܩܦ ܠܢ ܀ (SYP)
42 Mark 9:33-37 33And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.(KJV)
42 Mark 9:33-37 33And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35And he sat down, and called the 12, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37Whosoever shall receive 1 of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.(KJV/NC)
42 Mark 9:33-37 33And they came to Capernaum: and when he was in the house he asked them, What were ye reasoning on the way? 34But they held their peace: for they had disputed one with another on the way, who was the greatest. 35And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36And he took a little child, and set him in the midst of them: and taking him in his arms, he said unto them, 37Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. (ASV)
42 Mark 9:33-37 33And they came to Capernaum; and when they entered the house, he asked them, What were you reasoning among yourselves on the road? 34But they kept silent, for on the road they had argued with one another as to who was the greatest of them. 35And Jesus sat down and called the twelve and said to them, He who wishes to be first, let him be the last of men, and the servant of every man. 36And he took a little child and made him to stand in the midst; then he took him in his arms, and said to them, 37Whoever receives a child like this in my name, he receives me; and he who receives me, does not receive me, but him who has sent me. (LAM)
42 Mark 9:33-37 33And they came to Caper'na-um; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" 34But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. 35And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." 36And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."(RSV)
42 Mark 9:33-37 33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
36He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."(NIV)
42 Mark 9:33-37 33He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, 'What were youP arguing among yourselves on the way?'
34But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.
35He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, 'If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.' 36He took a little child, and set him in the midst of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37'Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn't receive me, but him who sent me.'(WEB)
42 Mark 9:33-37 33He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, 'What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?'
34But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.
35He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, 'If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.' 36He took a little child, and set him in the midst of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37'Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn't receive me, but him who sent me.'(WEB/HNV)
42 Mark 9:33-37 33And they came to Capernaum; and when they entered the house, he asked them, What were you reasoning among yourselves on the road? 34But they kept silent, for on the road they had argued with one another about who was the greatest of them. 35And Jesus sat down and called the 12 and said to them, He who wishes to be first, let him be the last of men, and the servant of every man. 36And he took a little child and made him stand in the middle; then he took him in his arms, and said to them, 37Whoever receives a child like this in my name, he receives me; and he who receives me, does not receive me, but him who has sent me. (BRB)
To answer their question about who is greatest, Jesus calls together the twelve disciples. This action is the parable's way of calling attention to the twelve patriarchs, Abraham's great grand kids. After Abraham, their births are the next main event in the Bible's original chronology. This happened while Jacob' was in Laban's service in the 20 years 9001 AA through 9020 AA.
The sons of Jacob ran into the issue of who was greatest also. They were arguing amongst themselves, jockeying for position. Reuben was the rightful heir to Abraham's estate, so he would naturally be the greatest. They were stunned when their young brother Joseph began having prophetic dreams. The brothers would not believe what God was saying, and projected their own hearts on Joseph. Everyone in the family, including their father Jacob, was stunned by some of the things Joseph's dreams implied, though they would come true in time.
Eventually, Joseph, was the greatest in his generation when he was made Prime Ministry of ancient Egypt. (About 9040 AA.) Because of Reuben's sin, Joseph also inherited Abraham's right of first born, as well as the 'great nation' promise given to Abraham in the Abrahamic covenant.
Notice, though, the role of Joseph relative to the rest of the family. Joseph knew he was their servant and did all he could to provide for the needs of the rest of his family. He was both greatest and least.
The 'great nation promise' passed to Joseph is one of the covenant promises that is key to understanding the lost tribes. The specific 'great nation' promise passes to Joseph's sons and eventually to the nations descended from them.
The parable continues and Jesus brings in an important word picture, the 'millstone.' The following is the text:
42 Mark 9:38
42 Mark 9:38-48
39ܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ ܝܫܘܥ ܠܐ ܬܟܠܘܢܝܗܝ ܠܝܬ ܓܝܪ ܐܢܫ ܕܥܒܕ ܚܝܠܐ ܒܫܡܝ ܘܡܫܟܚ ܥܓܠ ܐܡܪ ܥܠܝ ܕܒܝܫ ܀
40ܡܢ ܕܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܗܟܝܠ ܠܘܩܒܠܟܘܢ ܚܠܦܝܟܘܢ ܗܘ ܀
41ܟܠ ܕܝܢ ܕܢܫܩܝܟܘܢ ܟܤܐ ܕܡܝܐ ܒܠܚܘܕ ܒܫܡܐ ܕܕܡܫܝܚܐ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܐܡܝܢ ܐܡܪ ܐܢܐ ܠܟܘܢ ܕܠܐ ܢܘܒܕ ܐܓܪܗ ܀
42ܘܟܠ ܡܢ ܕܢܟܫܠ ܠܚܕ ܡܢ ܗܠܝܢ ܙܥܘܪܐ ܕܡܗܝܡܢܝܢ ܒܝ ܦܩܚ ܗܘܐ ܠܗ ܐܠܘ ܪܡܝܐ ܗܘܬ ܪܚܝܐ ܕܚܡܪܐ ܒܨܘܪܗ ܘܫܕܐ ܒܝܡܐ ܀
43ܐܢ ܕܝܢ ܡܟܫܠܐ ܠܟ ܐܝܕܟ ܦܤܘܩܝܗ ܦܩܚ ܗܘ ܠܟ ܦܫܝܓܐ ܕܬܥܘܠ ܠܚܝܐ ܐܘ ܟܕ ܐܝܬ ܠܟ ܬܪܬܝܢ ܐܝܕܝܢ ܬܐܙܠ ܠܓܗܢܐ ܀
44ܐܝܟܐ ܕܬܘܠܥܗܘܢ ܠܐ ܡܝܬܐ ܘܢܘܪܗܘܢ ܠܐ ܕܥܟܐ ܀
45ܘܐܢ ܪܓܠܟ ܡܟܫܠܐ ܠܟ ܦܤܘܩܝܗ ܦܩܚ ܗܘ ܠܟ ܕܬܥܘܠ ܠܚܝܐ ܚܓܝܤܐ ܐܘ ܟܕ ܐܝܬ ܠܟ ܬܪܬܝܢ ܪܓܠܝܢ ܬܦܠ ܒܓܗܢܐ ܀
46ܐܝܟܐ ܕܬܘܠܥܗܘܢ ܠܐ ܡܝܬܐ ܘܢܘܪܗܘܢ ܠܐ ܕܥܟܐ ܀
47ܘܐܢ ܥܝܢܟ ܡܟܫܠܐ ܠܟ ܚܨܝܗ ܦܩܚ ܗܘ ܠܟ ܕܒܚܕܐ ܥܝܢܟ ܬܥܘܠ ܠܡܠܟܘܬܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܐܘ ܟܕ ܐܝܬ ܠܟ ܬܪܬܝܢ ܥܝܢܝܢ ܬܦܠ ܒܓܗܢܐ ܕܢܘܪܐ ܀
48ܐܝܟܐ ܕܬܘܠܥܗܘܢ ܠܐ ܡܝܬܐ ܘܢܘܪܗܘܢ ܠܐ ܕܥܟܐ ܀
49ܟܠ ܓܝܪ ܒܢܘܪܐ ܢܬܡܠܚ ܘܟܠ ܕܒܚܬܐ ܒܡܠܚܐ ܬܬܡܠܚ ܀ ܫܦܝܪܐ ܗܝ ܡܠܚܐ ܐܢ ܕܝܢ ܡܠܚܐ ܬܦܟܗ ܒܡܢܐ ܬܬܡܠܚ ܬܗܘܐ ܒܟܘܢ ܡܠܚܐ ܘܒܫܝܢܐ ܗܘܘ ܚܕ ܥܡ ܚܕ ܀
42 Mark 9:38-50
38And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
40For he that is not against us is on our part.
41For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.(KJV)
42 Mark 9:38-50
38And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw 1 casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
40For he that is not against us is on our part.
41For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
42And whosoever shall offend 1 of these little 1s that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having 2 hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having 2 feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with 1 eye, than having 2 eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49For every 1 shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace 1 with another.(KJV/NC)
42 Mark 9:38-50
38John said unto him, Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followed not us.
39But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man who shall do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.
40For he that is not against us is for us.
41For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because ye are Christ's, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
42And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it were better for him if a great millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
43And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.
44where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell.
46where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out: it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell;
48where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49For every one shall be salted with fire.
50Salt is good: but if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another.(ASV)
42 Mark 9:38-50 38John said to him, Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him because he did not follow us. 39Jesus said to them, Do not forbid him; for there is no man who performs miracles in my name who will hastily speak evil of me. 40Therefore, he who is not against you is for you.
41¶ For whoever gives you to drink even a cup of water only because you represent the name of Christ, truly I say to you that his reward shall not be lost.
42And whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it were better for him that an ass' millstone were hanged on his neck and that he were thrown into the sea.
43If your hand offends you, cut it off; it is much better for you to go through life maimed than to have two hands and go to Gehenna,
44Where the embers do not die and the fire does not go out.
45And if your foot offends you, cut it off; it is much better for you to go through life lame, than to have two feet, and fall into Gehenna,
46Where the embers do not die, and the fire does not go out.
47And if your eye offends you, remove it; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and fall into the Gehenna of fire,
48Where the embers do not die, and the fire does not go out.
49For everything will be salted on the fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.
50O how good is salt; but if the salt should lose its savor, with what could it be salted? Let there be salt in you, and be at peace with one another.
(LAM)
42 Mark 9:38-50
38John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us."
39But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me.
40For he that is not against us is for us.
41For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.
42"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 44And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 45And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 46where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 47For every one will be salted with fire. 48Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
49 50 (RSV)
42 Mark 9:38-50 38"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and 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,
40for whoever is not against us is for us.
41I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
42"And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. 43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 44 45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 46 47And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48where "`their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' 49Everyone will be salted with fire.
50"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."(NIV)
42 Mark 9:38-50 38John said to him, 'Teacher, we saw someone who doesn't follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow us.'
39But Jesus said, 'Don't forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.
40For whoever is not against us is on our side.
41For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because youP are Christ's, most assuredly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
42Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he was thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.
43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,
44'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
45If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched'
46'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
47If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,
48'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
49For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
50Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will youP season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.'(WEB)
42 Mark 9:38-50 38Yochanan said to him, 'Rabbi, we saw someone who doesn't follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow us.'
39But Yeshua said, 'Don't forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.
40For whoever is not against us is on our side.
41For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Messiah's, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
42Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he was thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.
43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehinnom, into the unquenchable fire,
44'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
45If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehinnom, into the fire that will never be quenched'
46'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
47If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehinnom of fire,
48'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
49For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
50Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.'(WEB/HNV)
42 Mark 9:38-50 38John said to him, Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name; and we forbid him because he did not follow us. 39Jesus said to them, Do not forbid him; for there is no man who performs miracles in my name who will hastily speak evil of me. 40Therefore, he who is not against you is for you.
41For whoever gives you even a cup of water to drink, only because you represent the name of Messiah, truly I say to you that his reward will not be lost.
42And whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it were better for him that a donkey's millstone were hung on his neck and that he were thrown into the sea.
43If your hand offends you, cut it off; it is much better for you to go through life maimed than to have 2 hands and go to Gehenna,
44Where the embers do not die and the fire does not go out.
45And if your foot offends you, cut it off; it is much better for you to go through life lame, than to have 2 feet, and fall into Gehenna,
46Where the embers do not die, and the fire does not go out.
47And if your eye offends you, remove it; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have 2 eyes and fall into the Gehenna of fire,
48Where the embers do not die, and the fire does not go out.
49For everything will be salted on the fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.
50Oh how good is salt; but if the salt should lose its savor, with what could it be salted? Let there be salt in you, and be at peace with one another.
(BRB)
Of Jacob's sons, the brother who would not follow the crowd was Joseph. He was following orders from heaven.
Jesus' editorial is the same. If they are not against you, they are for you. As Paul would say later the kingdom of God is not about perswasive words but of a demonstration of power. Joseph did that as he had and interpreted dreams, as he became Prime Minister. People don't have to follow you, or any crowd for that matter, in order to be following Jesus.
Causing a little one to stumble, ie: selling Joseph into slavery, is replayed with a millstone tied around the neck and being cast into the seas. This was the punishment given to the brothers for what they did to Joseph.
Seas are symbolic of peoples or nations generally and the best example of peoples generally was ancient Egypt. Jacob's sons, except for Joseph who went earlier, were cast into Egypt.
The millstone, the mechanism where they were pulled into the sea was the need for grain. The drought cased a famine in Canaan and the only place where millstones were running was Egypt as the Egyptians broke into the grain stores of Joseph. The brothers had to go down to Egypt to get grain, the food supply for their own millstones. This is what caused them to get caught in Egypt.
Each of the body parts in this parable is a reference to one of the brothers. Together they make up a whole body, but each can cause the entire nation of ancient Israel to sin in various ways. Each will be cut off later as the nation of ancient Israel is dismembered. For now they are cut off from the promised land and cast into Egypt.
At the end of the parable Jesus exhorts: Have salt in yourselves and live at peace with one another.
This encouragement ends the book of Genesis when their father has died and they come to Joseph with a lie supposedly from their father. Joseph indeed wants to live at peace with his brothers, even if they don't believe it, nor understand it.