Bird's-eye view
In this brief but potent interaction, we see a clash of two economies, two ways of evaluating what is important. The disciples, operating under a worldly calculus of efficiency and importance, see the children as a distraction from the Master's real work. Jesus, on the other hand, reveals the true economy of the kingdom, where value is inverted. He doesn't just tolerate the children; He declares that the kingdom of heaven is actually constituted by people with their kind of dependent faith. This passage is a profound statement on the nature of faith, the heart of God toward the vulnerable, and the very fabric of the covenant community. It serves as a sharp rebuke to all forms of self-important gatekeeping and a glorious invitation to come to Christ with empty, open hands, just as a child would.
Outline
- 1. The Presentation of the Children (v. 13a)
- 2. The Rebuke of the Disciples (v. 13b)
- 3. The Correction from the King (v. 14)
- a. The Command: Let Them Come (v. 14a)
- b. The Reason: The Kingdom's Constitution (v. 14b)
- 4. The Blessing and Departure (v. 15)
Clause-by-Clause Commentary
v. 13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
Here we have a simple and beautiful desire on the part of these parents. They wanted Jesus to bless their children. The act of bringing them to Him was an act of faith. They believed Jesus was a man of God, a conduit of divine blessing, and they wanted this blessing for their little ones. The laying on of hands was a common biblical practice for imparting a blessing, for setting someone apart, for identifying with them. These parents weren't seeking a healing for a dramatic ailment, but rather the simple, profound blessing of the Messiah on their offspring. This is the essence of covenantal thinking. God's promises are for us and for our children.
But then we run into the disciples. They "rebuked them." The "them" likely refers to the parents, the ones bringing the children. Why would they do this? In their minds, Jesus was engaged in high-stakes kingdom business. He was debating Pharisees, healing the desperately ill, and teaching foundational truths. Interrupting this for a sentimental moment with some toddlers seemed, to them, like a gross misallocation of time and energy. They were acting as Christ's event managers, his security detail, and they deemed this particular request unworthy of His attention. They were wrong, of course, and their rebuke reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of Christ's kingdom. They saw importance in terms of worldly influence, power, and intellect. Jesus was about to correct their thinking in the most direct way possible.
v. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Jesus' response is sharp and immediate. "Let the children alone." He overrides his disciples' misguided attempt to manage His schedule. He tells them, in no uncertain terms, to get out of the way. "Do not hinder them." This is a standing order for the church in all ages. One of our primary tasks is to remove hindrances that we, in our foolish wisdom, might place between people and Jesus. And this is especially true when it comes to children.
Then He gives the reason, and it is a thunderclap. "For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Notice He does not say the kingdom belongs to these specific children, but to "such as these." He is describing the kind of person who inherits the kingdom. What are the characteristics of a child? Dependence. Trust. Humility. A lack of pretense. They don't come to Jesus with a resume of accomplishments or a portfolio of good works. They come with empty hands, simply to receive. This is the posture of every true believer. We do not enter the kingdom because we are strong, wise, or accomplished, but because we are weak, foolish, and helpless, and we cast ourselves entirely on the mercy of Christ. The disciples thought the children were a distraction from the kingdom's business; Jesus declares that the children are a perfect illustration of the kingdom's citizens.
This is a foundational text for our understanding of covenant children. They are not outsiders to be evangelized into the kingdom as though they were little pagans. They are brought by believing parents into the presence of Jesus because they belong there. They are part of the visible covenant community, and we are to treat them as such, raising them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
v. 15 And after laying His hands on them, He departed from there.
Jesus does what the parents had asked. He lays His hands on them. This is not a magical incantation, but a tangible sign of His favor and blessing. It is an act of identification. He is identifying with them, and they with Him. He is conferring His goodness upon them. This is the gospel in miniature. We bring nothing, and He gives everything. He touches the unclean and makes them clean. He blesses the small and makes them great in His kingdom.
Having done this, He "departed from there." He didn't linger. The act was simple, profound, and complete. He had corrected His disciples, welcomed the children, and demonstrated the nature of His kingdom. The lesson was given, the blessing imparted. This interaction, though brief, reshapes our understanding of value, importance, and the very heart of God. It teaches us that the way into the kingdom is not to grow up and become sophisticated, but to humble ourselves and become like children, trusting wholly in the one who welcomes us and blesses us.
Application
The first and most obvious application is for the church in how it views and treats children. Children are not a distraction or a necessary inconvenience. They are not the church of tomorrow; they are the church of today. We must not hinder them from coming to Jesus. This means we must teach them the Scriptures, pray for them, and include them in the life of the covenant community. It means our churches should be places where children are welcomed, not just tolerated.
Secondly, this passage is a rebuke to all our pride and self-sufficiency. We are constantly tempted to think that we have something to offer God, that our maturity, our knowledge, or our service makes us worthy of His attention. Jesus demolishes this way of thinking. The entrance requirement for the kingdom of heaven is to recognize that you have nothing. It is to come with the simple, dependent trust of a child. We must all be humbled and come to Christ as these little ones did, seeking only His blessing.
Finally, this is a great comfort to Christian parents. You are not foolish to bring your children to Jesus. It is the most natural and faithful thing in the world to desire Christ's blessing upon your children. When you bring your child for baptism, when you teach them to pray, when you read them the Bible, you are doing exactly what these parents did. You are bringing them to Jesus, and He has promised not to cast them out. He receives them, lays His hands on them, and blesses them.