Introduction

The next two verses in our ongoing study is 19:13-15 where Jesus blesses the little children.  I’m not going to spend a lot of time here because a couple of weeks ago we discussed the humility and being childlike in order to enter the kingdom of God, and these three verses are very similar.  And we have a story about a Rich Young Ruler we should finish today.

There are a few differences in Matthew 19:13-15 though.

Then some children were brought to Him so that He would lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them to come to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

In verse 13, we witness parents bringing their children to Jesus so He might lay His hands on them and pray. However, the disciples rebuke those bringing the children, perhaps thinking they were bothering Jesus. But Jesus’ response is striking.  In verse 14, He says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus indicates the high value He places on children, though the society at the time might see them as less important. Then, in verse 15, Jesus lays His hands on the children, blessing them, a gesture of love and acceptance before He departs.

Back in Matthew 18:2-4, Jesus had told the disciples “unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” The parallels are evident: both passages emphasize the spiritual significance of children and childlike qualities, though Matthew 19 focuses on Jesus’ welcoming and blessing of the actual children, and Matthew 18 draws more on the metaphor of childlikeness and humility as qualities necessary to enter God’s kingdom.

I did look into whether these were the same events because it seemed to me the disciples weren’t “getting it.”  Jesus first admonished the disciples to be like children, and then he tells them not to get in the way of the children.  Commentaries conclude these are two different events, though, and part of Matthew’s insights about how the character of Jesus was progressively revealed to the disciples.

Discussion question: Any insights on these 3 verses before we move on to the parable of the Rich Young Ruler?

To God be the Glory, amen.