Let the Little Children Come
Matthew 19:13-15
Today, we come to a short and simple text in the middle of Matthew 19. It tells the heart-warming story about Jesus blessing the little children. This same story is included in the gospel of Mark (10:13-15) and the gospel of Luke (18:15-17). And in each of these accounts, the story is almost exactly the same. It begins with some parents bringing their children to Jesus. They wanted Jesus to place His hands upon the children, bless them, and pray for them. But the disciples attempt to turn the parents away. Jesus was displeased by His disciples’ response. He told them to allow and not forbid the children to come to Him. Jesus took them into His arms, blessed them, and prayed for them.
We’re glad to read about this little, tiny slice-of-life incident in Jesus’ earthly ministry. We’re thankful for a Savior who took the time from His busy ministry activities to welcome children, take them in His arms, and pray for them. We are enamored with our Lord, who genuinely loved humanity—even the insignificant and “least of these” who had no accomplishments or great abilities to their credit.
Even though this story is brief and uncomplicated, it is not undemanding. Like the disciples, we too can easily miss the heart of the Lord and need correction from Him when it comes to our attitudes toward children. What this passage teaches us is so important because it is crucial for the advance of the kingdom of God. As a church, if we ignore the lessons of this passage, we do so at the cost of our church’s future and at the risk of receiving the Lord’s rebuke.
This is not the first time Jesus has spoken about little children. You may remember that in Matthew 18, when His disciples came to Him asking who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus took a small child to Himself, set him in their midst, and said,
Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. (Matthew 18:3-5).
Although these two passages are similar, there’s an important difference between them. In Matthew 18, Jesus spoke about the “little ones” because the disciples were valuing themselves to highly—arguing over which of them was the greatest. But in Matthew 19, Jesus spoke about the “little ones” because the disciples were failing to value the children highly enough. Far from receiving or welcoming little children, in our text the disciples rebuke those who bring them and try to prevent their coming to Jesus. It seems that the disciples have not learned the lesson and they need a remedial course. They needed their attitudes changed. And I would ask each of us here today: do we need to have our attitudes changed to line up with Jesus’ heart for the little children?
Our text has three parts. In Matthew 19:13, we have the situation where children are brought to Jesus and the disciples rebuke them. In Matthew 19:14, we have Jesus’ invitation to the children and their kingdom significance. Finally, in Matthew 19:15, we have Jesus’ blessing and His departure.[1]
1. The Controversy over the Children (Matt. 19:13)
Matthew 19:13 begins, “Then little children were brought to Him.” Let me point out two things from this opening statement. First, the word translated as “little children” refers to very small children who needed to be taught and disciplined. When Luke tells this same story, he uses the word that is translated “infants”. These are little children, even babies, who are brought to Jesus. Second, the verb “brought” is passive. That is, the children did not bring themselves, they were brought by others—most likely their parents or grandparents.
And they brought them for a purpose. Matthew makes the reason clear for us, “… that He might put His hands on them and pray.” This implies both something about those who brought their children to Jesus. Those who brought their children to Jesus had likely heard of what great things that Jesus had done. They knew of the miraculous power that He possessed, as He healed people with His tender touch. Jesus touched the leper, and he was instantly cleansed (Matt. 8:3). Jesus touched the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law, and the fever instantly left her (Matt. 8:14). Jesus touched the eyes of blind men, and they received their sight (Matt. 9:29). These parents wanted to have their children receive a blessing from this mighty rabbi and healer, Jesus. Jewish children in Jesus’ day were often brought to rabbis and elders to be blessed, customarily by placing hands on them.[2] Perhaps you remember when Jacob placed his hands on his grandchildren and blessed them (Gen. 48:8-20).
Perhaps many of these parents had grown to have significant convictions about who Jesus was. Was this an expression of faith in Jesus to bring their little ones to Him?
Matthew sets these parents as a positive example. They brought their children to Jesus for a blessing. One of the greatest responsibilities we have as members of the Body of Christ is to bring little ones to Jesus Christ. If God has entrusted you with the care of children or grandchildren, you have the spiritual duty to actively bring them to Jesus! When they are tiny, and you hold them in your arms, you must whisper to them about the God who made them. You must take them on walks or let them look out the window; and tell them about the God who made the world around them. As they learn about God’s love for them, you must tell them about His Son, Jesus Christ. When they disobey, you must tell them about the reality of sin; and about how Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. And you must tell them about the eternal home Jesus is preparing in heaven for those who trust Him.[3] Bring them to Him!
Just before the people of Israel were about to enter the promised land, Moses, speaking by the Holy Spirit, said to them,
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
In other words, in the everyday activities of your family life, bring your children to know the Lord. Do you see how vital it is that word of God be passed down from generation to generation? Do you see how important “children” are in the plan of God? Let’s not break the chain of “faith” that runs from one generation to another. Let’s make it our commitment to follow the example set for us in this passage; and actively bring the little ones to Jesus!
We read about these people bringing children to Jesus and we say, “Of course! We should want children to come to Jesus.” But do we really? Or are we sometimes l more like Jesus disciples? Matthew 19:13 ends by telling us, “but the disciples rebuked them.”
Why did they rebuke the people who brought their children to Jesus? Perhaps the disciples were annoyed that Jesus was being delayed on his journey (Carson). Perhaps they were being interrupted in their important discussion with Jesus (Carson). Perhaps they were trying to protect Jesus from the nuisance that these children might be to Him, especially as He appeared to be tired and filled with tension while He thought about approaching Jerusalem (Barclay). Perhaps they thought that it would somehow dishonor Jesus to do such a lowly task of praying for children (Spurgeon). Perhaps they thought that children were lower class citizens, and not worthy of sharing the stage with Jesus. Perhaps they thought that “children were to be seen, but not heard.” We don’t know the exact reason, but we do know that their attitude was very wrong.[4] In Mark’s Gospel, we’re told that Jesus was “greatly displeased” with His disciples for trying to send them away (Mark 10:14).
So next, Jesus corrects their wrong perspective of children…
2. Jesus Welcomes the Children (Matt. 19:14)
The Lord gave His disciples a command in two parts. First, He said, “Let the little children come to Me” (Matt. 19:14a). This is the positive part of the command. And isn’t it interesting that He didn’t say, “Let the parents bring the little children to Me“? Notice that He focused on the children—”Let the little children come to Me”. The children were no burden to Jesus. He could see that even these tiny ones wanted to be near Him, and He Himself welcomed them to come.
Notice how joyfully Jesus accepted these children. You get the sense that He was eager to receive these children into His arms. He eagerly wanted to pray for them and to bless them. Jesus took these children into His arms because they were welcome to enter the kingdom. The song is true, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.” Yes, it’s also true that even the smallest of children are born as members of fallen humanity. None of us are born into the human family innocent, or without the taint of sin upon us. Even in a small child—given time—the flesh will begin to rebel against the grace of God. But it seems to me that when tiny children learn of who Jesus is, they are not so easily inclined to withdraw from Him as they would prove to be in later years—out of arrogant pride, or a love for sin. It’s a prime time for them to draw near to the Savior and learn of Him.
So, parents, bring your children to Jesus – raise them in the church and in the Lord. Grandparents, bring your grandchildren to Jesus – pray for your grandkids and be a loving and godly example to them. Churches, bring the little children to Jesus – pray for the children in your church; pray for the children’s ministry in your church; give and volunteer where you can.
The negative part of the command is “and do not forbid them.” The present imperative is telling them to stop forbidding or hindering them from coming. This is what the disciples were presently doing. In effect, Jesus says, “Stop it!” But before we wag our fingers at the disciples, let’s ask ourselves if we are ever a hindrance to children coming to Jesus. We can hinder them by allowing the things of this world to crowd out their vision of Him—filling out lives and theirs with so many activities that we forget the priority of worshiping and serving the Lord. We can hinder them by treating their budding love for Jesus as if it were something that didn’t matter. We can hinder them by not living a consistent Christian life at home before them—playing the hypocrite. We can hinder them by leading them into unbelief and sin. Think about Jesus’ words of warning from Matthew 18:5-7,
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:5-7).
May we never do anything to hinder little ones who are drawn to Jesus! Jesus rebuked His disciples for trying to stop the children from coming to Him. Would He rebuke you?
Jesus says that reason that we must let the little children come and we must not hinder them from coming is “for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:14). The kingdom of heaven is characterized by children such as these. Again, remember what Jesus said in Matthew 18,
“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3-4).
These children are a picture of the humility, dependence, and trust of those of any age who enter His kingdom.[5] These are the things that make children such an example for all of us. These are the sorts of characteristics that those in the kingdom possess. And the kingdom belongs to those who are like this. Jesus said in Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Who are the poor in spirit? They are those who recognize that they have nothing to bring to God but their sin and who gladly receive the free gift of salvation from His hand. They are those who have humbled themselves and become like little children.
If we understood true greatness in Jesus’ kingdom as He taught us, we’d never again be irritated by the presence of children who truly love Him and believe on Him. Rather, we’d be honored. As a church, children ought to be important to us. We ought to eagerly receive them. We ought to do what we can to help them, to teach them, to nurture them, and to train them.
Finally we see that …
3. Jesus Blesses the Children and Departs (Matt. 19:15)
Matthew 19:15 says, “And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.” Laying His hands on the children implies that He prayed over them and blessed them just as those who brought them wanted Him to. How very important this was to Jesus is indicated by the last phrase, “and departed from there.” Where was Jesus’ journey taking Him? We find out in the next chapter, Matthew 20:17, where it says that Jesus was “going up to Jerusalem.” That is why He crossed over to Judea beyond the Jordan in Matthew 19:1. It was His final journey to Jerusalem. And what was it that He was going up to Jerusalem to do? In Matthew 20:18-19 Jesus tells His disciples,
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again” (Matthew 20:18-19).
Could there be any more pressing matter than that? Was there any higher priority for Jesus than going to the cross to die for our sins? And yet, even as Jesus is bound for Jerusalem to finish this dreadful mission that the Father set before Him, nevertheless, Jesus prioritized the time to welcome the little children, to take them in His arms, to place His tender hands on them, blessing them, and praying over them.
Listen, if, in that context, Jesus prioritized giving His time and energy to the care and ministry of little children, then as a church of His followers we’d better do the same! So, let’s be sure that we do those things Jesus teaches us to do in this passage: that we actively seek to bring little ones to Him; that we earnestly seek His blessing upon them; that we do nothing to hinder them in drawing near to Him; that we humbly recognize the great value He places on them; and that we place as high a priority in ministering to them as He does.[6]
To minister to the little ones who believe on Jesus is to do the work of His kingdom!
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[1] Grant Osborne, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Matthew, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, p. 710.
[2] D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 420.
[3] Greg Allen, Let the Little Children Come!, https://www.bethanybible.org/archive/2007/120207.htm
[4] Steve Brandon, Let the Little Children Come, https://sermons.rvbc.cc/sermons/2004-035
[5] John MacArthur, MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew, Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL, p. 181.
[6] Greg Allen, ibid.
