Like a Child

 Greeting.

Today. I will continue my exegesis of Luke 18.  this time, looking at verses 15-17, where Jesus challenges the thinking of his apostles, who trying to prevent the little children from coming to Jesus. Here is my translation of Luke 18:15-17:

15 People were bringing their small children to Jesus, so he could bless them.  But seeing this, the disciples rebuked these people. 16 Jesus called the disciples to him and told them, “Allow the children to come to me.  Don’t hinder them, because the kingdom of God belongs to them. 17 I am telling you truly, those who do not receive the kingdom of God like a child, will not enter it.

So, what is going on here? People were bringing their small children to Jesus so that he could lay his hands on them and bless them.  This was a normal thing to do.  People would bring their children to the elders and scribes for a blessing on the eve of the Day of Atonement. 

However, the disciples, probably thinking that this was a waste of Jesus’ time, rebuked people from bringing their children to Jesus.  As was often the case, the disciples thought they were doing a good thing, but in reality, it was the opposite of what Jesus wanted. 

Time is valuable.  We understand that. Jesus was busy, but he establishes here that he was not so busy that he could not give some time to children.  People have great value, no matter what size. Jesus pulled the disciples aside and told them to stop doing what they were doing.  They were to allow the children to come to him, and to stop hindering such actions.  Jesus declares the value of children, a group that held little or no value in that society.  In fact, he declared that God’s kingdom belonged to them.   (That must have been mind-blowing for the disciples, as they were constantly waiting for the coming of the kingdom.) Jesus goes on to say that not only does God’s kingdom belong to children, anyone who wants to enter the kingdom must be like children. 

Darrell Bock says this: “The simple dependent attitude of little children is a picture of the disciple’s attitude in walking with God.  Such simple trust is a prerequisite for entry into the benefits of God’s rule.  In the kingdom and in one’s walk, to be a child at heart is a good thing.” (Bock, 1472.) 

This simple child-like dependence on God is a prerequisite for entry into His kingdom.  So what does that mean for us? God looks for to keep that child-like faith, continually trusting in his continued protection and provision, just like a child would.