Luke 18: 15 – 17
The Overlooked Group
15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
The Gospel writers Matthew and Mark also reported on this same incident so let’s also see what they wrote.
Mark 10: 13 – 16, “13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Matthew 19:13-15, “13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.”
Today’s topic [children] is a major one for me. Over 28 years ago after asking Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, I started attending a bible believing and teaching fellowship. I was so excited about being a child of God that I wanted to serve Him now where and no matter what service. So, the leader of this fellowship said to me, ‘How would you like to be a part of the clean up crew?’ At this time I was a Mr. Big Shot. I was a Postmaster of a huge facility with 120 employees. Me be in charge of cleaning up? Absolutely, where and when do I start.
For about 6 months I joined a great group of guys who cleaned up this catering hall where this fellowship was gathering for Sunday Services. They called me ‘wheels’ because I quickly took over stacking chairs and wheeling them out of the way so we could vacuum the who building. I never realized the after effects of wedding receptions until I started cleaning up the morning after. But anyway, after awhile I wanted to do more. The Pastor asked me if I would oversee the children. My answer, ‘I would be honored.’
Now 28 years later the Lord has allowed me to still minister to around 4000 kids each week at our church. So, I guess to can now understand why this subject hits straight at my heart.
I find it amazing that some Churches have various services where they advertise, ‘No Childcare’. Stop and think how stupid this is? By doing this, you are excluding a good portion of your church adults and children. You have single parents and kids that want to be fed and as a church leader you take a position of denying any service to minister to kids. I can understand that there is a great shortage in servants but what the heck, have you ever heard of praying. If you can find even just a couple of faithful servants you can minister. You can hold the infants while you put on some video’s, hand out crafts, etc. Wow! Come on people.
I find it very interesting that Luke writes that the little children are infants. To a large degree the parents wanted our Lord to bless their children much like adults do today. So, let’s take a look at these verses.
15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
This incident in one way stands by itself, but it is actually introductory to what follows, for it pronounces on how anyone must enter Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High’s - Kingdom.
At certain feasts it was a recognized thing that children could be brought to the Rabbis to be blessed, but this was not a special time and the disciples knew how tired The Lord Jesus was and what little opportunity He had had for rest. And so they rebuked the mothers for seeking to bother our Master Jesus. Do you think that the apostles would have so rebuked Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, if he had come again to see our Great King Lord Jesus? They had still not learned the true meaning of greatness.
16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
The Lord Jesus’ response to His disciples’ behavior was indignation. He had already pointed out to them that to receive such little children was to receive God Himself for they were His representatives on earth. They were open to receiving the truth as no others were. How wrong were they now. Perhaps they had thought that when He had said it previously, it was just an illustration and that He had not meant it.
I want you to see this throughout the Gospels and that is the special working of our Wonderful Holy Spirit. You see the powerful and the important and the learned were not responding to His Messianic Being. It was those who humbled themselves and became as little children who were responding. It was those who came with nothing but their need. And children were thus prime candidates to respond. The Kingdom of God was made up of such as these, and they therefore had a God-given right to it, and it was theirs. So they must not be refused the opportunity to meet the One Who would be their King, for in their innocence they had the right. Who knew what a difference this might make to their future lives?
In the Gospel of Luke chapter 11 verses 9-13, we read, 9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
We read that asking for the Holy Spirit is likened to a child asking its father for some simple thing. The child comes simply with its need and the father supplies abundantly. So should men seek to receive the Holy Spirit, as simply as a child receives a gift from its Father.
17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
The real problem is that the older we get then the harder it is to submit your all to the Lord Jesus Christ. I see this point ever day. When I talk to adults I have to be a salesman. They want to know the bargain - what’s the features and benefits for them personally. Adults are not receptive, open, responsive, simple, and believing like a little child is. They are prejudiced, self-opinionated, proud, and unwilling to believe unless it fitted in with their ideas. Thus until they could put such things aside and become childlike in their openness and response, until they could come like children with nothing but their openness and need, they could not and would not receive The One Who would give His life as a ransom.
We read in Mark’s version what our Lord did after her rebuked His disciples, “16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”
Having spoken sternly to His disciples He then turned to the children and opened His arms to them. Each was received and each was ‘firmly blessed’.
You all probably know this but I will say it anyway. Your children belong to God. He Is the One Who has assigned you as caretaker of His kids. This is an important responsibility and should always be in your thoughts.
Additionally, I find it amazing that throughout the world kids are not important. Outside the United States very few countries, save Israel, know of the importance of teaching the children about El Shaddai – God Almighty. It is my goal and vision through the advantage of the world wide web to change this condition. May the Lord grant me the resources and protection to reach this important generation.
