Calling for Children: Luke 18:15-17

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While the Lord Jesus was in one place, some parents, or mothers, came with their infants to ask Him to put His hands on their heads and bless them. You may wonder what “to bless” means: it is to ask God to do good to one, and the one who blessed, put his hand on the head to show that the good was to be for that certain one. The mothers who brought those little ones to Jesus believed that He had come from God, and that what good He asked, would surely come true.
But the disciples seem to have thought those little ones too young for the Lord to care for, and they rebuked the parents, said they were wrong to bring them, and would have sent them away. How good that Jesus saw them, and called them to bring them to Him, and took them in His arms, put His hands on their heads, and blessed them.
The words Jesus spoke, in blessing those children, are not written, but His words, “Suffer [let] little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not,” are words we like to say over and over. For they show that the weakest or youngest is dear to Him, and He wants it near Him that He may bless it.
Jesus told them that even older people must be humble and trusting as little children, to be blessed, for all are “lost” from God because of sin. The people then did not know that Jesus must die, for God to do them good, but later those children would be told that Jesus died to give them the best blessings—forgiveness of sins, and a place with Him in heaven.
Forbid Them Not
Some people now say to wait to tell the children about the Lord until they are old enough to decide all matters for themselves, yet His words, “forbid them not,” tell us that idea is wrong. He was not pleased that the disciples tried to keep those little ones from coming to Him, so He cannot be pleased now if children are not told of His love.
Once a mother wanted her little boy to learn of the Lord, and she took him to a place called the tabernacle, or house of God. It was very plain on the outside like a large tent, but the inside was all gold with much to teach the people that God was holy, but also of His mercy.
The boy stayed there and helped the priest. One duty he had was to open the doors, or curtains, each morning, which would not be hard, but pleasant. But he learned most from God’s words to him, and he “let none of His words fall to the ground,” which meant he did not forget them, but kept thinking of them.
Do you know the boy’s name? It was Samuel, and when he was older he taught the people and told them the promise of the Saviour to come. So the Lord has always been glad to have children taught of Him.
So now when your parents wish you to listen to His Word, the Bible, or to go where it is taught, that is right. For it is by His words He calls each to come to Him. Whosoever, He has said, and that means each of us, and He will surely bless.
Further Meditation
1. What do the words “let little children come to Me” show us?
2. Our attitude toward the weak, defenseless, and lacking in aptitude shows whether the flesh or our new life in Christ is operating in us. Besides this chapter, where else in Luke are we shown the Lord’s treatment of the weak and helpless and His attitude toward them?
3. If you have the responsibility of the training and care of children, you might find How Should a Child Be Trained? by J. C. Ryle to be an excellent resource.