Little Children

By: J.W. B.

• 3 min. read • grade level: 6

"Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psalm 127:3³Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. (Psalm 127:3).

"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers." Pro. 17:6⁶Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. (Proverbs 17:6).

"And they brought unto Him also infants, that He would touch them: but when His disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Luke 18:15, 16¹⁵And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:15‑16).

"Then there were brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And He laid His hands on them, and departed thence." Matt. 19:13-15¹³Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. ¹⁵And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence. (Matthew 19:13‑15).

"And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them;...and He took them up in His arms, and put His hands upon them, and blessed them." Mark 10:13, 16¹³And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. (Mark 10:13)
¹⁶And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:16).

"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels [representatives] do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." Matt. 18:10¹⁰Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10). 11.

The infant as a child of Adam is lost, and the Son of man came to save. That this applies to all infants, as such, is clear. There is no difference between the children of believers and unbelievers. If they die before they come to the age of responsibility, they are saved. He came, it reads here, to save them, and not to seek and save, as in Luke 19:10¹⁰For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10).

An untold multitude of these little ones out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation will be in heaven—a goodly part of that which will constitute "the fruit of the travail of His soul."

The wondrous love of the Father and the Son thus displayed toward the infants, little children, and young children, as noted, may give those of us who are parents, and whose care and responsibility they are, an added incentive to endeavor to "bring them up in the nurture [discipline] and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4⁴And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)). It should also cause our children to give constant heed to God's command with promise: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." Eph. 6:1-3¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. ²Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) ³That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (Ephesians 6:1‑3).

How good to know that He who "shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom" (Isa. 40:11¹¹He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11)), is also the Lord of hosts (a millennial title) who "saith,...and the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof" (Zech. 8:4, 5⁴Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. ⁵And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. (Zechariah 8:4‑5)). Nor does He forget the dear mothers—"and shall gently lead those that are with young" (Isa. 40:11¹¹He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11)).

What a God is ours! Glory to His name!

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