"Suffer the Little Children"

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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I cannot pass by the mothers who brought their “little children” to our Lord, that He might put his hands on them and pray. We find the story told three times: 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); Mark 10:13-1613And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13‑16); Luke 18:15-1715And 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. 17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. (Luke 18:15‑17). Luke, the doctor, tells us that they were “newborn babes” (Brephos). Mark, who so often records minute details of our Lord’s look, or tone, or act, tells us that “He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.” Here the Spirit of God uses a very strong word for bless, reserved for these little children alone, and used in no other place in the New Testament. It might be translated, “He fervently blessed them”. And when the disciples rebuked these mothers, Mark tells us also, that the Lord was “much displeased.” Again the Spirit uses a very strong word, that has the meaning of being “grieved, indignant, and angry.” You remember how He said: “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and hinder them not.” (New Translation). We read in the New Testament six times of others being much displeased, or grieved, or indignant, or angry: the disciples themselves on more than one occasion, the Pharisees, the ruler of the synagogue. But only once do we ever find this word used of our Lord, and that was towards His own disciples, when they tried to hinder the mothers bringing their little ones to Him. There is a very grave lesson for us in this word; for, sad to say, there are many today, good men too, who walk in the disciples footsteps, and seek to hinder Christian parents bringing their little children to the Lord. These persons think they are doing God service, but I sadly fear their Lord is grieved, indignant, angry. “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.”