TBC Notes

“Suffer [Let] the Little Children to Come unto Me”

Those words by Jesus in Mark:10:14But 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.
See All... were twofold. They were a reprimand toward His disciples who reacted by rebuking "those that brought" the little ones to Jesus. Jesus told them they were to "forbid them not" to keep them from Himself, the One whose love for them knows no bounds. He adds, "...for of such is the kingdom of God." How so? An important quality of a little child is his humble dependence on others. 

 Jesus underscores that characteristic in Matthew 18: “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted [repent of your self-reliance], and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (vv 1-4).

As Christ had previously stated in Mark 10, "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put hishands upon them, and blessed them” (vv 15-16).

T. A. McMahon

Executive Director