Let the Little Children Come to Me (Luke 18:15-17)

All three synoptic Gospels record one of the most beloved accounts: Jesus blessed little children (Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:15-17). Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Learn why Jesus said the kingdom of God belongs to infants and those like them.

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00:00 Let the Little Children Come to Me
08:49 Lesson One: Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me,” because (Part One) the kingdom of God belongs to them.
19:51 Lesson One: Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me,” because (Part Two) they exemplify salvation apart from works.
25:15 Lesson One: Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me,” because (Part Three) the kingdom of God belongs to people like them.
33:43 Lesson Two: The kingdom of God probably also belongs to the mentally handicapped.
40:21 Lesson Three: Regarding disabilities, God (Part One) is sovereign over them.
44:50 Lesson Three: Regarding disabilities, God (Part Two) wants to use them for his glory.

All three synoptic Gospels record the beloved account of Jesus blessing little children (Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:15-17). We will be focusing on Luke’s version:

Luke 18:15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Jewish parents commonly sought out prominent rabbis, which Jesus was, to bless their infants. Not only did the disciples try to stop the parents from bringing their children, they rebuked them. It looks like the disciples rebuked the parents, but then Jesus rebuked the disciples.

This is not one of the shining moments for the disciples. If you ever wonder if God can use you, think of some of some of the things the disciples did, and you will be encouraged he can. When I look at the behavior of the disciples at times, I’m encouraged that God can use me.

In the parallel account Mark 10:14 says, “When Jesus saw [what the disciples did], HE WAS INDIGNANT.” Based on what Jesus said, he seemed to be indignant because the disciples were destroying a spiritual truth he was trying to communicate. Infants were supposed to be able to come to Jesus physically, because it pictures infants being able to come to him spiritually, not just in this life but in the next. Preventing infants from being brought to Jesus could communicate they don’t have access to him.

Jesus Said, “Let the Little Children Come to Me,” Because the Kingdom of God Belongs to Them
Jesus made it clear infants have access to him with the words, “To such belongs the kingdom of God.” The words “to such” are incredibly important. In the NIV, NASB, and Amplified, it says, “such as these.” These words show Jesus wasn’t only saying the kingdom belongs to the infants brought to him. The kingdom also belongs to EVERY infant.

I’m not alone in interpreting this as a guarantee of babies’ salvation. When preaching on this passage John MacArthur said:

I am convinced that the Scripture is absolutely clear that when babies die and children die before reaching the point of personal accountability, they go to heaven. And I have collected all that material in a book.

I have a copy of his book, Safe in the Arms of God, which I referenced during these sermons. If you desire to understand infant salvation deeper than what I have taught, I highly recommend this book.

[This] passage gives Kingdom citizenship to both children and those who are like children. [They] have not yet any understanding to desire His blessing but when they are presented to Him, He gently and kindly receives them and dedicates them to the Father by a solemn act of blessing. It would be cruel to exclude that age from the grace of redemption. It is an irreligious audacity to drive from Christ’s fold those whom He held in His arms and shut the door on them as strangers when He did not wish to forbid them.
John Calvin (2013). “Commentary on Matthew”, p.388...

Read the rest of the blog post: https://www.scottlapierre.org/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/