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. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Luke 18: 15-17 ESV
Luke 18: 15-17
Ray Pritchard - Jesus is the little child’s best friend. His blessing has brought its benediction wherever his name has been heard. Christianity has always been the religion that safeguarded the rights of children. Wherever the gospel goes . . . it honors families . . . it ennobles motherhood . . . it protects and preserves the place of children. Where Christ is known and trusted and followed, and where his example is the model, there infancy is sacred and children are safe.
William Barclay - It was the custom for mothers to bring their children to some distinguished Rabbi on their first birthday that he might bless them. That is what the mothers wanted for their children from Jesus....It is one of the loveliest things in all the gospel story that Jesus had time for the children even when He was on the way to Jerusalem to die! - Precept Austin
Now they were bringing infants to Him that He might touch them - This is just 3 verses long, but there is so much here. It took John Macarthur two sermons to thoroughly cover this text and He has a book on the topics, or questions, that arise from here as well. I have heard many people touch on this passage over the years, and have even heard people, who share much of the same Reformed Theology that I attest to, regarding the gospel, use this passage to justify infant baptism. Such teachings as this can be more likened to Roman Catholic tradition, like christening, and are not textual or contextual to this chapter. Once we leave the context we are putting more weight on human want or opinion, what we would like and wish to be the case. I witnessed a couple leave a Reformed Baptist Church because it practiced believer's Baptism, which can easily and clearly be taught from Scripture. In their minds, coming from a Roman Catholic/Charismatic background, leaving said background because of it's many bad doctrines, yet they still felt that they were missing out on something by not having a ceremony where a pastor sprinkled their new infant. Some, I don't know about that couple, go so far as to believe in this practice as a saving grace. This is a very Pelagian sort of view, and easily likened to many Arminian/Evangelical views that focus on getting a child to walk forward and repeat a prayer. Sprinkled does not equal saved, and saying an incantation does not equal saved. I participated in such a prayer as a child, I had a moving experience and was later even baptized because it was the seeming natural progression, yet as a teenager I came to deny God all together. Even once I came to believe He existed I did not want Him as Lord because I wanted to hold that place for myself. Some may shake their head at that, but every time you do what God said not to do, every time you deny His Lordship, His reasonable demand of obedience from His creatures, you arrogantly place yourself upon the throne. Now these people were bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus, Who was a Rabbi, and this was not an uncommon practice. In their law was direct teachings about circumcision, which happened when a boy was 8 days old, and this was not saving either, but symbolic of their being set apart from the flesh, to be brought up in a Covenant Community, taught in the ways of God. In essence, it said, "though all the world go this way, yet I will bring my child up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
This is the responsibility of all parents, to bring their children to Christ, introduce them to the only Way to be right with God. That is even a command. It looks like this, read God's Word, obey God's Word, read it to your children, correct them when they are wrong, and both in word and deed, your example, show them what is right. Obey the command not to isolate ourselves, "forsaking the assembly", but rather take them to a church with sound teaching, being members of the body of Christ together. Through the teaching of God's Word show them Who God is and who they are in relationship to Him. Your household is your first evangelistic responsibility and opportunity. Take your children to Christ, He is the only Way. Pray for them that the Holy Spirit will so move upon their hearts as to convict them unto repentance and saving faith.
Steven Cole - I must disagree with Calvin (and many other usually fine expositors) who use this text to argue for infant baptism. There is not a drop of water in the passage. As Spurgeon puts it, “I might as well prove vaccination from the text” as infant baptism (“Children Brought to Christ, Not to the Font,” Spurgeon’s Sermons [Baker], 8:40-41). According to the New Testament, baptism follows saving faith in Christ as a public testimony of that faith. I believe that infant baptism is potentially damaging, because it gives a false sense of assurance to people who need to repent and believe in Christ. They think that since they were baptized, they will go to heaven, which is patently false. Personal faith in Jesus Christ is the only thing that saves. (Bringing Children to Jesus)
Robert Stein echoes Cole writing "Although this passage later became a proof-text for infant baptism (Jesus’ blessing the children has even been called a “baptism without water”), in the context of Jesus’ ministry these words do not deal with the issue of infant baptism. It is furthermore difficult to believe that Luke understood this passage as a reference to children’s baptism because for him baptism was intimately associated with repentance (cf. Lk 3:8; Acts 2:38) and faith (Acts 8:12–13; 16:31–33)." (See Luke: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition).
J C Ryle on touch them - There is reference here in all probability to the Jewish habit of laying hands on a child and blessing it. We have an instance in the case of Jacob blessing Joseph’s children. (Ge 48:14.) - Precept Austin
14Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” 16The people replied, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!… Joshua 24: 14-16
…5Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them. 6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22: 5-6
…2“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.” 4Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.… Ephesians 6: 2-4
And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them - "Children should be seen and not heard" is not a Bible verse. It is a sad mistake of the evangelical church that they introduce such things as "children's church", so that adults won't be bothered with children. They are a part of the covenant community, and they need to be at service in order to learn reverence, seeing it on display in their parents and others. Children don't automatically do the right thing, and they can be annoying, but we need to come together and calmly acclimate them to the service. A lot of things are inconvenient that are still worth doing, and our feelings should not in anyway override what God says.
“No children please!” These words are seldom voiced, but they’re often assumed when we are invited to hear a prominent speaker, teacher, or leader. The assumption is that children wouldn’t know what’s going on and they might annoy the speaker.
In Mark 10:13-16, the Lord’s disciples made a similar assumption about children and Jesus. But He was displeased when His disciples rebuked parents who brought their little ones to be blessed. Jesus knew that children, with their receptive hearts, were closest to His kingdom.
Many years ago, missionary Robert Moffat learned the importance of not overlooking children. Only a few people had come to one of his meetings because of bad weather. Although disheartened, he preached his message, not noticing a small boy who was operating the bellows of the organ. Before Moffat was finished, that boy had decided to become a missionary. His name was David Livingstone, who grew up to become God’s pioneering servant in Africa. - Precept Austin
…2In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved. 3Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. 4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth.… Psalm 127: 2-4
Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them - I can't save my children, but I know Who can, and so I want to bring them to Christ, to help them know Him. If you haven't trained your children in Christ then I hope, like I had to, that you will come to conviction over this. I am not against anyone feeling bad for the right reasons. I was made to feel quite miserable over it, and I realized that the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons that I ran into while fishing had heard more about the true God from me than my own kids. The stakes were eternal, and they were growing up so fast, only to enter a world that was anti-Christ, and I had not done my job to prepare them. If we really believe the Bible to be God's word, and it says, "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God", then how could I possibly be so smug in this, indifferent? Now, if you haven't read with your kids, start to, and if they are all grown, well then pray for them. Pray that God will change you in a way that they can't deny. Pray that you will grow in the knowledge of His word so that you have a patient and loving answer for them. Changing what God says will only send them away from God, because He holds His word up with His name. If you change the gospel, if you compromise it, then you're teaching another gospel, and it won't save.
…11when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel. 12Assemble the people— men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates— so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law. 13Then their children who do not know the law will listen and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”… Deuteronomy 31: 11-13
…12Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” 13Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD. 2 Chronicles 20: 12-13
For to such belongs the Kingdom of God - Back to the context at hand, and the context at hand has been the two different approaches to God. There's really only two, God's way through Christ, and man's way. There is justification by faith, or the strange fire of human achievement. There is the righteousness that comes by faith in the only begotten Son of God, that trust in His works, His atoning sacrifice, or there is self righteousness that thinks it's too smart to believe in God, too good on it's own to need God, or reliant on some work of the flesh and human will. So there is a contrast here in a child, one who is totally dependent on another, and that is the relationship of a believer to God. A child doesn't come relying on his or her experience, they have none. It's adults who play the Emperor's New Clothes, not children, they don't even get mad at what Jesus says, that's the adults, the Pharisees, the ones who already think they know everything, who have put themselves in the place of judge and declared themselves righteous by their own misinterpretations of the law. You have to become a child, and not just children, but small ones, total dependents, because that's where everyone starts out, you have to be born again.
…3“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.… Matthew 18: 3-5
…19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”… 1 Corinthians 14: 19-21
1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.… 1 Peter 2: 1-3
MacArthur - No one better illustrates the reality that only the lowly who have achieved nothing of merit enter the kingdom than infants. No one has achieved less morally and religiously than them; no one has less knowledge of or obedience to the law, or less devotion to God. Thus, infants perfectly illustrate the principle that God saves sinners apart from their achievements. While the proud and self-righteous are excluded from the kingdom, infants—and those who approach the kingdom like infants—are included. - J Mac from Precept Austin
Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it - I think this has been explained throughout both by what it is, and what it is not, but I am going to put a link at the end which I had to go over quite a bit, starting back in my studies on Matthew. I have disagreed with John MacArthur more than a few times throughout my life, but I don't consider religion to be about me being right. I believe there is a God Who said things which are revealed to us in Scripture, and I believe Him to always be right. We may struggle here and differ on things, but it is and always should be to the point of conforming to the image of Christ. So, where I have disagreed with John in my youth, I have in later years come to see that He was carefully teaching what Scripture taught, and I was in the wrong. In this instance it was more just needing to read and study the Scripture for myself, but at the end is a link, and I think this will be a great comfort on the subject for a lot of people regarding young children. Please go to the link and listen to an amazing teacher on this subject.
13Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. 15But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,… 1 Peter 1: 13-15
Spurgeon said "The kingdom of God consists of child-like spirits, persons like these children. Instead of needing to grow bigger in order to be fit to be Christians, we need to grow smaller. It is not the supposed wisdom of manhood, but the simplicity of childhood, that will fit us for the reception of divine truth. Alas! we are often too much like men, if we were more like children, we should receive the kingdom of God far more readily." (Luke 18 - exposition) In other words Spurgeon is saying we must not think a child cannot come to God until he is like a man, but a man cannot come until he is like a child. We must grow down until we become like a child. - Precept Austin
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