08/23/2017 SUFFER THE CHILDREN
Luke 18:15-16 Now they were bringing even infants to HIM that HE might touch them: and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 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.…” [Revised Standard translation]
Mark 10:14 But when JESUS saw it [that the disciples were rebuking those who were bringing the young children], 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. [King James translation]
Biblical Comment
The story of JESUS blessing the little children is in several of the gospels. (See also Matthew 19:14) It is recorded that people started bringing babies and little children to JESUS so HE would touch them and bless them. The crowd must have been large because the disciples stepped in and started to redirect them away. But JESUS stopped the disciples saying, “suffer the children” or let them come to me, because the Kingdom of GOD belong to such as these.
Many believe the King James translations using the word “suffer”comes from the old English translation of the word which means “permit” or “allow” or “do not forbid it.”
Some believe that this scripture was to show that no one is too old or too young to be brought to JESUS. Others believe that this scripture points out that children are humble, trusting, and unpretentious—and that this is how JESUS wants us to come to GOD.
Still others believe that the very nature of children is dependency (they need someone to feed them, provide clothing and shelter and make sure their needs are met) and that if we approach GOD seeking HIS provision, and recognize GOD as our GREAT PROVIDER, we are acknowledging our relationship to GOD and HIS to us. We are acknowledging that we simply need HIM for everything.
Finally, there are others who believe that this is just part of JESUS’ teachings about children and his teachings about “greatness.” Like today and all times in history, “greatness” has always been a human “obsession.” People often want to know who is the greatest basketball player, the greatest baseball player, the greatest actor, the greatest president, the greatest entertainer, the greatest world leader, greatest businessperson, greatest preacher, greatest “whatever.” Whatever the sport, the title, the office, someone will always want to be at the top or greater than someone else. The disciples were not immune from the desire to try to want to be or know who was “the greatest.” When they asked JESUS who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, JESUS just grabbed a little child and set the child in the midst of them. (Mathew 18:1)
JESUS left no doubt that HE cared about children and that children should not be overlooked. Instead of being focused on human greatness, JESUS hopes that we would realize our position as “all of GOD’s children” and focus on GOD’s GREATNESS instead of our own.