Rather than a big introduction this time, let’s pick up in the 13th verse of Mark 10, and then discuss it.
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.
Mark 10:13 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.10.13.NIV
I think that, in general, successive generations have often had some friction between them. This is not something new in today’s culture (despite the fact that it sometimes seems to be a surprise when it occurs). As I get older, I might feel like younger generations don’t want to have as much to do with me, but then I remember that I did much the same when I was their age. Conversely, younger generations aren’t always respected by those that have gone before them. Consider how some people today pick on so-called “millennials” or “Gen Z”, stereotyping them as lazy, self-centered, or just unable to fit into a world run by older people. Of course, there have always been individuals who “live down” to the expectations of others, just as my generation had its bad seeds, too. However, there are also good examples of intelligent, driven, polite, and motivated people in each generation.
So, maybe children in Jesus’ day were supposed to be “seen but not heard”, or maybe they weren’t considered important enough to take up a rabbi’s time. I don’t know for sure, but I suspect that we should look at the disciples’ reaction as more typical of their culture, or perhaps of them trying to make good use of Jesus’ time, rather than them having a personal issue with children overall.
Regardless of why the disciples did what they did, though, what did Jesus do?
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Mark 10:14-16 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.10.14-16.NIV
Jesus was not only willing to receive these children and bless them, but He also made a point about how they are good examples of those who receive the kingdom of God in the right way. We know that Jesus loved everyone for who they were, and not for what they could do for Him or whether they came from the same background as He did. However, children had certain qualities that were illustrative of those who would enter the kingdom of God.
That makes for a good teaching, but if we are going to learn from it, we must answer this: What qualities of little children should we have in order to enter the kingdom of God? For instance:
- Trust in someone else to provide for us?
- Obedience to an authority?
- Openness to learning new things?
- Acceptance of love, even when we haven’t done anything to earn it?
- [Per Black, p.183] Being humble enough to know that we can’t do everything on our own?
Maybe you can think of other attributes of children that we should emulate as part of God’s family. If so, I encourage you to share them in the comments below.
I’m not sure whether we can learn the specific answer (i.e., what Jesus had in mind at that particular time) from just this text, but I wondered this: How many of our “bad habits” as long-time Christians come from thinking that we are more than “children” of God – that we are somehow grown up enough to not need Him as much as we used to? I mean, what could be more amazing than being adopted into the family of God Himself, because He loved us so much that He sought us out when we had run away from Him? However, when we become too busy to talk with our Father in Heaven, or too independent to listen to what He has to say to us, or too smart on our own to do what He taught us to do; then, we have lost some of the basics of being little children of God’s.
So, let’s cultivate a child-like faith today, and not be too proud to think that we don’t need all that our Heavenly Father offers us.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for November 9, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Mark, by Allen Black. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 