Matthew 19:13-15
The King welcomes the little ones His disciples are tempted to push away.
13 Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”
15 He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.
The King welcomes the little ones his disciples are tempted to push away.
Matthew shows Jesus correcting the disciples' obstruction of children by welcoming them, blessing them, and declaring that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
Children in the ancient world were loved within households but had little public status or social power. Bringing children for touch and prayer reflects a desire for blessing from a recognized teacher and healer. The disciples' rebuke reveals a status-filtering instinct that Jesus overturns by making room for the children and identifying such lowly recipients with the kingdom's character.
Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ
Jesus restores creation design, receives the lowly, exposes the idol of wealth, declares salvation impossible apart from God, and promises eternal reward to those who leave all to follow him.