January 11, 2026
Luke 18:15–17 ESV
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. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Discussion Questions:
1) Let’s look first at the incident itself. In our culture we do not bring our children to people to be blessed or touched.
- What was Jesus doing to the children and why?
- What does it tell us about the disciples that they rebuked them?
2) What are the lessons that we are to draw from this incident?
Discussion Summary:
In the Old Testament we often see older parents blessing their children and grandchildren (for example Genesis 48,49). But here we see a stranger, Jesus, blessing and engaging with children. Perhaps this is in fulfillment of Zechariah 10:6-8. More importantly it is illustrating the proper condition of heart needed to believe in Jesus and to believe in the Kingdom and to conform to the conditions of the kingdom. We see that Jesus himself modeled this relationship with the Heavenly Father when he addressed him as a child would in Mark 14:36 “Abba, Father.”
The disciples were unappreciative of this fundamental quality. They still did not see the necessity of full trust and teachableness that these children possessed. This was the wrong spirit that was also seen in the religious rulers of the day who Jesus said, “You did not enter yourselves and you hindered those who were entering” (Luke 11:52).
This child-like attitude of a meek and quiet spirit is necessary for Christians (1 Peter 3:4). God reveals the deep things to babes (Matthew 11:25-27). Christians are often referred to as “little children” (Galatians 4:19).
In verse 17 it states that one can receive the Kingdom, but if it is with the wrong heart attitude that person will not actually enter in. Throughout history we see how utopian ideals in the wrong hands often result in the worst injustices.
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