July 5, 2026 · Mark Bishop

Just a Kid

“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.” The word for “infants” here is the Greek word βρέφος, which indicates that they are either unborn or in the early stages of life. This can change how we read this verse since it’s not “kids” that we would see playing on a playground, but babies in a nursery. Thus the “they” the verse is referring to would be parents, relatives, or adults taking care of the babies. Because some parents have other children, especially in this culture, then their older children were probably around also. Jesus ends up using a different word by saying “Let the παιδίον come to me”. This word refers to a child, more likely under the age of puberty. The picture we have is parents bringing their newborn or unborn children to Jesus, as well as their other kids. The disciples didn’t like all the babies and kids coming to Jesus. Why? I tend to believe it was because both were oblivious to anything going on. A baby wouldn’t be able to follow Christ or understand the Lordship of the Messiah, and the kids were not seen as important. The infants had no idea about the world, could not feed themselves, and were totally dependent on an adult to take care of them; the children, though they could speak were still dependent. This following a Rabbi thing is only for adults. No matter the age, they were dependent on their parents or guardian to look after, protect, and take care of them. Jesus speaks up to share a very different concept to everyone that the kingdom of God belongs to them, and “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 389”

Luke 18:15-17 →