And embracing them and laying his hands upon them, he blessed them.
και εναγκαλισαμενος αυτα τιθεις τας χειρας επ αυτα ευλογει αυτα
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Mothers approached Him with their children, seeking His blessing. However, the disciples, for reasons unknown, tried to prevent them from reaching Him. The Lord intervened and stated that anyone desiring to receive honor in the kingdom of God must possess a childlike spirit.
Believing in God's fulfillment of the petitions of the righteous on behalf of others, many mothers approached Jesus Christ, hoping that He would lay His hands upon their children as a blessing. Due to the large crowd, not everyone was optimistic about receiving what they sought. However, their profound respect for Christ drove them to feel content with even a single touch from the Lord upon their little ones. The disciples, likely wishing to spare the Lord from what they deemed a trivial interruption, attempted to prevent the mothers from bringing their children to Him. This unwise action caused great distress to the Lord, leading Him to express His displeasure with them. Eventually, at His directive, the children were permitted to approach Him.
Not only did He touch them and lay His hands on them, but He also embraced them and blessed them, demonstrating His deep affection for the purity and innocence of children. He reiterated to His disciples that such children are among the most deserving members of the kingdom of God and that adults, too, will be welcomed into this kingdom only if they accept it with a childlike spirit.
Jesus listened to the mothers' appeals and the disciples' objections, declaring, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14). The Kingdom of Heaven welcomes those who are innocent like children. This had already been shared with the Apostles when they inquired about who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (see above, Mk. 9:36-37). He reiterated that unless one receives the Kingdom of God as a little child, they will not enter it (Mk. 10:15).
Do not prevent them from approaching Me. Child guardians, make these words a constant reminder in your daily lives! Ensure that you yourself do not obstruct your children from drawing near to Christ and remain vigilant so that no one misleads them. Remember, you are entrusted with the well-being of this flock of Christ. Merely refraining from hindering them is insufficient; you bear an even greater duty to guide your children towards Christ.
Do not be discouraged by the presence of a law teacher dedicated to the children; while he instructs them in God's Law, it is your role to instill this Law within their hearts. Ensure they fulfill it, teaching them that true joy on earth comes from loving others with a selfless and forgiving spirit. By your own life, demonstrate that existence in Christ is the only truly fulfilling life within the Kingdom of God and that it opens the gates to the Kingdom of Heaven. If you find yourself unable to lead your children to Christ due to your own lack of belief or disregard for acts of faith, seek another path; do not take on the heavy burden of that responsibility, even if only morally, which could lead you to realize that it would be better for a millstone to be tied around your neck than to face such a fate.
The disciples, believing that His noble ministry would be impeded, attempted to prevent mothers with their little ones from approaching Him. However, the Savior quickly rebuked their misdirected intentions, instructing them: "Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Following this, He welcomed the children and laid His holy hands upon them, demonstrating to His disciples and the gathered crowd that "whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child"—that is, with pure innocence and selflessness—"shall not enter therein." Emulating the Savior’s example, the Church that He established began to embrace children through baptism, not waiting until they reached maturity.
In His affectionate embrace, we see a profound love for the innocent essence of the child, which represents the ultimate reflection of restored human nature through Christ's redemptive work. The parents approached the Lord with their children, desiring merely for Him to touch them; however, the Lord goes beyond that act. He welcomes them into His arms, lays His hands upon them, and imparts His blessings, serving as a lesson to the disciples and all believers who would hesitate to bring the little ones to Him.
He welcomed them with open arms, placed his hands upon them, and bestowed his blessing.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 9 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS