Matthew 19:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Or the disciples would have thrust them away, from respect to Christ’s dignity1. But the Lord teaching them holy thoughts, and to subdue the pride of this world, took the children into His arms, and promised to such the kingdom of heaven; But Jesus saith unto them, Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

And He said distinctly, Of such is the kingdom of heaven, not Of these, to shew that it was not years, but disposition that determined His judgment, and that the reward was promised to such as had like innocence and simplicity.

Mark notes that He welcomed the children, placing His hands upon them to shower them with His blessings. This act was in response to the request of those who had brought the children to Him, who desired that He pray for them and bless them. In doing so, He demonstrated His readiness to embrace and draw close to the unkind, bestowing His protective power upon them, enriching and sanctifying their lives.

For they now understood from His previous mighty works, that by laying on of His hands and by prayer evils were obviated. They bring therefore children to Him, judging that it were impossible that after the Lord had by His touch conveyed divine virtue into them, harm or any demon should come nigh them.

The infants are a type of the Gentiles, to whom salvation is rendered by faith and hearing. But the disciples, in their first zeal for the salvation of Israel, forbid them to approach, but the Lord declares that they are not to be forbidden. For the gift of the Holy Ghost was to be conferred upon the Gentiles by laying on of hands, as soon as the Law had ceased.

For it was a custom among the ancients that little children should be brought to aged persons, to receive benediction by their hand or tongue, and according to this custom little children are now brought to the Lord.

The only thing that prevents the creature from approaching the Creator is corruption and distortion, while a lack of understanding does not obstruct this approach. For He seeks completeness, and to that completeness, the approach is granted. Thus, the statement "Of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19:14) is appropriately made. He did not say ‘them’ but rather ‘such,’ as it is a common human trait to lack wisdom. Turning away from this deficiency, the apostle cautioned, "Be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children" (1 Cor. 14:20). Mark elaborated on this expression, emphasizing, "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein" (Mark 10:15).

And after laying His hands on them, He departed from that place. St. Chrysostom teaches us that to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, we must earnestly strive to embody the virtue of humility and blend straightforwardness with insight. This represents the essence of an angelic life. The soul of a child is untainted by passions; a child forgives easily and approaches those who have wronged them as if they were friends, forgetting any offense. Regardless of how much a mother disciplines her child, her love remains unparalleled. If offered a queen adorned with a crown, the child would still choose to be with a mother dressed in simple garments, valuing her presence over opulence.

Mothers approached Him with their children, seeking His blessing. For reasons unknown, the disciples sought to prevent them from coming forward. However, the Lord intervened, stating that anyone desiring to receive the honor of the kingdom of God must possess a childlike spirit.

Believing that God answers the supplications of righteous individuals on behalf of others, numerous mothers approached Jesus Christ with their children, seeking His touch to bless them. Due to the large crowd, not everyone had high hopes of receiving what they sought. Nevertheless, the mothers held such deep respect for Christ that they were content with even a single touch from Him upon their children. The disciples, perhaps perceiving this as a trivial matter and not wishing to disturb the Lord, tried to prevent the mothers from bringing their children to Him. This unkind act from the disciples upset Jesus significantly, prompting His anger.

Jesus responded to the cries of the mothers and the objections of the disciples by saying, "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 is reserved for those who are innocent and pure like children. Previously, Christ had addressed the apostles when they inquired about who holds the greatest position in the kingdom of heaven. He reiterated that anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it (Mark 10:15). Do not prevent them from approaching Me. Parents and guardians, take these words to heart and place them in a prominent place within your homes, reflecting on them as you fulfill your roles.

The apostles, believing that allowing mothers with their children to approach Him was a distraction from His sacred mission, decided to turn them away. However, the Lord quickly addressed their misguided intentions, instructing them, “Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” After welcoming the children and placing His holy hands upon them, He conveyed to His disciples and the gathered crowd that “whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child,” meaning with purity and a selfless heart, “shall not enter therein.” Following the Lord's example, the Church that He established began to embrace children into its community through the sacrament of baptism, not postponing this grace until they reached a certain age.

Observing this, Jesus Christ called the children to Him and addressed the disciples, who exhibited unreasonable jealousy, with exasperation, saying, “Let the children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” The teachings of kindness, purity, meekness, and humility that the Lord imparted to His disciples through the example of a child were evidently overlooked by them. Reminding them of this, He reiterated what they could learn from a child: “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” The only individual permitted to enter the kingdom of God is the one who welcomes it within, bearing the same heart and trust of a sincere, innocent child.