Matthew 19:13-15

Jesus and Little Children

19:13 Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray. ¹  But the disciples scolded those who brought them. ²  19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ³  19:15 And he placed his hands on them and went on his way. ⁴ 

[19:13]  ¹ tn Grk “so that he would lay his hands on them and pray.”

[19:13]  ² tn Grk “the disciples scolded them.” In the translation the referent has been specified as “those who brought them,” since otherwise the statement could be understood to mean that the disciples scolded the children rather than their parents who brought them.

[19:14]  ³ sn The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Children are a picture of those whose simple trust illustrates what faith is all about. The remark illustrates how everyone is important to God, even those whom others regard as insignificant.

[19:15]  ⁴ tn Grk “went from there.”