Mark 10:13-16, Let the Children Come to Me

¹³ And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. [It was common practice for parents to have rabbis touch and bless their children. Were the disciples trying to guard Jesus against this practice? Perhaps they considered the children unimportant and Jesus in need of rest.] ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. [The disciples have failed to understand the love of Jesus and the nature of the kingdom, and that none is unimportant in God’s eyes.] ¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” [What Jesus seems to be saying is that we are to have the trustfulness of a child, the guileless faith placed by a child in one who it loves.] ¹⁶ And he took them [his children] in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.