Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
14. of such is the kingdom of heaven ] Love, simplicity of faith, innocence, and above all, humility, are the ideal characteristics of little children, and of the subjects of the kingdom.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jesus said, Suffer little children, … – Mark adds, he was much displeased at what the disciples said. It was a thing highly gratifying to him, and which he earnestly sought, that children should be brought to him, and a case where it was very improper that they should interfere.
Of such is the kingdom of heaven – The kingdom of heaven evidently means here the church. See the notes at Mat 3:2. In Mark and Luke it is said he immediately added, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter therein. Whosoever shall not be humble, unambitious, and docile, shall not be a true follower of Christ or a member of his kingdom. Of such as these – that is, of persons with such tempers as these – is the church to be composed. He does not say of those infants, but of such persons as resemble them, or are like them in temper, is the kingdom of heaven made up. As emblematic, therefore, of what his own followers were to be, and as having traits of character so strongly resembling what he required in his followers, it was proper that they should be brought to him. At the same time, it was proper on their own account that they should be brought to him, and that his blessing should be sought on them.
All are fallen; all have, a tendency to sin, and none but Jesus can save them. Little children, too, are in a world of sickness and death, and in the beginning of life it is proper to invoke on them the blessing of the Saviour. They are to live forever beyond the grave; and as they have just entered on a career of existence which can never terminate, it is an appropriate act to seek the blessing of that Saviour who only can make them happy forever, as they enter on their career of existence. No act, therefore, can be more proper than that by which parents, in a solemn ordinance of religion, give them up to God in baptism, consecrating them to his service, and seeking for them the blessing of the Saviour. It is probable – it is greatly to be hoped – that all infants will be saved. No contrary doctrine is taught in the sacred Scriptures. But it does not appear to be the design of this passage to teach that all infants will be saved. It means simply that they should be suffered to be brought to Christ as amiable, lovely, and uncorrupted by the world; as having traits of mind resembling those among real Christians; and as themselves needing his blessing.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. Of such is the kingdom of heaven.] Or, the kingdom of heaven is composed of such. This appears to be the best sense of the passage, and utterly ruins the whole inhuman diabolic system of what is called non-elect infants’ damnation; a doctrine which must have sprung from Moloch, and can only be defended by a heart in which he dwells. A great part of God’s kingdom is composed of such literally; and those only who resemble little children shall be received into it: see on Mt 18:3. Christ loves little children because he loves simplicity and innocence; he has sanctified their very age by passing through it himself – the holy Jesus was once a little child.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Both Mark and Luke add something to this story. Mark saith, Mar 10:14-16, When Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Luke saith the same, Luk 18:16, only he saith, he called them unto him, and leaves out what Mark hath, Mar 10:16 of Christ taking them up in his arms, putting his hands upon them, and blessing them. From this text divines will prove the baptism of children, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven; which whether we understand of the church, and the dispensation of the grace of Christ under the gospel, viz. that the gospel church is made up of infants as well as more adult persons, or that the grace of Christ under the gospel, viz. remission of sins through the blood of Christ, doth belong to some children, as well as to grown persons; or of the kingdom of glory, viz. children shall go to heaven as well as grown persons; the argument is well drawn from this text, Those who have a right to a membership in the church are to be baptized; or, Those who have a right to the kingdom of glory may be baptized. But one or both of these are affirmed in this text. We must take heed we do not found infant baptism upon the example of Christ in this text, for it is certain that he did not baptize these children; Mark only saith, he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. The argument for infant baptism from this text is founded upon his words, uttered on this occasion, not upon his practice. Mark addeth, that our Saviour told them, that unless a man received the kingdom of God as a little child, he could not enter into it. But we opened those words before, Mat 18:3, where we met with the same in effect.
See Poole on “Mat 18:3“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But Jesus said, suffer little children…. This he said to show his humility, that he was not above taking notice of any; and to teach his disciples to regard the weakest believers, and such as were but children in knowledge; and to inform them what all ought to be, who expect the kingdom of heaven; for it follows;
and forbid them not to come unto me, now, or at any other time;
for of such is the kingdom of heaven; that is, as the Syriac renders it, “who are as these” or as the Persic version, rather paraphrasing than translating, renders it, “who have been humble as these little children”: and it is as if our Lord should say, do not drive away these children from my person and presence; they are lively emblems of the proper subjects of a Gospel church state, and of such that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: by these I may instruct and point out to you, what converted persons should be, who have a place in my church below, and expect to enter into my kingdom and glory above; that they are, or ought to be, like such children, harmless and inoffensive; free from rancour and malice, meek, modest, and humble; without pride, self-conceit, and ambitious views, and desires of grandeur and superiority. Christ’s entire silence about the baptism of infants at this time, when he had such an opportunity of speaking of it to his disciples, had it been his will, has no favourable aspect on such a practice. It is not denied that little children, whether born of believers or unbelievers, which matters not, may be chosen of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and have the passive work of the Spirit on their souls, and so enter into heaven; but this is not the sense of this text. It was indeed a controversy among the Jews, whether the little children of the wicked of Israel, , “go into the world to come”: some affirmed, and others denied; but all agreed, that the little children of the wicked of the nations of the world, do not. They dispute about the time of entrance of a child into the world to come; some say, as soon as it is born, according to Ps 22:31 others, as soon as it can speak, or count, according to Ps 22:30 others as soon as it is sown, as the gloss says, as soon as the seed is received in its mother’s womb, though it becomes an abortion; according to the same words, “a seed shall serve thee”: others, as soon as he is circumcised, according to Ps 88:15 others, as soon as he can say “Amen”, according z to Isa 26:2 All weak, frivolous, and impertinent.
z T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 110. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Suffer (). “Leave them alone.” Second aorist active imperative.
Forbid them not ( ). “Stop hindering them.” The idiom of with the present imperative means just that.
Of such ( ). The childlike as in 18:3f.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Suffer [] . Lit., leave alone. Compare Mr 14:6; Mr 14:36; Luk 13:8. Sir J. Cheke : Let these children alone.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
14. Suffer children. He declares that he wishes to receive children; and at length, taking them in his arms, he not only embraces, but blesses them by the laying on of hand; from which we infer that his grace is extended even to those who are of that age. And no wonder; for since the whole race of Adam is shut up under the sentence of death, all from the least even to the greatest must perish, except those who are rescued by the only Redeemer. To exclude from the grace of redemption those who are of that age would be too cruel; and therefore it is not without reason that we employ this passage as a shield against the Anabaptists. They refuse baptism to infants, because infants are incapable of understanding that mystery which is denoted by it. We, on the other hand, maintain that, since baptism is the pledge and figure of the forgiveness of sins, and likewise of adoption by God, it ought not to be denied to infants, whom God adopts and washes with the blood of his Son. Their objection, that repentance and newness of life are also denoted by it, is easily answered. Infants are renewed by the Spirit of God, according to the capacity of their age, till that power which was concealed within them grows by degrees, and becomes fully manifest at the proper time. Again, when they argue that there is no other way in which we are reconciled to God, and become heirs of adoption, than by faith, we admit this as to adults, but, with respect to infants, this passage demonstrates it to be false. Certainly, the laying on of hands was not a trifling or empty sign, and the prayers of Christ were not idly wasted in air. But he could not present the infants solemnly to God without giving them purity. And for what did he pray for them, but that they might be received into the number of the children of God? Hence it follows, that they were renewed by the Spirit to the hope of salvation. In short, by embracing them, he testified that they were reckoned by Christ among his flock. And if they were partakers of the spiritual gifts, which are represented by Baptism, it is unreasonable that they should be deprived of the outward sign. But it is presumption and sacrilege to drive far from the fold of Christ those whom he cherishes in his bosom, and to shut the door, and exclude as strangers those whom he does not wish to be forbidden to come to him
For of such is the kingdom of heaven. Under this term he includes both little children and those who resemble them; for the Anabaptists foolishly exclude children, with whom the subject must have commenced; but at the same time, taking occasion from the present occurrence, he intended to exhort his disciples to lay aside malice and pride, and put on the nature of children Accordingly, it is added by Mark and Luke, that no man can enter into the kingdom of heaven unless he be made to resemble a child. But we must attend to Paul’s admonition,
not to be children in understanding, but in malice, (1Co 14:20.)
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(14) Suffer little children, and forbid them not . . .St. Mark adds that Jesus was much displeased, and represents Him as reproducing almost verbally the teaching of Mat. 18:3. The tenderness of His sympathy was kindled into indignation at the rough indifference of the disciples. As in thousands of those whose lives have been modelled after His pattern, the love of children was not weaker, but stronger, precisely because it depended on no human relationship, but sprang from His seeing in them the children of His Father.
Of such is the kingdom of heaven.That is, the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these, is theirs as by inheritance.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Suffer little children Our Lord does not merely say, suffer these children, but suffer all little children to come unto me. Of such Of children and of childlike souls. For the adult man must become childlike to be fit for the kingdom of heaven.
Our Lord did not here baptize these children; for Christian baptism was not freely used until after his resurrection. But he does declare why they are proper subjects of baptism, namely, because they are subjects of the kingdom of heaven. And we are expressly told that “except a man be born of water” as well as “of spirit” he is not fully and formally recognized as in that kingdom. In other words, he who is an internal subject of that kingdom needs baptism to constitute him an external member. If he be an internal member of that kingdom he is a proper subject of baptism. Our Lord here declares that infants are internal members of this kingdom; therefore, we infer, they are proper subjects of baptism.
In relation to the moral condition of infants, Mr. Watson says:
“We are bound to conclude that, in some sense, ‘the kingdom of heaven’ is composed of them; they are its subjects, and partakers of its blessings. That this kingdom signifies the spiritual kingdom of Christ upon earth, and also that glorious reign of God over redeemed and glorified men in a future world, are points not to be disputed; and the words of our Lord, if they relate to one, must relate to both. If little children are the subjects of his spiritual kingdom on earth, then, until the moment that by actual sin they bring personal condemnation upon themselves, they remain heirs of the kingdom of eternal glory; and if they become the subjects of the latter by dying, then a previous vital relation must have existed on earth between them and Christ as their Redeemer and Sanctifier; or else we must assign the sanctification of the nature of man, which even in infants is fallen and corrupt, to a future state, which is contrary to the Scriptures.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and forbid them not to come to me, for of such is the kingly rule of heaven.” ’
Jesus’ however, immediately disabuses them and tells them to allow the children to come to Him, and not to forbid them. The indication is that they are to be always ready to receive those who come humbly and with an open mind. Indeed He points out, it is to those who come to Him with the humility and openness of little children that the Kingly Rule of Heaven belongs. ‘Of such is the Kingly Rule of Heaven’. That is what the Kingly Rule of Heaven is all about. For all who would enter the Kingly Rule of Heaven must come in humble submission like a little child.
There was in this a gentle rebuke to the disciples themselves. Even yet they had not learned to have the humility and openness of a little child. If they had they would have welcomed these children as He did, and would not have sought to turn them away. Their problem was that they were still involved in great plans, indeed too involved in them to consider what was really important. Thus they were not in themselves fulfilling the potential of the Kingly Rule of Heaven. Had they had eyes to see it at the time they would have recognised that they were not thinking correctly about what was coming. Their eyes were on the coming struggle that they considered to be ahead, but Jesus’ eyes were on all who in humility and openheartedness were open to receiving and following Him and His ways. These children whom He welcomed were already a sign of the blossoming of the Kingly Rule of Heaven (as depicted in chapter 13).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Christ’s rebuke:
v. 14. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto Me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
v. 15. And He laid His hands on them, and departed thence. Jesus was openly displeased by the interference of the disciples. Let them alone, He says, do not bother them. To interfere with a child’s coming to Jesus is to put an obstruction in one’s own path to salvation. And hinder them not in their coming to Me. Every encouragement should be given the children that they may learn to know and love their Savior. For the kingdom of heaven is made up of such as they. The children themselves, with their simple trust and faith in Jesus, and all such as they, all that have the same confiding trust and spirit of faith, they make up the membership of the kingdom of God, they truly belong to His Church. All the blessings of His kingdom are theirs, even long before, yea, just because they have not come to the full use of their reason. A baptized child has just as full and complete a claim upon heaven as the most advanced Christian. This Jesus further stresses by giving outward evidence of His feeling toward the little children. He laid His hands upon them in blessing. He publicly acknowledged them as His own.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Mat 19:14. Suffer little children, &c. Let the little children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to me. See Dr. Scott, Doddridge, &c. Christ’s shewing his regard in such a manner for these children, must not only have been exceedingly pleasing to the parents, but the memory of this condescension might make tender and lasting impressions on the children themselves; and the sight must have been very edifyingand encouraging to other young persons who might happen to be present; not to say how instructive this gentleness to children may be to ministers, and how much their usefulness may be promoted by a regard to it. Our Lord might reasonably be the more displeased with his disciples for endeavouring to prevent their being brought, as he had so lately set a child among them, and insisted on the necessity of their being made conformable to it. See ch. Mat 18:2-3. And perhaps, as the disciples expressed some dissatisfaction at his doctrine concerning divorce, Mat 19:10. Jesus took this opportunity to inform them again, that unless they possessed the humility, meekness, and docility of children, they should not enter into the kingdom of God; for of such is the kingdom of heaven; that is to say, as Dr. Doddridge paraphrases it, “Persons of such a character are the true subjects of my kingdom, and heirs of eternal glory, to which my little children are received; and, in token of it, the children of believing parents are to be admitted into my church by baptism.” See Mar 10:15.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Mat 19:14 . By we are not to understand literal children (Bengel, de Wette), for the Messianic kingdom cannot be said to belong to children as such (see Mat 5:3 ff.), but men of a child-like disposition and character, Mat 18:3 f. Jesus cannot consent to see the children turned away from Him; for, so far from their being too insignificant to become the objects of His blessing, He contemplates in their simplicity and innocence that character which those who are to share in His kingdom must acquire through being converted and becoming as little children. If they thus appeared to the Lord as types of the subjects of His kingdom, how could He withhold from them that prayer which was to be the means of communicating to their opening lives the blessing of early fellowship with Him! Herein lies the warrant , but, according to 1Co 7:14 , not the necessity , for infant baptism; comp. in general, note on Act 16:15 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Ver. 14. For of such is the kingdom ] That is, all the blessings of heaven and earth comprised in the covenant belong both to these and such as these,Mat 18:3Mat 18:3 . Let them, therefore, have free recourse to me, who will both own them and crown them with life eternal.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 19:14 . , : visits of the children never unseasonable; Jesus ever delighted to look on the living emblems of the true citizen of the Kingdom of God; pleased with them for what they were naturally, and for what they signified. , of such, i.e. , the child- like ; repetition of an old lesson (Mat 18:3 ).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
forbid = hinder.
of such is: or, to such belongeth (in Eng. idiom): so Tyndale.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 19:14. , …, said, etc.) Previously He had defended the law of marriage; now he defends the rights of children.– , permit-and do not prohibit) A most ample permission. The verb , does not always mean to dismiss, but frequently, as here, to permit; see Mar 11:16.- , the little children) Haffenreffer renders it infantulos, little infants.-, of such) i.e., infants, sc. such infants, especially when they desire to come to Christ. , denotes substance combined with quality; see Act 22:22. Grant that such are intended as are like infants, it follows of necessity, that much rather the infants themselves, who are such, have the kingdom of God, and both can and ought to receive it by coming to Christ. Many of those who then were infants, afterwards believed in Christ Jesus, when they had grown up.- , the kingdom of heaven) He who seeks the kingdom of God must come to Jesus.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
kingdom
(See Scofield “Mat 3:2”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Suffer: Gen 17:7, Gen 17:8, Gen 17:24-26, Gen 21:4, Jdg 13:7, 1Sa 1:11, 1Sa 1:22, 1Sa 1:24, 1Sa 2:18, Mar 10:14, Luk 18:16, Luk 18:17
for: Mat 11:25, Mat 18:3, 1Co 14:20, 1Pe 2:1, 1Pe 2:2
Reciprocal: Mat 18:2 – General Mar 9:36 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM
For of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:14
What do we see for ourselves to copy in the matter of childhood?
I. Weakness.Now every little child is, and must be, very weak. It is its nature to be weak. It could not be a little child if it were not weak. So it is with every child of God. What is weakness? Emptiness,for God to fill with Himself. What is weakness? Room where God may work, and His grace expand. What is weakness? To be nothing, that God may be everything.
II. Undertaken for.But a very little child acts in the consciousness of weakness. He is a receiver in everything. He is taught, he is guided, he is supported, he is carried, he is undertaken for. So must you. It is all receiving, leaning, learning, feeling, committing, resting, trusting. And you are undertaken for in everythingjust as the father for his babe, so Christ for you. Provision for all your wants,to feed your body and your soul,to pay all your debts,to carry out all your true wishes,to carry you,to train you,to perfect you,to make you quite happy in Him, and to glorify Himself in you.
III. Trust.And the little child is characterised by trust. The greatest lesson you have to learn in life, the hardest thing you have to do, is to take God at His word. Do not stop to ask questions,why? when? how? where? A very little child never does any of those things; and of such is the kingdom of heaven.
IV. Ruled by heart.But why does the little child exercise such confidence? Because his heart rules,not his head. He is actuated by his affections. If you would have a true faith, you must find that faith in your heart; you must trust because you love; and you must love because you are loved. It is not greater power of mind you want, it is more singleness of the eye of the affections. So, a little child sees everything, and of such is the kingdom of heaven.
The Rev. James Vaughan.
Illustration
In this one chapter, our Lords ministry, in a beautiful succession, touched, and by touching, hallowed, almost all the stages of human life. First, He defined, and fenced and dignified matrimony;matrimony, of which the root, or the meaning, of the word is,the mothers right. Then He passed naturally to the fruit of matrimony,little children,and laid His hands upon them. But it would be little boon if He noticed us when we were babes, and passed us by when we were grown up to youth. And therefore, next, He received, and guided, and loved a young man, who had great possessions. And still the chapter closes with the highest duty and privilege of manhood,a self-denying, consecrated life for God, leading on to the same life to be renewed beyond the grave, and for ever. Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My Names sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
9:14
The key word in this passage is such, and if the disciples had recalled the lessons of chapter 18:1-5 they would not have uttered their rebuke. Jesus did not say that the kingdom of heaven would contain little children, but it was to have men and women who had become such persons by repentance and humility.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 19:14. Suffer the little children, etc. The natural impulse would be to bring children to Him, do not check it.
Forbid them not, as the disciples did, and many since then.
To such belongeth the kingdom of heaven. As in Mat 18:1-14, the reference is to children in spirit (comp. Mar 10:15; Luk 18:17), but not to the exclusion of actual children, who probably form the majority in the kingdom of heaven. Lessons: 1. Since to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven, the earlier children become Christians the better: 2. Since they are to come (or be brought) to Christ, who is a Saviour, the doctrine of universal depravity is not denied here. 3. They may be forbidden, both by neglect and injudicious teaching: (a.) by not being taught of Christ, through word and example; (b.) by being taught legalism, i.e., Be good, or God will not love you, instead of this: Christ loves you, therefore go to Him in order to be good. 4. As they were brought, and were actually blessed by Christ (Mar 10:16); through the faith of parents a seed of faith may exist in the heart of a child, so that the infant members of a Christian family ought to be Christian children, and their education conducted in the confident expectation that they will show the fruits of faith.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Jesus welcomed the children. This attitude is harmonious with His attitude toward all the humble, dependent, needy, trusting, and vulnerable people who came to Him. Furthermore children coming to Him symbolized people with the characteristics of children coming to Him. Jesus did not want to discourage anyone like them from coming to Him. He did not say the kingdom belonged to children but to people who are similar to children. Children provided an excellent object lesson that Jesus used to illustrate the qualities necessary for entering and serving in the kingdom.
The difference between this lesson and the one in chapter 18 is that there the focus was on the childlike quality of humility that is so important in a disciple. Here Jesus broadened the lesson to include other childlike characteristics all of which are important.