Bringing children to Jesus. “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me …'” Matthew 19:14. Let’s unpack this story.
1. The Parents’ Desire
“Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them …” Matthew 19:13.
Jesus was seriously discussing marriage and divorce with the Pharisees and His disciples when some parents interrupted the conversation. Picture the scene:
There’s a crowd gathered around Jesus, passionately disputing the interpretations of Shammai and Hillel on Deuteronomy 24:1. During this debate, some mothers with children in tow push their way through to Jesus. The flabbergasted disciples try to get rid of them. But these mothers are on a mission! Their priority was to take their children to Jesus “for him to place his hands on them and pray for them,” and no one was going to deter them.
Culturally, this was common. Rabbis regularly prayed for children.
Most parents today do almost anything and everything for their children. They enroll them in clubs or events, pay the required fees, drive long distances, and sometimes sit waiting for hours on end. Parents do everything possible to give their children opportunities to participate or compete. They invest money, time and gasoline into swimming lessons, soccer games, dance classes, and other activities. Yet, many parents make little or no effort to bring their children to Jesus.
Is it wrong to involve your kids in extramural activities? Of course not! Children need to exercise, socialize, learn new skills, and engage in play. But when all is said and done, bringing children to Jesus is more important than taking them to hockey practices, martial arts classes, or piano lessons.
Getting our priorities straight. The first thing we see in this text is the parents’ desire to bring their children to Jesus. What about you? Are you single-minded about bringing your children to Jesus?
2. The Disciples’ Disparagement
“But the disciples rebuked them” Matthew 19:13.
When the parents and children crashed the theological discussion on marriage, they ticked off the disciples. Now, don’t be too hard on the disciples. Imagine being in a company boardroom, conducting important business, when some unknown mothers and children burst in. How would you feel? What would you do? The disciples did what some of us might do; they “rebuked them.”
But there’s more to this story than we see in Matthew 19. Back in Matthew 18:2-4, we discover that Jesus had asked a child to stand in the middle of their group and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me” (MSG).
Welcoming a child is akin to welcoming Jesus! (Matthew 18:5). The disciples had forgotten this vital lesson. It had gone in one ear and out the other. So, when the parents and children crash the theological discussion, the disciples try to shoo them away.
Parents, sometimes, when you try to bring your children to Jesus, you’ll encounter opposition. Danger prowls along the pathway to Christ. British biblical scholar F. F. Bruce said, “The world is dominated by a spirit totally opposed to God, organized in such a way as to exclude God, drawn towards unworthy goals of material status and self-interest, quite different from the goals towards which the Christian way leads.”
Bringing your children to Jesus is counter-cultural. There’s tremendous societal pressure on parents to conform. When you do something different, like prioritizing Jesus, your friends or family may think you’re weird. Some might rebuke, discourage or try to dissuade you. Don’t be intimidated. Bring your children to Jesus despite opposition.
3. The Messiah’s Decree
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” Matthew 19:14.
The parents’ desire and the disciples’ disparagement resulted in the Messiah’s decree: “Let the little children come to me …” What a wonderful invitation! Jesus wants children to “come” and, in doing so, discover what it means to belong. There are no conditions – no hoops they have to jump through. Jesus didn’t say, “Attend catechism classes, then come to me.” Nor did He say, “Repent of your sin, then come to me.” He just said, “… come to me … come, and belong …”
Jesus loves children just as they are – with all their imperfections. Children are precious to Him, and if they want to come to Him, He wants to spend time with them. Isn’t that brilliant? Jesus wants to spend time with your children!
Now note the phrase “little children.” When should we prioritize bringing children to Jesus? When they’re little. We should bring children to Jesus from when they’re tiny, from the time they’re in their mother’s womb.
The journey of faith begins at conception. We know that babies in the womb can hear and process sounds at 30 weeks of gestational age. They also learn to recognize words and listen to music; at birth, they can demonstrate what they’ve heard. Maybe you’re skeptical. Remember that John the Baptist leaped for joy when he first met Jesus, when they were both in their mothers’ wombs (Luke 1:41)!
Don’t delay in bringing your children to Jesus. Little children can’t get to Jesus by themselves. They need help. The parents mentioned in the text were most likely carrying or leading their children by the hand. If the parents hadn’t helped them, the children wouldn’t have been able to come to Jesus.
The early stages of childhood are vital in our development. By age four, most essential life skills, such as talking, walking, reasoning, eating, and dressing, are typically established. Theorists suggest that children have approximately 50% of their adult intelligence by the age of four, increasing to around 80% by the age of eight. Their intelligence often surpasses their knowledge, yet most children make their major life decisions, including spiritual decisions, between the ages of 8 and 12. It’s little wonder that 60% of Christian adults worldwide came to faith in Christ before the age of 12.
Every year counts. Bringing little children to Jesus is imperative. We should read the Scriptures, sing choruses, and pray with babies in the womb and continue doing so after they’re born. Newborns should be taken to church services and told the stories of Jesus while they’re nursing. Memorizing Scripture can begin with toddlers as young as 2 or 3 years old. Children can start singing worship songs and praising the Lord through rhythmic dancing as early as 3 to 4 years of age.
God equips children to begin the quest for Him at an early age. Why does Jesus say, “Let the little children come to me”? Maybe because the most crucial part of life’s journey is the start. Author and teacher Catherine Stonehouse says, “To not be concerned about spiritual formation during childhood is to ignore the very foundations of the spiritual life.” Therefore, we must bring our children to Him in their formative years (0-8 years).
Now, note the phrase “do not hinder them.” You’re either the greatest help or hindrance to your children coming to Christ. Your values and actions will either draw your children to Jesus or drive them away. If you have a vibrant, spirit-filled faith, your children will likely develop a vibrant, spirit-filled faith as well. If Jesus is first and foremost in your life, your children will likely want Jesus to be first and foremost in theirs.
The American Civil War preacher Henry Ward Beecher said, “The mother’s heart is the child’s classroom.” Is your faith everything it should be? If it’s not, you may be hindering your children from coming to Jesus.
Nineteenth-century Anglican Bishop J. C. Ryle said, “Children are very quick observers; very quick in seeing through some kinds of hypocrisy, very quick in finding out what you really think and feel, very quick in adopting all your ways and opinions.”
4. The Messiah’s Dedication
“When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there” Matthew 19:15.
Jesus has a heart-stopping, breathtaking, mind-blowing love for children. So, it’s unsurprising that what He does next makes perfect sense. He lays hands on them. It’s more than Jesus complying with the wishes of the parents. It’s a physical display of the deep love and tenderness Jesus has for children. And it’s a way for Jesus to bless the children – to pour out favour and demonstrate support (cf. Acts 6:6, Acts 8:17, Acts 9:17, 1 Timothy 5:22, 2 Timothy 1:6).
Imagine being one of the children. Your parents have been excitedly telling you about Jesus. You’ve heard about His miracles and the crowds flocking to see Him. This is a BIG deal! You’re enthusiastic, eager, and trembling with anticipation. Then, just as you’re getting close to seeing Him, some men tell your parents to go away. You’re gutted.
Then you hear Jesus say, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” And before you can fully grasp the enormity of what’s happening, He places His hands on you, and you’re overcome with affection, acceptance, and love as He dedicates you to live for Him.
What a fantastic outcome!
Bringing Children to Jesus.
So, how do we bring children to Jesus today? We can’t Skype, text, or book an appointment to visit Him. Jesus lived on earth more than 2,000 years ago. Seeing Him in the flesh (short of a dream/vision, epiphany, miracle, or His return) is out of the question.
Bringing children to Jesus isn’t easy, but it is possible. Here are three biblical things you can do to help children meet Jesus:
- Reach the heart. The Lord says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13. The best way to bring your children to Jesus is to let them see you pursuing Him with all your heart. When you and your children want Jesus more than anything, He reveals Himself to you (Hebrews 11:6c).
- Reject the world. Friendship with the world is enmity with God (1 John 2:15). The apostle Paul says, “… without holiness no one will see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14. When you give your love, allegiance, and devotion entirely to Jesus and not to the world, your children will emulate your example and, in doing so, will get to see Him.
- Relate to those in need. Connecting with the poor, unnoticed, disadvantaged, underprivileged, discriminated against, or disregarded people is another way to connect with Jesus (Matthew 25:35-40). Involve your children in feeding the hungry, providing a room for the homeless, or visiting the sick, and you’ll provide opportunities for them to do it to Him.
Bring your children to Jesus. If you’re not doing this, your parenting is ultimately meaningless!
How are you bringing children to Jesus in their early years? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe for more insights on Christian parenting.
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Summary
Bringing children to Jesus: In Matthew 19:13-15, Jesus invites children to come to Him, emphasizing the importance of bringing children to Him at an early age. The parents’ desire to have their children blessed by Jesus contrasts with the disciples’ attempts to rebuke them, illustrating that bringing children to Jesus can face opposition in a world that prioritizes material pursuits over spiritual ones. Jesus’ decree to “let the little children come” underscores that children belong in His kingdom, and it’s crucial to prioritize their spiritual formation from infancy. To bring children to Jesus today, parents must lead by example, seek Jesus wholeheartedly, reject worldly distractions, and involve children in acts of service to those in need.
© Scripture Union, 2025
Soli Deo Gloria
One Response
Thank you some much for the well organized parenting tips, instruction and guidance. As a Christian parent I really appreciate your mission on raising a God fearing generation. May God bless you in all your endeavors.