Matthew 19:13-15

¹³ Then children were presented to him so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples criticized the people,

¹⁴ but Jesus responded, “Allow the little children to come to me and do not get in the way, because to people like that belongs the kingdom from the sky.”

¹⁵ And he laid his hands on them and went away

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unqualified for his presence

Jesus had already told his disciples “unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom from the sky” (18:3). He was reminding them of that reality when he gently scolded them for criticizing those who brought children to him to bless. In both chapter 18 and 19, the issue is arrogance, which is defined as “an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions.”[1] Jesus was not so much recommending that believers act like children (by being immature, selfish and uncontrollable) as he was reminding the disciples that no one comes to faith by virtue of qualification. Who deserves to be blessed by Jesus? No one does – and that’s the point.

Coming to Jesus as a child means admitting my lack of qualification, and submitting humbly to his grace. You see, it is possible to preach this very text in a way that leads to the presumption of qualification because of one’s childlike submission. It is possible to take pride in one’s humility. The children that were presented to Jesus that day were totally dependent upon their parents or grandparents. They did not choose to see Jesus. They were brought to him, and they simply passively accepted that being in his presence was a good thing. Most of us are introduced to Jesus that way.

But the disciples were probably thinking that this dedication prayer of Jesus was a waste of time. There was important discipling for Jesus to do: teaching and preaching about the coming kingdom and healing those who were sick. The fact is that this little prayer meeting was important discipling. This event served as an illustration for the disciples regarding what Jesus had been teaching about discipleship and grace.

LORD, thank you for your grace. May we always come to you on that basis, and never presume that we are qualified to be in your presence.

[1] Merriam-Webster’s 11^th Collegiate Dictionary.