Mark 10:13,14 - People were bringing little children

10:13

“People were bringing little children to Jesus ... but the disciples rebuked them.” It seems that the disciples had forgotten the teaching of Jesus in Mark 9:36,37. The disciples rebuked the parents who were bringing their children. The parents wanted Jesus to bless the children. We are not told why the disciples resented this so much. This small passage has been used by some as a justification for infant baptism, but to do so is an example of eisegesis, rather than exegesis.

10:14

Jesus was having no truck with the attitude of the disciples and was indignant. Perhaps we would all do well sometimes to ask if our attitudes make Jesus indignant. This is especially so when we get up on our high horse. Jesus told them to “let the little children come to me”. The disciples were not to hinder the children, for the kingdom “belongs to such as these. Now why does Jesus say the kingdom belongs to “such as these”. Sometimes we say it is because of the”innocence” of children, but anyone who has children knows that they are far from innocent. If we go back to the notion that children were regarded as not being important, i.e. they could not advance someone’s career or standing in society, then perhaps we get a better idea. The kingdom of God belongs to those who are considered as being of little value in terms of power and influence. We should also remember that while the child had little value in the world’s terms, to the parents the child was of immense value. So in the kingdom those considered to be of little importance in the world’s terms, are to be treated as being important, and we are to value them as we value our own children.