Mark 10:13-16

Jesus Pronounces on the Importance of Little Children and The Means Of Entry Under the Kingly Rule of God (10:13-16).

Jesus here continues His teaching about children. He was constantly concerned that the needs and rights of little children should be recognised, for to Him they were equally as important as the greatest rulers in the land. Here children were brought to Him in order to receive His blessing. However the disciples, knowing His desire for privacy, and possibly that He was exhausted, sought to turn them away. But Jesus would have none of it and uses it as an illustration of what is required of those who would enter under the Kingly Rule of God.

Analysis.

· And they were bringing to Him young children, that He should touch them, and the disciples rebuked them (Mark 10:13).

· But when Jesus saw it, He was moved with indignation, and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me. Do not forbid them. For to such belongs the Kingly Rule of God” (Mark 10:14).

· “Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the Kingly Rule of God as a little child, he will in no way enter into it” (Mark 10:15).

· And He enfolded them in His arms, and blessed them, laying His hands on them (Mark 10:16).

Note how in ‘a' they wanted Him to touch the young children, and how in the parallel He laid His hands on them. In ‘b' the Kingly Rule of God belongs to such (in the sense that they have a right to a full part in it), and in the parallel anyone who would receive the Kingly Rule of God must receive it in the same way as they do.