Luke 18:17, commentary and pictures

To enter God's kingdom one must receive it the way a little child receives, with open trust and a receptive heart. That childlike receiving is simple, trusting faith that stays willing to be taught and leans wholly on Jesus rather than on personal wisdom, goodness, or praise from others. It means letting go of cherished wrongs and confessing guilt so nothing blocks the heart against the Saviour, and showing that change in kind words and a gentle temper fitted for immortal life. Even small children can truly enter in by bringing their wrongs to Jesus, asking pardon, and trusting they are forgiven, without needing strong feeling or knowing the exact moment. Jesus Himself showed this welcome by taking children in His arms and blessing them, meeting them at their level with gentle kindness that won their love and planted truth for eternal fruit.

Receiving the Kingdom as Child

Entering God's kingdom requires receiving it with the trust and openness of a little child. Their readiness to listen and receive counsel illustrates the openness needed, for Christ welcomed children, met them at their level, made His lessons simple enough for them to understand, and planted truth in their young minds to bear fruit later. Receiving as a child means simple faith, trusting confidence, and willingness to be taught, and learners in Christ's school must remain teachable rather than consider themselves finished after baptism. It means coming with a child's humble dependence as a suppliant, ready to give up one's own wisdom, self-righteousness, and human approval.

That childlike readiness involves putting away sins and cherished indulgences, sacrificing whatever leads to wrongdoing, consenting to give up sin and acknowledging guilt so the barrier between the soul and the Saviour is removed, and welcoming the Holy Spirit's help with effort and sacrifice for eternal life, since Christ is near and willing to enter the heart but love of sin keeps it closed. It means childlike sympathy and open, unaffected love toward Jesus, with ready love and confidence in Him and grateful praise from pure lips. Little children can truly receive the kingdom and be converted by bringing their sins to Jesus, asking His forgiveness, and believing that He pardons and receives them, and such conversion does not require violent emotion as proof of conviction nor knowledge of the exact time it happens. Entering heaven requires a new life and character for the future immortal life now, speaking pleasant words and showing kindness and sweetness of disposition instead of a cross, fretful temper.

Jesus Welcoming the Children

Children belong among those who receive the kingdom of God. When little ones were brought to Him, He welcomed them, took them in His arms against His heart of love and compassion, and blessed them, even while busy teaching. Those who would keep them from Him were wrong. His presence did not repel children anywhere He went, for His benign countenance and gentle, kindly manner won their love and confidence. His loving heart understood their trials and needs and shared in their simple joys and happiness. When wearied and oppressed by contact with crowded cities and crafty, hypocritical men, He found rest, peace, and refreshment in their innocent society and was refreshed by their praise.

Children listen to Jesus and accept Him as Redeemer far more readily than grown people, many of whom are worldly-wise and hard-hearted. He came down to their level and met them where they were, answering their questions and making His important lessons simple enough for their childish understanding and their young, expanding minds. In doing so He planted seeds of truth in them to spring up in after years and bear fruit unto eternal life. He saw in the children brought to Him men and women who would be heirs of His grace and subjects of His kingdom, some of whom would become martyrs for His sake.

He comforted mothers by His words and His blessing of their children. He sent them home strengthened and blessed. They were encouraged to take up their burden with new cheerfulness and to work hopefully for their children.

Mothers and Children Today

The comforting words spoken to mothers then are to be received with the same faith by mothers today. He is as truly a personal Saviour today as when He lived as a man among men, and as truly the helper of mothers today as when He gathered the little ones to His arms in Judea. The children of present homes are as much the purchase of His blood as the children of long ago.

Mothers are to bring their little ones to Jesus as the women in Judea did, that His hand may be laid in blessing on their heads and His Spirit subdue their hearts. To do this work the mother must feel her need of divine support, be taught of God, and be a daily learner in the school of Christ. She must continually advance in her own life so she can lead her children to higher and higher attainments and impart to them instruction in righteousness. Children who received His blessing were to be told over and over that His hands had been put on their heads, and that remembrance prepared them to become laborers together with Christ to press forward His work in the world. Fathers and mothers must make the home a church, lead children along step by step, and bring them to church to bear testimony of their little experiences and overcoming.