But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus stopped His disciples from turning children away and welcomed the little ones Himself, taking them in His arms and blessing them. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like little children in simplicity, trust, openness and receptiveness. Children are not too young to come to Him, for they are loved by Him, ransomed by His death, and have a place near Him in His kingdom. It is the privilege and duty of mothers and fathers alike to bring their children to Him from their earliest years in faith and prayer and to train them step by step for Him. Christians in every age, including ministers, teachers and church officers, must not hinder children by coldness or harshness but must cooperate with the Holy Spirit, present Christ as their friend, and teach them that He is glad when they give themselves to Him while young.
Setting and Action
Sorrowful, weary mothers, joined by neighbors and gathering from family to family, traveled a long and dusty way to bring their little ones, from babies to childhood and youth, to Jesus. They came to where He was teaching a large crowd and giving a lesson to His disciples, in a field, in Judea, and in the temple. They brought them so He would pray for them and lay His hands on them in blessing according to Jewish custom. They brought them also to be healed, to be instructed, and to be received by Him.
The disciples rebuked the mothers and tried to turn the children away. They thought the request was a troubling interruption of His important work and teaching. They thought the children were too young to be benefited.
Jesus was displeased with the disciples, stopped them, rose to His feet, and commanded that the little children be allowed to come and not be forbidden. He received them with compassion, took them in His arms and on His knees and at His feet, let them cling to His limbs and lay their heads against Him, and laid His hands on their heads. He spoke kindly to them words of comfort, hope, and instruction, and blessed them. That blessing cheered the mothers and gave them fresh strength.
The blessing of the little children happened immediately before the rich young ruler came to Jesus. Seeing Jesus bless the children convinced the ruler that Jesus was good. It stirred in him love, desire to become a disciple, and hope that Jesus could bless him and satisfy his longing.
Christ's Loving Character
Jesus is ever a lover of children, receiving their childish sympathy and open, unaffected love, and their grateful praise from pure lips is music to Him that refreshes His spirit when He is oppressed by contact with crafty and hypocritical men. Wearied by the bustle of the crowded city and tired of crafty and hypocritical men, He found rest and peace with innocent little children. His large heart of love understood their trials and necessities and found happiness in their simple joys.
His attention to things counted small is even higher proof of His greatness and compassion than His great miracles. He understood the care and burden of mothers seeking to train their children according to the word of God, heard their prayers, and Himself drew them into His presence. Because the Son of God laid off His majesty in heaven and came as a little babe, He understands human experience and knows how to deal with people, and He knows the wants of children. He lived the simple life of a poor man's son in humiliation and poverty and honored His mother Mary, so He knows childhood life and what children need, with divinity and humanity combined to give a pattern for making children perfect in character by keeping His perfection before them.
He came down to their level and met them where they were, not disdaining to answer their questions and simplifying His important lessons to meet their childish understanding. The truth planted in their young and expanding minds would spring up in after years and bear fruit unto eternal life as they matured. The kindness of His face and His gentle, kindly manner won the love and confidence of children, so they were drawn to Him, climbed onto His lap and knees, looked into His loving face, and kissed Him. His tenderness and compassion made even the humblest and lowly feel safe approaching Him, and He valued their innocence, shared their joys and sorrows, and treated their small gifts with warmth.
He regards children with pity and tenderness, including those with difficult traits shaped by inheritance or neglect and those suffering rough treatment, and through His grace and a Christian worker's care they may be drawn to Him and transformed in character. He is touched by a child's suffering and does not ignore even the faintest cry of pain. Mothers brought their dying infants for His blessing, and He held them tenderly in His arms, soothed them, drove away disease and fever and pain by His touch, and returned them well and strong to their parents.
Kingdom Belongs to Such
The kingdom of heaven is made up of and belongs to people who are like little children. Their simplicity represents the character of those who belong to heaven's kingdom, and the kingdom itself is characterized by people with their trust, openness and receptiveness. Mothers do well to lead their children to Christ, and ministers should welcome and bless them, speaking to them with tenderness and love. Children come to hear instruction and to be healed, and bringing them to Christ enables them to receive His instruction, learn the Bible, and do what pleases the Lord.
Children are not too young to come and be blessed, for they belong near Him and in His kingdom. He loves them, receives them, embraces them in His arms, and gave His life so they may come and receive blessing. They were ransomed by His death and are redeemed by His blood. His welcome comforts mothers and remains a personal help, teaching parents to tell their children that He loves, receives and blesses them, to educate and train them from the Bible at every step, to set them an example in every respect, and to correct in kindness and tenderness without cross or discouraging words so their souls may be saved. He valued their innocence, shared their joys and sorrows, treated their small gifts with warmth, and delighted in their company.
He welcomed them because He saw in them the future men and women who would be heirs of His grace and subjects of His kingdom. Some of them would become martyrs for His sake and suffer martyrdom for His name. He knew these children would listen to Him and accept Him as their Redeemer far more readily than grown-up people, many of whom were worldly-wise and hard-hearted.
Through Christ's grace children can be changed in character, so that the kingdom may be said to belong to them. This includes those with difficult traits shaped by inheritance or neglect, whom He regards with pity and tenderness. Christian workers can help draw children to the Saviour, and through a Christian worker's care they may be drawn to Him and transformed.
Children's Faith and Reception
Young hearts are especially open to Christian teaching and to influences of piety and virtue, and they hold fast what they receive so that truth planted in young minds can grow and bear fruit as they mature. They would listen and accept Him as Redeemer far more readily than grown, worldly-wise, hard-hearted people. His invitation and simple lessons are especially adapted to children and youth and can be understood even by little ones when presented to them.
Children may come from their earliest years, confidently ask Him for what they need, and trust angels to guard and protect them from evil. They may bring their wrongs to Him, ask forgiveness, and trust that He hears, pardons, and receives them, and they need not wait until baptism to be children of God. Their conversion does not require violent emotion as proof nor depend on knowing its exact time. Yet they are not too young to be accountable, to repent of sin and profess Christ, to seek the Lord while burdens and cares are light and devote their strength to God, to turn from vanities and sinful pleasures, choose humble obedience, be cleansed from sin, and learn to know the Lord.
Even a baby may dwell under the Almighty's care through a praying mother's faith and be shaped by the divine Spirit from the earliest moments, as John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. His welcome continues now just as willingly as then, for receiving little children was an immortal act whose precious influence lasts through all time, continually leading mothers to bring their little ones and remaining a personal help to children redeemed by His blood. He accepts even a simple flower offered in love and blesses the givers, and such acts of love and reverence are evidence of faith in Him as the Son of God, with the names of child givers recorded in the book of life.
In suffering a child may be entrusted to Jesus. He alone can protect children from the tempter's power, so parents must watch and pray continually and not indulge children in hope of keeping them close, since unwise indulgence separates them and leads toward the deceiver. Children are every day under the keeping power of One who sees every action and hears every word, so being old enough to try to do right they must help themselves by doing what pleases God who is too pure and holy to approve falsehood or deception.
Parents Bringing Children
It is the privilege and duty of every mother and father alike, from the earliest years, to bring children to Jesus in the arms of faith, not to send them to religious teachers such as rabbis or Pharisees, and to plead His words in His name when praying for them. His welcome to little children shows He does not turn tired mothers away but receives and blesses those who come now just as willingly as then, and believing parents who pray for their children are heard in heaven. They are given wisdom to train children in righteousness and in simple truth, with peace, joy, strength, courage, and grace for the costly work of forming character and preserving physical, mental, and moral powers. Parents are to keep children under their care from early childhood, teach them obedience, direct their attention to Jesus who loves them, and show them His love, so that the home becomes a little heaven.
Bringing them means educating and training them step by step from the Bible at every step, line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, to know that the Lord Jesus will cleanse them from all sin. It means teaching obedience, industry, neatness, order, self-restraint and self-denial, teaching infants, children and youth to know Christ and His love from even their first baby words and before Satan sows his seeds, setting an example in every respect, and laboring together with God to win them and prepare them for immortal life. It means guarding them against influences against Christ and wicked company, separating them from the world, keeping the church in the home, bringing them to church and meetings to hear testimony that prepares them for immortal life and to tell their little stories of overcoming, and caring for their character so they are trained for heaven. Children are entrusted to parents for this work, and parents themselves learn in Christ's school as they teach at home.
When a child has done wrong, the parent should bring the child before the sympathetic Redeemer in prayer instead of scolding, fretting, shaking, quarreling, whipping, lifting the hand in passion, speaking cross words, humiliating, or pounding in anger. With tender, subdued, controlled voice, kind talk, tears, and patient correction, a sorrowful prayer with the child seeking forgiveness and protection from Satan may lead to penitence and repentance and make physical punishment unnecessary. The home is to be made sacred under the influence of the Spirit of God, with the father as priest of the household guarding each child in kindness, tenderness, love and obedience and correcting disobedience as Christ prunes His own, because every child is bought with a price. God hears such prayers, impresses the children, and unites parents' hearts with theirs.
His blessing sets the standard for the children's course of action, to be kept fresh in their minds by mothers telling it over and over, so they live in accordance with it. The memory of His words, hands, and kind voice lives on after mothers recall that day and repeat it to their children, keeps them from doing what would dishonor Him and displease Him, holds them back from wrongdoing and from straying from the path cast up for the ransomed, and prepares them to become laborers together with Christ to press forward His work. Fathers and mothers who bring children into the world therefore bear the solemn responsibility to train them from infancy for heaven and not for hell, to bring them to the throne of grace and plead for pardon for Christ's sake, and to keep them where they will not be tempted. Children taught this way learn they are every day under the keeping power of One who sees every action and hears every word, who is too pure and holy to approve falsehood or deception, so being old enough to try to do right they must help themselves by doing what pleases God and He will keep them from all harm.
The faith and seal or mark of believing parents who bring children up rightly in obedience and submission covers their little children who have had no test of character themselves. It shields them as the blood of the lamb on the doorposts shielded Israelite households and their children from the destroying angel at the death of the firstborn in Egypt, and saves them when the destroyer goes forth to slay utterly old and young, men and women and little children who have not the mark. Bringing them up right means separating them from the world, keeping them from wicked children, subduing tempers and evil passions, teaching them to obey parents so they can more easily obey God's commandments, correcting them when they do wrong, praying with and for them, guiding their company, and training them in the Lord's nurture and admonition for their happiness here and hereafter. It does not settle whether children of unbelieving parents will be saved, and children left unrestrained by neglect to wicked tempers, passion, selfishness and disobedience, with Satan allowed to control them, would not be taken to heaven, for the same temper would be revealed in them, and parents will give an awful account for that neglect.
His loving welcome recognizes mothers' faith, understands their care and burden in training children according to God's word, receives them with compassion and personal sympathy, embrace, laying on of hands and blessing, and Himself draws them into His presence. That welcome cheers and encourages mothers, comforts them, gives them fresh strength to bear heavy responsibilities, and strengthens them to take up their work of care and love with new cheerfulness and hope. When parents do their part righteously, a large company of parents and children will be saved together eternally with a life that measures with the life of God. Christ takes the children into the city of God with music in heaven among the angels, brings them forth in the first resurrection, throws back the gates of the city of God upon glittering hinges, welcomes parents and children in together, and places harps in parents' hands and crowns of glory upon their heads. This work is urgent because the Lord is coming in the clouds, and parents are to labor earnestly, bring children with them to meetings, and both parents and children must make no mistake but get ready for the coming of the Lord and Saviour.
Children entrusted to parents are to be treated as Christ's and God's, cared for in character, protected from corrupting influences, and prepared through patient, loving discipline to become loyal members of heaven's family, workers with Christ, and missionaries. A mother's work of guiding children is important service to God, and the home is to be made a place of heaven. Children who try to do right are promised a place in God's kingdom, where goodness, obedience, and patience belong, for their simplicity represents the character of those who belong to heaven's kingdom.
Church Ministry and Application
The command not to keep children away reaches Christians in every age, including church officers, ministers, and helpers, because He still draws children to Himself and they will come if adults do not obstruct them. Followers must not drive them away by coldness or harshness, make heaven seem unpleasant, suggest religion is beyond their understanding or irrelevant to childhood, give the impression that following Him means giving up all joy, tell them they are not expected to accept Him while young, or make religion seem forbidding. The Holy Spirit moves on children's hearts, so adults should cooperate with that work by teaching that He calls them and is glad when they give themselves to Him while young, and by presenting Him as the friend of sinners in a way that attracts the young to leave evil.
Ministers should welcome and bless children, speaking to them with tenderness and love, just as He took them in His arms and blessed them and forbade no one from bringing them. His approachableness, when little ones were drawn to Him, climbed onto His lap, and kissed His loving face, shows the love and gentle sympathy ministers should cultivate. Teachers are to follow His example of always treating children with kindness and respect, being calm and kind and showing forbearance and love, especially toward those who most need it, and training children to become missionaries. His loving gentleness that made little children unafraid to approach Him is the pattern for ministers to show love, sympathy, courtesy, and respect to others.
Children are to be brought to Him to learn God's Word and be drawn to the simplicity of its truth, with workers teaching with that same simplicity, and teaching them Bible truth in Sabbath school can help bring them to Him. They need patient teaching, love, and tender Christian care that guides them toward God and forms character, and the call to welcome them supports caring for orphans, providing for their education, and gathering children near schools to educate them so truth enters their families. Older students can help teach and guide younger children toward the Saviour by speaking words that bless them, and older family members are to patiently help younger ones learn the Bible and do what pleases the Lord, treating them tenderly. That nurture is to be given without training them in constant fear, dependence, and anxiety, and includes bringing them to church attendance and church school for instruction and discipline.
They are to be taught about the Saviour in trust that He is ready to receive them, since He gladly welcomes every child and the kingdom belongs to those represented by children. Young hearts are especially open to Christian teaching and strongly retain its impressions, and children could listen to His counsel and accept Him as Redeemer when worldly-minded, hard-hearted adults rejected Him, some even becoming future heirs of grace and members of the kingdom who would suffer martyrdom for His name. Children should therefore be guided toward faith with kindness, love, and patience, by an influence that draws them near to Him in faith and not one that leads them away.
Little children are precious and are to be welcomed, not forbidden or treated as servants, for He took them in His arms and blessed them with attention and kind words. That same precious, family-like care belongs to all who love and serve God, including lowly helpers and workers as His helping hands. They must be treated with every act of kindness and tenderness and love and affection that leaves the impression they are cared for and considered valuable as those His blood has purchased.
Those who come to Him are not to be turned away, so outcasts who come are to be welcomed even while workers also seek to reach people of influence who can help bring others to Him. The forbidding of no one also means the work of selling books far and near and scattering truth-filled books like autumn leaves is to be done and must continue without anyone's forbidding, because the end is near, much time has already been lost when the books should have been in circulation, and souls perishing without Him must be warned of His soon appearing in the clouds of heaven. The command not to hinder is likewise applied to making room for people to receive His instruction through those who help others prepare healthful, inexpensive foods, to whom He will reveal Himself as Instructor and teach them.
Jesus stopped His disciples from turning children away and welcomed the little ones Himself, taking them in His arms and blessing them. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like little children in simplicity, trust, openness and receptiveness. Children are not too young to come to Him, for they are loved by Him, ransomed by His death, and have a place near Him in His kingdom. It is the privilege and duty of mothers and fathers alike to bring their children to Him from their earliest years in faith and prayer and to train them step by step for Him. Christians in every age, including ministers, teachers and church officers, must not hinder children by coldness or harshness but must cooperate with the Holy Spirit, present Christ as their friend, and teach them that He is glad when they give themselves to Him while young.
Setting and Action
Sorrowful, weary mothers, joined by neighbors and gathering from family to family, traveled a long and dusty way to bring their little ones, from babies to childhood and youth, to Jesus. They came to where He was teaching a large crowd and giving a lesson to His disciples, in a field, in Judea, and in the temple. They brought them so He would pray for them and lay His hands on them in blessing according to Jewish custom. They brought them also to be healed, to be instructed, and to be received by Him.
The disciples rebuked the mothers and tried to turn the children away. They thought the request was a troubling interruption of His important work and teaching. They thought the children were too young to be benefited.
Jesus was displeased with the disciples, stopped them, rose to His feet, and commanded that the little children be allowed to come and not be forbidden. He received them with compassion, took them in His arms and on His knees and at His feet, let them cling to His limbs and lay their heads against Him, and laid His hands on their heads. He spoke kindly to them words of comfort, hope, and instruction, and blessed them. That blessing cheered the mothers and gave them fresh strength.
The blessing of the little children happened immediately before the rich young ruler came to Jesus. Seeing Jesus bless the children convinced the ruler that Jesus was good. It stirred in him love, desire to become a disciple, and hope that Jesus could bless him and satisfy his longing.
Christ's Loving Character
Jesus is ever a lover of children, receiving their childish sympathy and open, unaffected love, and their grateful praise from pure lips is music to Him that refreshes His spirit when He is oppressed by contact with crafty and hypocritical men. Wearied by the bustle of the crowded city and tired of crafty and hypocritical men, He found rest and peace with innocent little children. His large heart of love understood their trials and necessities and found happiness in their simple joys.
His attention to things counted small is even higher proof of His greatness and compassion than His great miracles. He understood the care and burden of mothers seeking to train their children according to the word of God, heard their prayers, and Himself drew them into His presence. Because the Son of God laid off His majesty in heaven and came as a little babe, He understands human experience and knows how to deal with people, and He knows the wants of children. He lived the simple life of a poor man's son in humiliation and poverty and honored His mother Mary, so He knows childhood life and what children need, with divinity and humanity combined to give a pattern for making children perfect in character by keeping His perfection before them.
He came down to their level and met them where they were, not disdaining to answer their questions and simplifying His important lessons to meet their childish understanding. The truth planted in their young and expanding minds would spring up in after years and bear fruit unto eternal life as they matured. The kindness of His face and His gentle, kindly manner won the love and confidence of children, so they were drawn to Him, climbed onto His lap and knees, looked into His loving face, and kissed Him. His tenderness and compassion made even the humblest and lowly feel safe approaching Him, and He valued their innocence, shared their joys and sorrows, and treated their small gifts with warmth.
He regards children with pity and tenderness, including those with difficult traits shaped by inheritance or neglect and those suffering rough treatment, and through His grace and a Christian worker's care they may be drawn to Him and transformed in character. He is touched by a child's suffering and does not ignore even the faintest cry of pain. Mothers brought their dying infants for His blessing, and He held them tenderly in His arms, soothed them, drove away disease and fever and pain by His touch, and returned them well and strong to their parents.
Kingdom Belongs to Such
The kingdom of heaven is made up of and belongs to people who are like little children. Their simplicity represents the character of those who belong to heaven's kingdom, and the kingdom itself is characterized by people with their trust, openness and receptiveness. Mothers do well to lead their children to Christ, and ministers should welcome and bless them, speaking to them with tenderness and love. Children come to hear instruction and to be healed, and bringing them to Christ enables them to receive His instruction, learn the Bible, and do what pleases the Lord.
Children are not too young to come and be blessed, for they belong near Him and in His kingdom. He loves them, receives them, embraces them in His arms, and gave His life so they may come and receive blessing. They were ransomed by His death and are redeemed by His blood. His welcome comforts mothers and remains a personal help, teaching parents to tell their children that He loves, receives and blesses them, to educate and train them from the Bible at every step, to set them an example in every respect, and to correct in kindness and tenderness without cross or discouraging words so their souls may be saved. He valued their innocence, shared their joys and sorrows, treated their small gifts with warmth, and delighted in their company.
He welcomed them because He saw in them the future men and women who would be heirs of His grace and subjects of His kingdom. Some of them would become martyrs for His sake and suffer martyrdom for His name. He knew these children would listen to Him and accept Him as their Redeemer far more readily than grown-up people, many of whom were worldly-wise and hard-hearted.
Through Christ's grace children can be changed in character, so that the kingdom may be said to belong to them. This includes those with difficult traits shaped by inheritance or neglect, whom He regards with pity and tenderness. Christian workers can help draw children to the Saviour, and through a Christian worker's care they may be drawn to Him and transformed.
Children's Faith and Reception
Young hearts are especially open to Christian teaching and to influences of piety and virtue, and they hold fast what they receive so that truth planted in young minds can grow and bear fruit as they mature. They would listen and accept Him as Redeemer far more readily than grown, worldly-wise, hard-hearted people. His invitation and simple lessons are especially adapted to children and youth and can be understood even by little ones when presented to them.
Children may come from their earliest years, confidently ask Him for what they need, and trust angels to guard and protect them from evil. They may bring their wrongs to Him, ask forgiveness, and trust that He hears, pardons, and receives them, and they need not wait until baptism to be children of God. Their conversion does not require violent emotion as proof nor depend on knowing its exact time. Yet they are not too young to be accountable, to repent of sin and profess Christ, to seek the Lord while burdens and cares are light and devote their strength to God, to turn from vanities and sinful pleasures, choose humble obedience, be cleansed from sin, and learn to know the Lord.
Even a baby may dwell under the Almighty's care through a praying mother's faith and be shaped by the divine Spirit from the earliest moments, as John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. His welcome continues now just as willingly as then, for receiving little children was an immortal act whose precious influence lasts through all time, continually leading mothers to bring their little ones and remaining a personal help to children redeemed by His blood. He accepts even a simple flower offered in love and blesses the givers, and such acts of love and reverence are evidence of faith in Him as the Son of God, with the names of child givers recorded in the book of life.
In suffering a child may be entrusted to Jesus. He alone can protect children from the tempter's power, so parents must watch and pray continually and not indulge children in hope of keeping them close, since unwise indulgence separates them and leads toward the deceiver. Children are every day under the keeping power of One who sees every action and hears every word, so being old enough to try to do right they must help themselves by doing what pleases God who is too pure and holy to approve falsehood or deception.
Parents Bringing Children
It is the privilege and duty of every mother and father alike, from the earliest years, to bring children to Jesus in the arms of faith, not to send them to religious teachers such as rabbis or Pharisees, and to plead His words in His name when praying for them. His welcome to little children shows He does not turn tired mothers away but receives and blesses those who come now just as willingly as then, and believing parents who pray for their children are heard in heaven. They are given wisdom to train children in righteousness and in simple truth, with peace, joy, strength, courage, and grace for the costly work of forming character and preserving physical, mental, and moral powers. Parents are to keep children under their care from early childhood, teach them obedience, direct their attention to Jesus who loves them, and show them His love, so that the home becomes a little heaven.
Bringing them means educating and training them step by step from the Bible at every step, line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, to know that the Lord Jesus will cleanse them from all sin. It means teaching obedience, industry, neatness, order, self-restraint and self-denial, teaching infants, children and youth to know Christ and His love from even their first baby words and before Satan sows his seeds, setting an example in every respect, and laboring together with God to win them and prepare them for immortal life. It means guarding them against influences against Christ and wicked company, separating them from the world, keeping the church in the home, bringing them to church and meetings to hear testimony that prepares them for immortal life and to tell their little stories of overcoming, and caring for their character so they are trained for heaven. Children are entrusted to parents for this work, and parents themselves learn in Christ's school as they teach at home.
When a child has done wrong, the parent should bring the child before the sympathetic Redeemer in prayer instead of scolding, fretting, shaking, quarreling, whipping, lifting the hand in passion, speaking cross words, humiliating, or pounding in anger. With tender, subdued, controlled voice, kind talk, tears, and patient correction, a sorrowful prayer with the child seeking forgiveness and protection from Satan may lead to penitence and repentance and make physical punishment unnecessary. The home is to be made sacred under the influence of the Spirit of God, with the father as priest of the household guarding each child in kindness, tenderness, love and obedience and correcting disobedience as Christ prunes His own, because every child is bought with a price. God hears such prayers, impresses the children, and unites parents' hearts with theirs.
His blessing sets the standard for the children's course of action, to be kept fresh in their minds by mothers telling it over and over, so they live in accordance with it. The memory of His words, hands, and kind voice lives on after mothers recall that day and repeat it to their children, keeps them from doing what would dishonor Him and displease Him, holds them back from wrongdoing and from straying from the path cast up for the ransomed, and prepares them to become laborers together with Christ to press forward His work. Fathers and mothers who bring children into the world therefore bear the solemn responsibility to train them from infancy for heaven and not for hell, to bring them to the throne of grace and plead for pardon for Christ's sake, and to keep them where they will not be tempted. Children taught this way learn they are every day under the keeping power of One who sees every action and hears every word, who is too pure and holy to approve falsehood or deception, so being old enough to try to do right they must help themselves by doing what pleases God and He will keep them from all harm.
The faith and seal or mark of believing parents who bring children up rightly in obedience and submission covers their little children who have had no test of character themselves. It shields them as the blood of the lamb on the doorposts shielded Israelite households and their children from the destroying angel at the death of the firstborn in Egypt, and saves them when the destroyer goes forth to slay utterly old and young, men and women and little children who have not the mark. Bringing them up right means separating them from the world, keeping them from wicked children, subduing tempers and evil passions, teaching them to obey parents so they can more easily obey God's commandments, correcting them when they do wrong, praying with and for them, guiding their company, and training them in the Lord's nurture and admonition for their happiness here and hereafter. It does not settle whether children of unbelieving parents will be saved, and children left unrestrained by neglect to wicked tempers, passion, selfishness and disobedience, with Satan allowed to control them, would not be taken to heaven, for the same temper would be revealed in them, and parents will give an awful account for that neglect.
His loving welcome recognizes mothers' faith, understands their care and burden in training children according to God's word, receives them with compassion and personal sympathy, embrace, laying on of hands and blessing, and Himself draws them into His presence. That welcome cheers and encourages mothers, comforts them, gives them fresh strength to bear heavy responsibilities, and strengthens them to take up their work of care and love with new cheerfulness and hope. When parents do their part righteously, a large company of parents and children will be saved together eternally with a life that measures with the life of God. Christ takes the children into the city of God with music in heaven among the angels, brings them forth in the first resurrection, throws back the gates of the city of God upon glittering hinges, welcomes parents and children in together, and places harps in parents' hands and crowns of glory upon their heads. This work is urgent because the Lord is coming in the clouds, and parents are to labor earnestly, bring children with them to meetings, and both parents and children must make no mistake but get ready for the coming of the Lord and Saviour.
Children entrusted to parents are to be treated as Christ's and God's, cared for in character, protected from corrupting influences, and prepared through patient, loving discipline to become loyal members of heaven's family, workers with Christ, and missionaries. A mother's work of guiding children is important service to God, and the home is to be made a place of heaven. Children who try to do right are promised a place in God's kingdom, where goodness, obedience, and patience belong, for their simplicity represents the character of those who belong to heaven's kingdom.
Church Ministry and Application
The command not to keep children away reaches Christians in every age, including church officers, ministers, and helpers, because He still draws children to Himself and they will come if adults do not obstruct them. Followers must not drive them away by coldness or harshness, make heaven seem unpleasant, suggest religion is beyond their understanding or irrelevant to childhood, give the impression that following Him means giving up all joy, tell them they are not expected to accept Him while young, or make religion seem forbidding. The Holy Spirit moves on children's hearts, so adults should cooperate with that work by teaching that He calls them and is glad when they give themselves to Him while young, and by presenting Him as the friend of sinners in a way that attracts the young to leave evil.
Ministers should welcome and bless children, speaking to them with tenderness and love, just as He took them in His arms and blessed them and forbade no one from bringing them. His approachableness, when little ones were drawn to Him, climbed onto His lap, and kissed His loving face, shows the love and gentle sympathy ministers should cultivate. Teachers are to follow His example of always treating children with kindness and respect, being calm and kind and showing forbearance and love, especially toward those who most need it, and training children to become missionaries. His loving gentleness that made little children unafraid to approach Him is the pattern for ministers to show love, sympathy, courtesy, and respect to others.
Children are to be brought to Him to learn God's Word and be drawn to the simplicity of its truth, with workers teaching with that same simplicity, and teaching them Bible truth in Sabbath school can help bring them to Him. They need patient teaching, love, and tender Christian care that guides them toward God and forms character, and the call to welcome them supports caring for orphans, providing for their education, and gathering children near schools to educate them so truth enters their families. Older students can help teach and guide younger children toward the Saviour by speaking words that bless them, and older family members are to patiently help younger ones learn the Bible and do what pleases the Lord, treating them tenderly. That nurture is to be given without training them in constant fear, dependence, and anxiety, and includes bringing them to church attendance and church school for instruction and discipline.
They are to be taught about the Saviour in trust that He is ready to receive them, since He gladly welcomes every child and the kingdom belongs to those represented by children. Young hearts are especially open to Christian teaching and strongly retain its impressions, and children could listen to His counsel and accept Him as Redeemer when worldly-minded, hard-hearted adults rejected Him, some even becoming future heirs of grace and members of the kingdom who would suffer martyrdom for His name. Children should therefore be guided toward faith with kindness, love, and patience, by an influence that draws them near to Him in faith and not one that leads them away.
Little children are precious and are to be welcomed, not forbidden or treated as servants, for He took them in His arms and blessed them with attention and kind words. That same precious, family-like care belongs to all who love and serve God, including lowly helpers and workers as His helping hands. They must be treated with every act of kindness and tenderness and love and affection that leaves the impression they are cared for and considered valuable as those His blood has purchased.
Those who come to Him are not to be turned away, so outcasts who come are to be welcomed even while workers also seek to reach people of influence who can help bring others to Him. The forbidding of no one also means the work of selling books far and near and scattering truth-filled books like autumn leaves is to be done and must continue without anyone's forbidding, because the end is near, much time has already been lost when the books should have been in circulation, and souls perishing without Him must be warned of His soon appearing in the clouds of heaven. The command not to hinder is likewise applied to making room for people to receive His instruction through those who help others prepare healthful, inexpensive foods, to whom He will reveal Himself as Instructor and teach them.