Jesus Smiles With Children in a Blossoming OrchardBible World
19:15Matthew 19:15
And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
Jesus laid His hands upon the children in blessing as the mothers had sought according to the Jewish custom of having a rabbi bless little ones. The disciples rebuked the mothers and would have sent them away as troubling Him, but He was displeased with the disciples instead and bade the little ones come unto Him and forbade hindering them. He tenderly received them into His arms and upon His breast, laying His hands upon them with gentle words and blessing them before He departed. The touch reveals Him ever a lover of children, with divinity clothed in humanity so the lowliest need not fear to come, showing personal tenderness toward both children and burdened mothers and receiving them as precious heirs of His kingdom purchased by His blood. His welcome cheered the mothers with fresh strength for their work, and it still calls fathers and mothers to bring their children in the arms of faith to Him for pardon and keeping, and to train them from infancy from the Bible with kindness and godly example that they may be saved eternally.
The Scene Described
The laying on of hands was the blessing the mothers had come to seek, given according to the Jewish custom of bringing children to a rabbi for him to lay his hands upon them in blessing.
The mothers came burdened with the work of training their children according to the word of God, having prayed earnestly for them and having themselves been drawn by Jesus into His presence. They brought infants as well as older children and youth, and what began with one or two mothers grew to quite a number along a weary and dusty way that He watched all along. Others gathered more children as they went, until anxious and troubled mothers seeking help to train their children came to Him while He was teaching a large crowd.
The disciples looked upon the mothers with disfavor and rebuked them for troubling Him, and would have sent them away. They thought the children too young to be benefited, thought His work too important to be interrupted, thought He would be displeased by the interruption, and thought in sending them away to do Him a favor. But Jesus was displeased with the disciples instead, and rebuked them and not the children. He invited the little ones to come to Him and forbade hindering them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven, valuing their desire for His blessing and showing that children are loved and may come for it.
He then tenderly received them, rising to welcome them and taking them up in His arms. He pillowed their weary heads upon His breast, encircling the little ones as they clung to His knees and around His neck. He laid His hands upon their heads with kind and gentle words and gave them the blessing for which they had come, making time for the mothers who had brought them, before departing thence. They were returned to their mothers well and strong.
The rich young ruler was present and saw that tender welcome and blessing. The sight convinced him that Jesus was good and that he could live in perfect harmony with Him, stirring love for the Saviour and desire to become His disciple. So he hastened to Jesus and knelt and asked what good thing he should do to have eternal life, hoping Jesus would bless him in the same way and satisfy his spiritual need.
What the Touch Reveals
The laying on of hands shows Him ever a lover of children, who accepted their childish sympathy and their open, unaffected love. Their grateful praise from pure lips was music to Him and refreshed His spirit when oppressed by contact with crafty and hypocritical men. Wherever He went, the benignity of His countenance and His gentle, kindly manner won the love and confidence of children. The act shows divinity clothed with humanity so that humanity might touch humanity, coming poor and lowly to save sinners. At the head of humanity in human garb He was so full of sympathy and love that the poorest was not afraid to come and the most lowly could easily approach. He knows the wants of children and understands human experience because He laid off His kingly robe and crown and majesty in heaven and came as a little babe.
The verse shows personal tenderness and regard for children and for the mothers who brought them, making time for them even while busy teaching. He understood their needs and joys and the care and burden and travail of soul of the mothers, and cared for their wants. He welcomed them as future heirs of His grace and subjects and members of His kingdom, some of whom would suffer martyrdom for Him. They are precious to Him and purchased by His blood, and His invitation is especially adapted to children and youth and can be understood even by little ones.
He met them at their level, treating their questions and needs with love and understanding. He taught them in ways they could grasp and answered their questions, planting truths in their minds that could bear fruit as they grew unto eternal life. His presence gave them peace while He found peace and joy in their company. His receiving of children while on earth is the pattern for how He receives children now: children who bring their sins to Him, ask His forgiveness, and believe He pardons are pardoned and received. Their welcome shows children are loved and may come for His blessing, and conversion in children does not require violent emotion as the essential evidence of conviction, nor does the exact time of conversion need to be known.
The blessing means the faith of believing parents covers and shields their children, as the faith of Israelite parents in marking their houses with the blood of the slain lamb covered their children from the destroying angel, which prefigured faith in Christ the great Sacrifice. His touch expresses tender care that heals and relieves suffering and gives hope to those who are ill, including children, because the same Jesus healed the sick by His touch. The children were returned to their mothers well and strong. His receiving of the little children was an immortal act whose precious influence endures through all time, continually leading mothers to bring their little ones to Him.
The Blessing Claimed Today
His welcome brought the mothers relief and fresh courage, cheering and encouraging them and giving them new strength and cheerfulness to carry their heavy responsibilities of care and love and to work hopefully for their children, and His care for the children in Judea shows He remains a personal Saviour and helper to mothers today, still blessing children when parents do their duty. He recognized the faith of the mothers who brought their children to receive His blessing, understanding their care and burden and travail of soul as they sought to train them according to the word of God and prayed earnestly for them, having Himself drawn them into His presence. He tenderly received them after rebuking the disciples rather than the children, taking the little ones up in His arms, laying His hands upon their heads, pillowing their weary heads upon His breast, and giving them the blessing for which they came.
That blessing was to be kept as a fresh memory in the minds of the children to govern their course of action in accordance with it and to keep them from doing what would dishonor Him, holding them back from wrong by remembering that He laid His hand on them and blessed them. The children never forgot His kind and gentle words and the mothers never tired of repeating them, so the event remained a constant wellspring of joy to both. It means parents are still to present their children to the Saviour to keep them from all harm under His keeping power that sees every action and hears every word.
Fathers and mothers are to bring their children in the arms of faith to the throne of grace, tell Him their great need, plead with God for Christ's sake to pardon their sins, and ask for grace and wisdom, seeking divine support so His blessing may rest on them and His Spirit may subdue their hearts, surrendering themselves and their children to the compassionate Redeemer. Parents are to train their children from infancy for heaven rather than leave them to Satan, educating and training them from the Bible at every step with joy. They stand in the place of God to their children and are to teach obedience and submission, set a godly example, never speak a cross or discouraging word, and correct only in kindness and tenderness to save their souls.
This includes bringing them to religious meetings and teaching them the sacredness of the Sabbath. They should be led step by step and included in the church, where they can share testimonies and accounts of overcoming and be reminded of the blessing and prepared to labor with Him in advancing His work. The work of forming the character of children and properly preserving and developing their physical, mental, and moral powers rests chiefly upon the mother, requiring talent and skill and patient, thoughtful care, self-distrust and earnest prayer, and persevering effort to fulfill her obligations. She is earnestly, patiently, and courageously to improve her own abilities that she may use aright the highest powers of the mind in training them, making it her highest aim to give an education that will receive the approval of God, with power to perform her part given as she takes up her work understandingly.
When fathers and mothers do their duty He receives the children and saves them, taking them into the city of God with music in heaven, so that parents and children together are saved eternally with life that measures with the life of God, and children so trained will bear the test of character and be obedient to the will of God. The act taught the disciples a lesson never to hinder children and comforts and encourages care-burdened mothers today to lay hold of His words with trembling yet eager faith. His care for children is a lesson in treating people tenderly and valuing them as precious to God.
His taking the little ones in His arms, blessing them, and speaking words of hope and comfort to the weary mothers belongs to His work of going from house to house healing the sick, feeding the hungry, comforting the mourners, soothing the afflicted, and speaking peace to the distressed, meeting every form of human woe with unfailing tenderness and gentleness. Laboring not for Himself but for others in self-denial as servant of all, He found it His meat and drink to comfort and gladden the sad and heavy-laden. He stands as the pattern Man, the great Medical Missionary, an example for all who come after to follow His path of self-sacrifice and do the same work.
Jesus laid His hands upon the children in blessing as the mothers had sought according to the Jewish custom of having a rabbi bless little ones. The disciples rebuked the mothers and would have sent them away as troubling Him, but He was displeased with the disciples instead and bade the little ones come unto Him and forbade hindering them. He tenderly received them into His arms and upon His breast, laying His hands upon them with gentle words and blessing them before He departed. The touch reveals Him ever a lover of children, with divinity clothed in humanity so the lowliest need not fear to come, showing personal tenderness toward both children and burdened mothers and receiving them as precious heirs of His kingdom purchased by His blood. His welcome cheered the mothers with fresh strength for their work, and it still calls fathers and mothers to bring their children in the arms of faith to Him for pardon and keeping, and to train them from infancy from the Bible with kindness and godly example that they may be saved eternally.
The Scene Described
The laying on of hands was the blessing the mothers had come to seek, given according to the Jewish custom of bringing children to a rabbi for him to lay his hands upon them in blessing.
The mothers came burdened with the work of training their children according to the word of God, having prayed earnestly for them and having themselves been drawn by Jesus into His presence. They brought infants as well as older children and youth, and what began with one or two mothers grew to quite a number along a weary and dusty way that He watched all along. Others gathered more children as they went, until anxious and troubled mothers seeking help to train their children came to Him while He was teaching a large crowd.
The disciples looked upon the mothers with disfavor and rebuked them for troubling Him, and would have sent them away. They thought the children too young to be benefited, thought His work too important to be interrupted, thought He would be displeased by the interruption, and thought in sending them away to do Him a favor. But Jesus was displeased with the disciples instead, and rebuked them and not the children. He invited the little ones to come to Him and forbade hindering them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven, valuing their desire for His blessing and showing that children are loved and may come for it.
He then tenderly received them, rising to welcome them and taking them up in His arms. He pillowed their weary heads upon His breast, encircling the little ones as they clung to His knees and around His neck. He laid His hands upon their heads with kind and gentle words and gave them the blessing for which they had come, making time for the mothers who had brought them, before departing thence. They were returned to their mothers well and strong.
The rich young ruler was present and saw that tender welcome and blessing. The sight convinced him that Jesus was good and that he could live in perfect harmony with Him, stirring love for the Saviour and desire to become His disciple. So he hastened to Jesus and knelt and asked what good thing he should do to have eternal life, hoping Jesus would bless him in the same way and satisfy his spiritual need.
What the Touch Reveals
The laying on of hands shows Him ever a lover of children, who accepted their childish sympathy and their open, unaffected love. Their grateful praise from pure lips was music to Him and refreshed His spirit when oppressed by contact with crafty and hypocritical men. Wherever He went, the benignity of His countenance and His gentle, kindly manner won the love and confidence of children. The act shows divinity clothed with humanity so that humanity might touch humanity, coming poor and lowly to save sinners. At the head of humanity in human garb He was so full of sympathy and love that the poorest was not afraid to come and the most lowly could easily approach. He knows the wants of children and understands human experience because He laid off His kingly robe and crown and majesty in heaven and came as a little babe.
The verse shows personal tenderness and regard for children and for the mothers who brought them, making time for them even while busy teaching. He understood their needs and joys and the care and burden and travail of soul of the mothers, and cared for their wants. He welcomed them as future heirs of His grace and subjects and members of His kingdom, some of whom would suffer martyrdom for Him. They are precious to Him and purchased by His blood, and His invitation is especially adapted to children and youth and can be understood even by little ones.
He met them at their level, treating their questions and needs with love and understanding. He taught them in ways they could grasp and answered their questions, planting truths in their minds that could bear fruit as they grew unto eternal life. His presence gave them peace while He found peace and joy in their company. His receiving of children while on earth is the pattern for how He receives children now: children who bring their sins to Him, ask His forgiveness, and believe He pardons are pardoned and received. Their welcome shows children are loved and may come for His blessing, and conversion in children does not require violent emotion as the essential evidence of conviction, nor does the exact time of conversion need to be known.
The blessing means the faith of believing parents covers and shields their children, as the faith of Israelite parents in marking their houses with the blood of the slain lamb covered their children from the destroying angel, which prefigured faith in Christ the great Sacrifice. His touch expresses tender care that heals and relieves suffering and gives hope to those who are ill, including children, because the same Jesus healed the sick by His touch. The children were returned to their mothers well and strong. His receiving of the little children was an immortal act whose precious influence endures through all time, continually leading mothers to bring their little ones to Him.
The Blessing Claimed Today
His welcome brought the mothers relief and fresh courage, cheering and encouraging them and giving them new strength and cheerfulness to carry their heavy responsibilities of care and love and to work hopefully for their children, and His care for the children in Judea shows He remains a personal Saviour and helper to mothers today, still blessing children when parents do their duty. He recognized the faith of the mothers who brought their children to receive His blessing, understanding their care and burden and travail of soul as they sought to train them according to the word of God and prayed earnestly for them, having Himself drawn them into His presence. He tenderly received them after rebuking the disciples rather than the children, taking the little ones up in His arms, laying His hands upon their heads, pillowing their weary heads upon His breast, and giving them the blessing for which they came.
That blessing was to be kept as a fresh memory in the minds of the children to govern their course of action in accordance with it and to keep them from doing what would dishonor Him, holding them back from wrong by remembering that He laid His hand on them and blessed them. The children never forgot His kind and gentle words and the mothers never tired of repeating them, so the event remained a constant wellspring of joy to both. It means parents are still to present their children to the Saviour to keep them from all harm under His keeping power that sees every action and hears every word.
Fathers and mothers are to bring their children in the arms of faith to the throne of grace, tell Him their great need, plead with God for Christ's sake to pardon their sins, and ask for grace and wisdom, seeking divine support so His blessing may rest on them and His Spirit may subdue their hearts, surrendering themselves and their children to the compassionate Redeemer. Parents are to train their children from infancy for heaven rather than leave them to Satan, educating and training them from the Bible at every step with joy. They stand in the place of God to their children and are to teach obedience and submission, set a godly example, never speak a cross or discouraging word, and correct only in kindness and tenderness to save their souls.
This includes bringing them to religious meetings and teaching them the sacredness of the Sabbath. They should be led step by step and included in the church, where they can share testimonies and accounts of overcoming and be reminded of the blessing and prepared to labor with Him in advancing His work. The work of forming the character of children and properly preserving and developing their physical, mental, and moral powers rests chiefly upon the mother, requiring talent and skill and patient, thoughtful care, self-distrust and earnest prayer, and persevering effort to fulfill her obligations. She is earnestly, patiently, and courageously to improve her own abilities that she may use aright the highest powers of the mind in training them, making it her highest aim to give an education that will receive the approval of God, with power to perform her part given as she takes up her work understandingly.
When fathers and mothers do their duty He receives the children and saves them, taking them into the city of God with music in heaven, so that parents and children together are saved eternally with life that measures with the life of God, and children so trained will bear the test of character and be obedient to the will of God. The act taught the disciples a lesson never to hinder children and comforts and encourages care-burdened mothers today to lay hold of His words with trembling yet eager faith. His care for children is a lesson in treating people tenderly and valuing them as precious to God.
His taking the little ones in His arms, blessing them, and speaking words of hope and comfort to the weary mothers belongs to His work of going from house to house healing the sick, feeding the hungry, comforting the mourners, soothing the afflicted, and speaking peace to the distressed, meeting every form of human woe with unfailing tenderness and gentleness. Laboring not for Himself but for others in self-denial as servant of all, He found it His meat and drink to comfort and gladden the sad and heavy-laden. He stands as the pattern Man, the great Medical Missionary, an example for all who come after to follow His path of self-sacrifice and do the same work.