Improper Disposal
Mattthew 19:13-15
Matthew 19:13–15 (ESV): 13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.
In the first-century Greco-Roman and ancient Near Eastern worlds, children occupied the lowest rung of the social ladder. They possessed no legal rights, social status, or economic utility. Because infant mortality rates were exceptionally high, children were often not fully integrated into social calculations until they reached maturity. Therefore, the people bringing children to Jesus were seeking a traditional blessing from a respected rabbi, but the disciples viewed this as a waste of the Messiah’s highly sought-after time and energy.
- The Divorce Discourse: Protects vulnerable women within the household structure.
- The Little Children: Highlights the entry of those completely lacking societal power into the Kingdom.
- The Rich Young Ruler: Shows a man of peak societal power, wealth, and moral effort who ultimately fails to enter the Kingdom due to his self-reliance.
Paidion (παιδίον – Verse 13): Refers to a very young child or infant. Matthew’s use of this word emphasizes complete vulnerability, helplessness, and total dependence on a caretaker.
Epitimao (ἐπετίμησαν – Verse 13): Translated as “rebuked” or “censured”. This is a strong, forceful verb. It is the same word used when Jesus rebukes demons or calms the raging storm. The disciples were not gently redirecting the parents; they were sternly commands them to stop.
Aphiemi (Ἄφετε – Verse 14): Translated as “let” or “permit.” It means to allow, dismiss, or leave alone. Jesus commands a complete reversal of the disciples’ obstruction.
- “the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). Mimic a child’s social reality: possessing no status to boast of, no achievements to trade on, and an absolute reliance on the grace of the Father.
- The disciples acted as gatekeepers, evaluating people based on worldly metrics of importance and utility. By rebuking His own disciples, Jesus warns the church against creating institutional, cultural, or spiritual barriers that prevent the broken, weak, or insignificant from accessing Him.
- The act of laying on hands (epitheis tas cheiras) and praying was an enactment of patriarchal blessing. By doing this, Jesus physically and publicly transfers the highest forms of divine favor and protection to those whom society deemed disposable.