Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The disciples' reaction to the infants isn't just about busyness; they genuinely thought Jesus, the important Prophet, had more crucial, adult matters to attend to than what seemed like a child's needs. This reveals how easily we can misunderstand God's priorities when we filter them through our own worldly ideas of importance.
Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just moments after Jesus spoke about the kingdom belonging to those who humble themselves like children, people began bringing infants to Him. They wanted Jesus to touch these little ones, perhaps for a blessing or healing, but the disciples, perhaps thinking Jesus had more important matters, tried to send them away. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus to directly teach about the essential childlike qualities needed to enter God's kingdom.
When parents brought their little ones to Jesus, the disciples stepped in. Why did they think this was a distraction, and what did it reveal about their view of Jesus?
The disciples’ reaction to the mothers bringing their infants to Jesus shows a profound misunderstanding of who Jesus was and what his mission entailed.
Misjudging Jesus's Role
They saw Jesus as a Rabbi, a teacher, perhaps a healer of serious ailments. Their worldly lens focused on His importance and gravitas. Infants, they thought, were too young, too insignificant to warrant the attention of such a figure. They rebuked the parents, essentially saying, 'This is not for Jesus; He has more important matters to attend to.'
A Narrow View of the Kingdom
This incident highlights their limited grasp of the Kingdom of Heaven. They couldn't conceive that Jesus’s power and grace extended to the most vulnerable and seemingly unimportant. They hadn't yet learned that Jesus’s heart was for all, especially those overlooked by society. Their correction by Jesus would open their eyes to the expansive nature of God's love and kingdom.
Jesus wasn't just tolerant of children; He actively welcomed them. What does His warm reception tell us about His heart and His kingdom?
Jesus’s response to the infants being brought to Him is a powerful demonstration of His inclusive love and the nature of His kingdom.
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A Divine Invitation
When Jesus saw the disciples rebuking the parents, He was 'greatly displeased.' This wasn't just mild annoyance; it was a strong correction. He used the moment to declare, 'Let the little children come to me.' This wasn't a casual suggestion but a divine invitation, showing that His ministry was meant for everyone, regardless of age or perceived importance.
Infants as Models for Faith
Jesus then pointed to the children, saying, 'for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.' He held them up as the very model of how one should approach God. Their complete dependence, trust, and lack of pretense were qualities essential for entering God's kingdom. By touching and blessing them, Jesus wasn't just offering a comforting gesture; He was showing that His saving grace extends even to the youngest, incorporating them into His divine plan.
Understand the original words
brephos · Greek Noun
The youngest stage of human development; Jesus often highlighted them as models of faith due to their humble dependence.
epitimaō · Greek Verb
To express strong disapproval or to reprimand; in this context, the disciples sought to prevent the people from bringing the children to Jesus.
The disciples' reaction reflects a common human tendency to guard access to someone important, failing to see that Jesus' ministry was one of radical inclusion, even for the youngest and most vulnerable.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Judea
Jesus traveled and taught throughout Galilee and Judea, gathering disciples and attracting crowds with his miracles and teachings.
Early 1st century AD
Disciples' Growing Understanding (and Misunderstanding)
Jesus' disciples were still learning to grasp the nature of his kingdom, sometimes misunderstanding his mission and the implications of his teachings.
Early 1st century AD
Jewish Customs of Blessing and Prayer
In Jewish culture, it was customary for elders and respected teachers to lay hands on children as a sign of blessing and prayer for them.
This passage is a parallel account of the same event, highlighting the disciples' reaction and Jesus' subsequent teaching about receiving the kingdom of God like a child.
Mark 10:13Another parallel account, Mark's Gospel emphasizes Jesus' displeasure with the disciples' actions and his embrace of the children, further underscoring his welcoming nature.
Luke 9:46-48This earlier event in Luke shows the disciples debating among themselves about who was the greatest, and Jesus uses the example of a child to teach humility and service, a theme directly echoed in the infant incident.
1 Corinthians 14:20Paul's admonition to be 'infants in evil, but not in understanding' clarifies Jesus' meaning in Luke 18:17, showing that the childlike quality he values is innocence and humility, not immaturity.
calvinLuke 18:15-17: "And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them."
Then were presented to him children, that he might lay hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked them. 14. And Jesus said to them, Suffer children, and forbid them not, to come to me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 15. And when he had laid hands on them, he departed thence.
And they brought to him children, that he might touch them; but the…
gillLuke 18:15: "And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them."
And they brought unto him also infants,.... As well as grown persons, that were sick, to be healed by him: that he would touch them; in order, as some learned men think, to cure them of diseases that attended them; for one of the ways by which Christ healed persons, was by touching them; nor do we read of his touching in common for any other purpose, or of persons de…
The disciples' reaction to the infants isn't just about busyness; they genuinely thought Jesus, the important Prophet, had more crucial, adult matters to attend to than what seemed like a child's needs. This reveals how easily we can misunderstand God's priorities when we filter them through our own worldly ideas of importance.
Just moments after Jesus spoke about the kingdom belonging to those who humble themselves like children, people began bringing infants to Him. They wanted Jesus to touch these little ones, perhaps for a blessing or healing, but the disciples, perhaps thinking Jesus had more important matters, tried to send them away. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus to directly teach about the essential childlike qualities needed to enter God's kingdom.
Just moments after Jesus spoke about the kingdom belonging to those who humble themselves like children, people began bringing infants to Him. They wanted Jesus to touch these little ones, perhaps for a blessing or healing, but the disciples, perhaps thinking Jesus had more important matters, tried to send them away. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus to directly teach about the essential childlike qualities needed to enter God's kingdom.
"Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them." — The disciples' reaction to the infants isn't just about busyness; they genuinely thought Jesus, the important Prophet, had more crucial, adult matters to attend to than what seemed like a child's nee…
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Last reviewed October 2026