People were also bringing babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:15-17
“In ancient culture, children could be seen and not heard. They were left on society’s fringe until they were old enough to be useful. The fringe role magnified the impact of what Jesus says here. If he has time for children, he has time for anyone… Whatever their age, they were too young to be considered important by some in the crowd. The disciples saw the attempt to bring children to Jesus as inappropriate. Surely there was a better use of His time and energy. Such trivialities should be prevented. But the disciples had it wrong. They should not hinder the children’s approach.
Jesus turns the event into a two-level lesson, one about children, the other about disciples. The lesson about children is that they are welcome in God’s kingdom. He is available to them. God’s care for them shows that He cares for all. The kingdom is not only for adults. The lesson for disciples is that children are good models for a disciple. Children trust their parents and rely on them. So disciples should rely on their Father. To be part of the kingdom we must receive it in the way a child walks through life. Entry is blocked to those who do not trust the Father. God accepts those who run into their Father’s arms, knowing He will care for them.”
Darrell L. Bock in Luke, series ed. Grant R. Osborne (IVPNT; Downer’s Grove: 1994) 298.
Here we see the least likely characters in the cultural setting held up as “good models for a disciple.” Jesus welcomes the children and blesses them. It relates to generosity because the only way to be conduits of material and spiritual blessings from God is to be completely dependent on God as the source.
Jesus reminds us that if we don’t receive the kingdom, that is, God’s reign in our lives with childlike faith, we will never enter it. What about you? If anyone looks at you, does it appear that you rely on yourself or on the Father for life? Does your generosity show others how to depend on God for rich supply?