[CYM] 43.0 Welcome and Do Not Hinder the Little Children to come unto Me

Yeshua placed special value on children, both as individuals and as symbols of the humility and trust required to enter the kingdom of God. His command to welcome and not hinder children reveals His heart for the vulnerable and His vision for true discipleship.

In Matthew 19:14, when the disciples tried to send children away, Yeshua corrected them:

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

This was not only a command to welcome children physically, but also a declaration of their spiritual importance—they represent the posture all believers should have before God.

Mark 10:14–16 adds that Yeshua was “indignant” when His disciples tried to turn children away. He took them in His arms, blessed them, and said:

Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.

This emphasizes that childlike faith—simple, dependent, and trusting—is essential for entering God’s kingdom.

In Luke 18:15–17, the same scene is described, reinforcing the command not to obstruct children from coming to Yeshua. In welcoming them, believers mirror the welcoming heart of God.

While John doesn’t directly repeat this episode, the Gospel affirms childlike dependence through themes like being “born again” (John 3:3) and becoming “children of God” (John 1:12).

Across the scripture, Yeshua commands: welcome children, value their faith, and never become a barrier to their nearness to Him.