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Mat_19:13. Comp. Mar_10:13. At this point (after being suspended from Luk_9:51 to Luk_18:14) the narrative of Luke again becomes parallel, Luk_18:15.
Little children were brought to Jesus, as to a man of extraordinary sanctity, whose prayer was supposed to have peculiar efficacy (Joh_9:31); as, in a similar way, children were also brought to the presidents of the synagogues in order that they might pray over them (Buxt. Synag. p. 138). The laying on of the hands (Gen_48:14) was desired, not as a mere symbol, but as a means of communicating the blessing prayed for (Act_6:6); hence, with a nearer approach to originality, Mark and Luke have simply ἅψηται and ἅπτεται (which, in fact, was understood to be of itself sufficient for the communication in question).
The conjunctive with ἵνα after the preterite (Kühner, II. 2, p. 897; Winer, p. 270 [E. T. 359]) serves to represent the action as immediately present.
αὐτοῖς ] are those of whom the προσηνέχθη is alleged, i.e. those who brought the children. The disciples wished to protect Jesus from what they supposed to be an unseemly intrusion and annoyance; a verecundia intempestiva (Bengel), as in Mat_20:31.