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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_10:13-16
13And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." 16And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
Mar_10:13 "were bringing" This is an imperfect tense. The parents continually brought their children to Him for the traditional rabbinical blessing. This has nothing to do with the salvation of these children. They were already considered a part of Israel by means of circumcision and were waiting for their transition to full covenant adulthood at twelve years of age for girls and thirteen years of age for boys.
▣ "children" Luk_18:15 has "infants." In Jewish circles girls under 12 and boys under 13 were considered children.
▣ "touch them" Mat_19:13 has "lay His hands on them" (cf. Mar_10:16). It was very common in Jesus' day for parents to ask rabbis to bless their children. The same act is seen in Gen_48:8 ff. This was usually done on the child's birthday. This blessing was more for the parents' peace of mind than the "saved vs. lost" status of the children!
▣ "the disciples rebuked them" The "them" is ambiguous so early scribes added "those who brought them" (cf. NKJV). However, this is not in the ancient Greek manuscripts à , B, or C, but it is included in A, D, and W. The shorter reading is also found in Mat_19:13 and Luk_18:15. Children in the Near East do not have the privileged status position they do in the West. The disciples would have thought they were protecting Jesus from disruptive, perfunctory activity. However, for Jesus people were always priority
Mar_10:14
NASB, NKJV,
NJB "He was indignant"
NKJV "He was greatly displeased"
TEV "he was angry"
This is a strong word used in Mar_10:41 for the disciples' anger against James and John for asking for the leadership positions and in Mar_14:4 for Judas' resentment of Jesus being anointed. Matthew also uses this term several times (cf. Mat_20:24; Mat_21:15; Mat_26:8).
The Gospel of Mark reveals Jesus' humanity by recording His emotions (cf. Jesus and the Rise of Early Christianity by Paul Barnett, p. 156).
1. compassion for a leper (Mar_1:40-42)
2. anger at the Pharisees' hardness of heart (Mar_3:1-5)
3. indignation to the disciples (Mar_10:13-16)
4. love for the rich young ruler (Mar_10:17-22)
5. deep distress in Gethsemane (Mar_14:33-34)
6. abandonment on the cross (Mar_15:34)
Jesus often showed frustration with the disciples (cf. Mar_6:52; Mar_8:17; Mar_9:19). He saw children as significant creations of God and He loved them. He often used children as object lessons for true faith and discipleship.
▣ "'Permit the children to come to Me'" This is an aorist active imperative, which expresses urgency or intensity.
▣ "'do not hinder them'" This is a present imperative with the negative particle which usually meant to stop an act already in process.
▣ "'the kingdom of God'" This common gospel phrase referred to the reign of God in human hearts now which will one day be consummated over all the earth as it is in heaven. See Special Topic at Mar_1:15.
Mar_10:15 "'Truly'" See Special Topic: Amen at Mar_3:28.
▣ "'whoever does not receive'" This referred to adults. Jesus often used children as spiritual examples (cf. Matthew 18). The NT is a revelation for adults. It does not discuss the spiritual status of children!
This Greek term dechomai originally meant "to take hold of something." In that sense it is parallel to lambanô. It came to be used in the sense of "receiving" or "believing" or "welcoming." There may be a subtle distinction in the sense that dechomai emphasizes the giver, while lambanô reflects an active participation by the receiver (cf. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains by Louw and Nida, vol. 1, p. 572, footnote 31).
The theological thrust is that humans must "receive," "believe," "welcome" Jesus. Salvation involves welcoming a person, believing truths about that person (i.e., the gospel), and living a life emulating that person. There is an initial and ongoing volitional aspect to salvation.
▣ "'will not enter it at all'" This is a strong double negative construction which means "never, no never."
In a sense Jesus is identifying the Kingdom of God as childlike trust and faith in Himself and His teachings. This sounds intolerant in our day, but it is the clear teaching of the NT. It is often called "the scandal of the exclusivism of the gospel." Yet it is true. Faith in Jesus is the only way to the Father (cf. Joh_14:6)! This should engender prayer, witness, and humility, not arrogance, judgmentalism, and pride!
Mar_10:16 "And He took them in His arms" Here is another eyewitness detail of Peter, like Mar_9:36.
▣ "began blessing them, laying His hands on them" Jesus took time for each one. We can trust our children to God's love so clearly revealed in Jesus. As Jesus raised the social standing and worth of women, so too, children. See hyperlink at Mar_7:32.