Mark 10:13 - Meaning and Application

It is often seen as a sign of a kind and tender heart to notice little children, and that was striking in our Lord Jesus. This should encourage both young children to come to Christ while they are still young, and grown people who know their own weakness and childlike helplessness. Because of many troubles and weaknesses, they too are often like little children.

Here we see little children brought to Christ (Mark 10:13). Their parents, or others caring for them, brought them so he would touch them, as a sign that he would bless them and set them apart for good. It does not seem that they needed healing, and they were not old enough to be taught in the usual way. But their caregivers were mainly concerned for their souls, the better part of their lives, which should be every parent’s chief concern for a child. If the soul is well, then all is well.

They believed Christ’s blessing would do their children good, so they brought them to him. They knew he could reach their hearts when nothing their parents could say or do would reach them. We can still bring our children to Christ now that he is in heaven, because he can still bless them from there. In doing so, we trust in the fullness of his grace, in the kind promises he has made to the children of believers, in his covenant with Abraham, and in the promise to us and our children, especially the promise to pour out his Spirit on our offspring and his blessing on our descendants (Isaiah 44:3).

The disciples tried to stop this and rebuked those who brought the children. They acted as if they knew their Master’s mind in the matter, even though he had recently warned them not to despise the little ones.

Christ strongly approved of bringing children to him. When he saw what the disciples were doing, he was very displeased (Mark 10:14). In effect, he asked, why would they hinder him from doing good, especially to the rising generation, the young lambs of the flock? Christ is displeased even with his own followers when they discourage anyone from coming to him, or when they keep children from being brought to him.

He then ordered that the children be brought to him and that nothing be said or done to keep them away. Let little children, as soon as they are able, come to him, offer their prayers to him, and receive instruction from him. Little children are welcome early at the throne of grace with their praises.

He also received them as members of his church, just as they had been members of the Jewish church. He had come to establish the kingdom of God among people, and he used this moment to show that this kingdom includes little children and gives them a share in its blessings. More than that, the kingdom of God is kept up through such children. They must be brought in while they are small, so they may be secured for the future and help carry forward the name of Christ.

There must also be something of a child’s spirit in everyone Christ will own and bless. We must receive the kingdom of God like little children (Mark 10:15). That means we should come to Christ and his grace with the same kind of trust and openness that children show toward their parents, nurses, and teachers. We should be eager to learn, as children are. A learner must believe. A child’s mind is like a blank page, ready to be written on, and so our minds should be open to the work of the blessed Spirit. Children are also under authority, and so must we be. We should say, “Lord, what would you have me do?” We should receive the kingdom of God as young Samuel did, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Little children depend on their parents’ wisdom and care. They are carried in their arms, go where they are sent, and take what is provided for them. In the same way, we must receive the kingdom of God with humble surrender to Jesus Christ and with easy trust in him. We depend on him for strength and righteousness, for teaching, provision, and our full share of blessing.

Christ received the children and gave them what was asked (Mark 10:16). He took them in his arms, showing his loving concern for them. He laid his hands on them, as was requested, and blessed them. See how he went beyond what these parents asked for. They asked only that he would touch them, but he did more.

He took them in his arms. In this, the Scripture was fulfilled: “He will gather the lambs in his arms and carry them close to his heart” (Isaiah 40:11). There was a time when Christ himself was held in old Simeon’s arms (Luke 2:28). Now he held these children. He did not complain about the burden, as Moses did when he was told to carry Israel, that stubborn child, in his arms like a nursing father carries a baby (Numbers 11:12). He was pleased to do it. If we rightly bring our children to Christ, he will take them up, not only in the arms of his power and care, but also in the arms of his pity and grace (Ezekiel 16:8). Underneath them are his everlasting arms.

He laid his hands on them, which showed the gift of his Spirit, for the hand of the Lord means his active power, and it showed that he set them apart for himself. He blessed them with the spiritual blessings he came to give. Our children are truly happy if they have only the Mediator’s blessing for their portion. It is true that we do not read of him baptizing these children. Baptism was not yet fully established as the way people were received into the church until after Christ’s resurrection. But he affirmed their place in the visible church, and by another sign he gave them the blessings that are now given and confirmed through baptism, the seal of the promise that is for us and our children.