The “little” occupy some prominence in the words of Jesus and have weighty things said in their connection, for God sticks up for them. (This is not a simple issue of age or stature.)
At that time[a] the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child and had him stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes[b] one child like this in my name welcomes me.
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of offences. For offences will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offence comes (Matthew 18:1-7, CSB). Jesus called over a child. A youngster was the model for kingdom status. For Matthew, this lead in to Jesus’ pro-child talk and warning. In their tender years, or trusting, or compliant ways, the little ones, as well as modelling his will, were also vulnerable. Beware any who take advantage of these little ones.
That was not all. Just a little further on in the text: People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16, NRSV). The big people made Jesus cross! They were standing in the way of children having access to Jesus. I do not see Jesus' action as similar to the modern politician "baby-kissing" photo oportunity. He courted no votes but did relate to children. The child had no less access to him!
If that were not clear enough, Luke has Jesus’ welcome even more strongly: 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 (Luke 18:15-16, NIV). Not merely “allow them”, but “called the children”. I presume any babes in arms were called via their bringers. It is clear that Jesus valued the little children as people. He also saw them as representing what he wanted us big people to be: “such as these” and “people who are like these”. How are you like a "little one"?
Lest there be any shade of doubt of the condemnation for offenders, look back at Luke: Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. (Luke 17:1-2, NIV). Those are surely serious words. Today, unfortunately, we have people in prison, or prison-bound, or prison-deserving, whose actions have been for their gratification, at the expense, and to the harm, of the little ones who are children. (And to the harm of little ones of older years.) It is evident that the heavy stone image (see above) has been ignored by men who knew. Their external professions of Godliness have been useless and can only draw God’s judgement. However, the concern for nurture of God's children is wider than for those young in years (see below).
Above we saw at least one child was nearby to be featured by Jesus as a model of discipleship. I suppose it is possible children attached themselves to what was going on. (They did play in the marketplaces.) But, people brought children. Jesus touched them; he took (some) in his arms. "They" wanted the children to have Jesus' prayer. Which people brought them? Given that Luke refers to really young children (using the same word as for his infants), I think it would be their parents/relatives/carers who brought them. No reason to think of unconnected "helpers".
One specific youngster has a passing mention. All of the Gospels recount a large group one day being fed by Jesus near the Sea of Galilee. The men numbered about 5,000. The disciples asked what about food for the assembly: But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money[g] to buy food for all these people!” “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out” (Mark 6:37-38, NLT). Now look at John’s account: Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money[a] to feed them!”Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” (John 6:8-9, NLT) Evidently they had found there was little food to be had. It was enough for Jesus! The distribution detail is not fully described but all four documents mention the 12 baskets of left-overs. (John alone indicates that the legion-sized body of men wanted Jesus to take on Rome and Jerusalem, right then!) Note the young boy the disciples did find. How did they find that boy? Was he there to sell? Was he just on his own that day? Had he joined the crowd and brought himself, with food? If so, what did the people at home think of that? Was the young boy paid? Questions with no answers.
Jesus' welcome of children is beyond doubt. Leaving aside the issue of children brought as subjects for baptism, in various ways children have been, and are still, seen as a target audience for the good news of God's mercy offered through Jesus. "Targets"? Have I/we got that right? Surely children are part of a family or household, and in this country at least, contact with them should in the very minimum be truly, honestly and constantly open to their "carers at home". Better still, active and transparent communication between messengers and recipients, with full messenger accountability and willingness to listen, hear and answer. The difficult truth is that messengers have no divine right to breach any home-based quarantine of children from the Good News. (I could adduce my/our extensive, tortured and complex story of "school Scripture", or CRE, or SRE, but the principle has wider application than "Scripture".) This question is apart from, but related to, constraint of predators of children.
The New Testament (NT) writers, not least in Jesus’ words in the Gospels, use the words “children” and “little” more broadly, as well as for small in years. So, addressed to the definitely adult followers, we find: Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward” (John 13:33-36, ESV). As well as the many other images (lord, teacher, shepherd, friend, vine, bread, way, etc), Jesus is the caring adult in their lives; in the lives of his followers. He definitely cares about the young in years, about those who may be considered beneath notice, just as he does the “bigger” people who are connected to him, for they, too, are his children.
Luke recounts the joyful return of 70 (or 72) followers from spreading the news and doing Jesus’ work. He then has: At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. (Luke 10:21-23, NIV). I think Jesus shared the disciples' good feelings, but from a different source. There were those people in their world at that time who were counted as “something” and occupied prominent public roles. (So it is today.) But, these ordinary and uncredentialed followers, these "little children", had heard God’s own voice. They knew! They had a great privilege. (We, you and I, have such a privilege.) He calls them “nippers” or little children; God chose the foolish and despised to bear his truth, in child-like trust, to the world, to us.
How could these big people (Jesus' children) be deflected to fall away from him? He gave warning which is recorded quite early in Matthew: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:15-23, NIV). So, ask for Jesus' help. He cares for the well-being of all his children. He does not want you or me to be deceived by individuals or bodies (false prophets) who may have all kinds of fine labels and be given status amongst us. Their ultimate end is to be sent away. Here I can only say, read the Bible, especially the NT, and keep on reading (or listening) and asking God for help in understanding. Unfortunately, no internet source (like a blogger!) comes with God's guarantee, nor do speakers or writers of any shape or location or avenue. Hopefully you can gain benefit from your engagement, but it is always provisional and must be so. (I am saddened to see speculation or invention put forth in the name of God as though the nonsense content was, or is, divinely inspired.)
A little more NT use is made of the child-follower imagery: And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.
Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous (1 John 2:28-3:7, NLT). Similarly to the passages from the Gospels, the first letter of John uses the young one image a number of times. It is really clear that God’s children are to, and do, reflect the family likeness. Anything else is false. Sadly, there are those who set out to deceive. God's children have some responsibility to avoid being deceived. God’s children belong by right in God’s family. They (had) have full confidence in God’s acceptance because of their trust in Jesus. Thus one becomes an adopted child of God. This privilege is yours and mine through Jesus. To his children now the promise of more to come.
Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Scripture quotations marked (CSB) are from the Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Note. I retain in the publishers' text where they occur the references to footnotes (eg, [a], [b]), but usually not the notes. You can check them out by viewing the text on-line. Often they are replicated in different translations.
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
Images sourced from
 |
| Basalt (heavy) millstones found at Capernaum - were ones like these in Jesus' mind - see below? |
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of offences. For offences will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offence comes (Matthew 18:1-7, CSB). Jesus called over a child. A youngster was the model for kingdom status. For Matthew, this lead in to Jesus’ pro-child talk and warning. In their tender years, or trusting, or compliant ways, the little ones, as well as modelling his will, were also vulnerable. Beware any who take advantage of these little ones.
That was not all. Just a little further on in the text: People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16, NRSV). The big people made Jesus cross! They were standing in the way of children having access to Jesus. I do not see Jesus' action as similar to the modern politician "baby-kissing" photo oportunity. He courted no votes but did relate to children. The child had no less access to him!
If that were not clear enough, Luke has Jesus’ welcome even more strongly: 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 (Luke 18:15-16, NIV). Not merely “allow them”, but “called the children”. I presume any babes in arms were called via their bringers. It is clear that Jesus valued the little children as people. He also saw them as representing what he wanted us big people to be: “such as these” and “people who are like these”. How are you like a "little one"?
Lest there be any shade of doubt of the condemnation for offenders, look back at Luke: Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. (Luke 17:1-2, NIV). Those are surely serious words. Today, unfortunately, we have people in prison, or prison-bound, or prison-deserving, whose actions have been for their gratification, at the expense, and to the harm, of the little ones who are children. (And to the harm of little ones of older years.) It is evident that the heavy stone image (see above) has been ignored by men who knew. Their external professions of Godliness have been useless and can only draw God’s judgement. However, the concern for nurture of God's children is wider than for those young in years (see below).
Above we saw at least one child was nearby to be featured by Jesus as a model of discipleship. I suppose it is possible children attached themselves to what was going on. (They did play in the marketplaces.) But, people brought children. Jesus touched them; he took (some) in his arms. "They" wanted the children to have Jesus' prayer. Which people brought them? Given that Luke refers to really young children (using the same word as for his infants), I think it would be their parents/relatives/carers who brought them. No reason to think of unconnected "helpers".
One specific youngster has a passing mention. All of the Gospels recount a large group one day being fed by Jesus near the Sea of Galilee. The men numbered about 5,000. The disciples asked what about food for the assembly: But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money[g] to buy food for all these people!” “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out” (Mark 6:37-38, NLT). Now look at John’s account: Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money[a] to feed them!”Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” (John 6:8-9, NLT) Evidently they had found there was little food to be had. It was enough for Jesus! The distribution detail is not fully described but all four documents mention the 12 baskets of left-overs. (John alone indicates that the legion-sized body of men wanted Jesus to take on Rome and Jerusalem, right then!) Note the young boy the disciples did find. How did they find that boy? Was he there to sell? Was he just on his own that day? Had he joined the crowd and brought himself, with food? If so, what did the people at home think of that? Was the young boy paid? Questions with no answers.
Jesus' welcome of children is beyond doubt. Leaving aside the issue of children brought as subjects for baptism, in various ways children have been, and are still, seen as a target audience for the good news of God's mercy offered through Jesus. "Targets"? Have I/we got that right? Surely children are part of a family or household, and in this country at least, contact with them should in the very minimum be truly, honestly and constantly open to their "carers at home". Better still, active and transparent communication between messengers and recipients, with full messenger accountability and willingness to listen, hear and answer. The difficult truth is that messengers have no divine right to breach any home-based quarantine of children from the Good News. (I could adduce my/our extensive, tortured and complex story of "school Scripture", or CRE, or SRE, but the principle has wider application than "Scripture".) This question is apart from, but related to, constraint of predators of children.
 |
| With Jesus, all may be little and children |
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward” (John 13:33-36, ESV). As well as the many other images (lord, teacher, shepherd, friend, vine, bread, way, etc), Jesus is the caring adult in their lives; in the lives of his followers. He definitely cares about the young in years, about those who may be considered beneath notice, just as he does the “bigger” people who are connected to him, for they, too, are his children.
Luke recounts the joyful return of 70 (or 72) followers from spreading the news and doing Jesus’ work. He then has: At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. (Luke 10:21-23, NIV). I think Jesus shared the disciples' good feelings, but from a different source. There were those people in their world at that time who were counted as “something” and occupied prominent public roles. (So it is today.) But, these ordinary and uncredentialed followers, these "little children", had heard God’s own voice. They knew! They had a great privilege. (We, you and I, have such a privilege.) He calls them “nippers” or little children; God chose the foolish and despised to bear his truth, in child-like trust, to the world, to us.
How could these big people (Jesus' children) be deflected to fall away from him? He gave warning which is recorded quite early in Matthew: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:15-23, NIV). So, ask for Jesus' help. He cares for the well-being of all his children. He does not want you or me to be deceived by individuals or bodies (false prophets) who may have all kinds of fine labels and be given status amongst us. Their ultimate end is to be sent away. Here I can only say, read the Bible, especially the NT, and keep on reading (or listening) and asking God for help in understanding. Unfortunately, no internet source (like a blogger!) comes with God's guarantee, nor do speakers or writers of any shape or location or avenue. Hopefully you can gain benefit from your engagement, but it is always provisional and must be so. (I am saddened to see speculation or invention put forth in the name of God as though the nonsense content was, or is, divinely inspired.)
A little more NT use is made of the child-follower imagery: And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.
Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous (1 John 2:28-3:7, NLT). Similarly to the passages from the Gospels, the first letter of John uses the young one image a number of times. It is really clear that God’s children are to, and do, reflect the family likeness. Anything else is false. Sadly, there are those who set out to deceive. God's children have some responsibility to avoid being deceived. God’s children belong by right in God’s family. They (had) have full confidence in God’s acceptance because of their trust in Jesus. Thus one becomes an adopted child of God. This privilege is yours and mine through Jesus. To his children now the promise of more to come.
Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Scripture quotations marked (CSB) are from the Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Note. I retain in the publishers' text where they occur the references to footnotes (eg, [a], [b]), but usually not the notes. You can check them out by viewing the text on-line. Often they are replicated in different translations.
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
Images sourced from
- Holylandphotos.org
- Pixabay.com
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04/09/24
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