Luke 18

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer 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 shall in no wise enter therein.

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

What does Luke 18:15 mean?

Explanation

Luke 18:15 recounts an event where people were bringing infants to Jesus so that He could touch or bless them.

The disciples, however, rebuked those bringing the children, likely viewing the children as a distraction or considering them as not important enough for Jesus' attention.

Jesus' response, which follows in verse 16, demonstrates His welcoming of all, including infants, and upholds the value of children in the Kingdom of God.

The verse signifies a profound theological stance that emphasizes humility, innocence, and dependence, qualities represented by children, as necessary for entering the Kingdom of God.

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Historical Context

This verse appears in the Gospel of Luke, written around A.D. 80-110, within a Greco-Roman context.

In the Jewish, as well as broader Greco-Roman society, children were often seen as less significant until they reached maturity.

The actions of the disciples reflect a social norm where children's needs and presence would not take precedence over adult matters.

The broader narrative presents Jesus challenging these social norms, subverting expectations on who is worthy of receiving attention and blessing.

Theological Insights

Different streams of theological interpretation see the value in this passage from varying perspectives:

Traditional Christian View: Jesus welcoming children is often interpreted as a direct message to the believers that they should exhibit child-like qualities, such as innocence and humility, to be part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Catholic Perspective: This passage has been used to support the practice of infant baptism, suggesting that children are inherently part of the Christian community and can be claimed for Christ from an early age.
Reformed Theology: The emphasis may be placed on sovereign grace, children are not brought to Jesus based on their merit, but rather on His love and openness, demonstrating grace that is freely given.
Liberation Theology: Some may see this verse as a call to prioritize the marginalized. In the way Jesus uplifts children, so too should the church uplift those who are powerless or without status in society.

Practical Applications

From this verse, believers can draw practical applications such as:

Inclusivity: in communities and congregations, this teaches the value of creating environments welcoming to all ages and stages of life.
Value of Children: it emphasizes the importance of nurturing the spiritual lives of children and not underestimating their capacity to experience and understand faith.
Humility: as a personal attribute, it encourages individuals to humble themselves, recognizing dependence on God's grace, much like the dependence of children.

Cross-References

Matthew 19:14: "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Mark 10:14: "But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."
1 Peter 2:2: "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"

Language Study

Analyzing the original language of the New Testament, which is Greek:

Infants: In Greek, the word used is "βρέφη" (brephe), which refers to infants or very young children.
Touch: The Greek verb "ἅπτω" (haptomai), can be translated as 'touch' but in this context is likely meant to convey the idea of 'laying hands on' or 'blessing.'

The language analysis shows a specific focus on the word choices reflecting the act of blessing and not merely physical touch.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing the Christian narrative to other ancient myths and religious interpretations:

In ancient cultures, it was not uncommon for significant figures, like kings or religious leaders, to bless children.

This act would signify hope for the future and continuity of the community.

Many religions have rites of passage for infants, indicating the importance of including children in the religious life early on.

An example would be the Jewish Brit Milah or naming ceremonies in various cultures.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern developmental psychology affirms the value of positive touch and affirmation in early childhood development.

While the verse is not addressing scientific understanding specifically, its emphasis on the worth and care of infants aligns with what research suggests about the importance of nurturing in the early stages of life.

Commentaries

Experts and biblical commentators offer a range of thoughts on Luke 18:15:

William Barclay suggests that this scene reflects the Jewish custom where children were brought to elders for blessing, and Jesus, being considered a Rabbi, was sought after for this reason.
John Calvin emphasizes the faith of those bringing the children to Jesus, highlighting the necessity of faith in Christ's blessing as an act of grace.
Matthew Henry speaks of the disciples' misunderstanding, seeing the rebuke as a failure to understand the true nature of Jesus' mission and the Kingdom.

Collectively, commentators illustrate the multifaceted application of this verse, from historical practice to the nuances of faith and grace.

Luke 18

Luke 18

What does Luke 18:15 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 18:15 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?