Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
Summary: Jesus throws us a curve ball with this passage. How do we become like a little child?
The more we look into what Jesus means by having us pray “your kingdom come,” the more I realize that the topic of God’s kingdom is a deep one. We could go on much longer discussing what the kingdom of God looks like and what it means. For now, let’s close out this section with a verse from Mark’s gospel. Jesus says:
“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15)
What is it about a “little child” that is different from you and me?
Each of us has been a “little child” at some point. Do you remember what it was like? The part that stands out in my mind is that regardless of our situation or environment, the “Big People” held a position of power and authority over us. As a little child, I didn’t have a lot of leverage in dealing with Big People. I had to accept their rules.
The other thing I remember is that I didn’t know any better.
Not knowing any better is a mixed blessing. If the Big People in our lives our good, what they do is for our benefit. If the Big People are not good, that is if God is not first in their lives and they don’t always look after their neighbor as themselves, then bad things can happen. When they do, little people don’t always know that they are bad. All they know is the hurt and uncertainty that goes with a bad environment.
The third thing I think is important about little children is that they are not a threat to anyone. Nobody who is older than a little child is afraid of them.
In short, little children are compliant and vulnerable. They don’t have any choice. That is who they are.
Jesus says, “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
What does that mean?
Here is what I think it means: As we get older, we gain perspective on the world around us. We begin to understand the difference between people who care for us and those who hurt us. We develop defense mechanisms. Sometimes we act out the hurt that was done to us and we do it to others.
To put it another way, we develop an attitude toward life. Often, our attitude involves being judgmental. Being judgmental can lead to biases we call being prejudiced.
I think God wants us to leave all of that baggage behind. After all, putting ourselves first is breaking God’s law! (We can’t love ourselves above all else and still love God above all else.) When we trust in God and then share our lives with those around us, we are childlike. And that is the attitude we need to have when Jesus offers us the way to the kingdom of heaven.
Application: Strive to keep God above all else in your life and to treat your neighbors (all of them!) like yourself.
Food for Thought: What kind of “little child” do you think Jesus is talking about?
What kind of “little child” do you think Jesus is talking about?
I once heard a story of a little girl who was asked what she wanted and her answer was” I’ve got two coloring books and a barbie. What else could I ask for. ” I’m sure i got it wrong but that’s the kind of child i pictured. One that isn’t demanding, feeling entitled, wanting more, self centered, or a brat. A child that is happy with what the Lord has provided not looking at what your neighbor has.
Tim,
I like that picture. Contentment in all things.
What kind of “little child” do you think Jesus is talking about?
They have an idea of where we are heading and are happy to be going. They don’t need to know all the details because Dad (or Mom) has that covered.
Truly accepting of a gift with no thoughts of earning it or paying it back, and (unless they have been spoiled) true delight in receiving it.
Immediately look to their parent if things start going wrong.
Thanks Chris,
Looking to the Father for all things is exactly where we need to be.
I agree with the comments above. A child has a simple and complete trust in their parents. We need to have a similar trust in the Lord.
A child will jump off a wall just knowing their father below will catch them. We are being called to live our lives just knowing our Father above will catch us.
Brother Rich,
It is funny you should mention the example that you do. I remember as a kid hearing my dad tell a story where the dad encouraged the kid to jump, promised to catch him, and then let the kid hit the ground to teach them a lesson. It was a horrible story and it left me wondering about what my dad might do in a similar situation. Fortunately, I guess, we never had an opportunity to find out.
Satan is expert at using supposedly “funny” stories to erode our trust in God and each other. I am so glad to know my Heavenly Father. I am glad he understands our human situations as he does and is patient with us while we learn to trust all over again.
Amen brother. Not sure as a father that I would intentionally let my kid hit the ground. When Stevan was small he did this so often I was afraid I would accidentally miss him. But I never did – thankfully.
What kind of “little child” do you think Jesus is talking about?
IN A PERFECT WORLD: We come into this world with nothing except a desire to be fed, kept warm, clean and loved. We totally trust and depend on mommy and daddy for our well being. We totally trust and receive their standards of right and wrong. We run to them when they call our name, come into our room, when we get hurt, or a strander comes near. We find comfort in their presence when we are afraid or uncertain on our own. We grow in knowledge asking them to explain what we don’t understand, and accept their word as truth.
It is a happy, safe world for all children with good parents. And for us there is no better parent than our creator God when we come to Him as His child.
Ron,
This world may not be perfect, but we have a perfect God! Thank you for sharing the stories you have shared and being a living testimony to the power of God to change a life.
As little children we haven’t developed an attitude for life, we are without boundaries. We just did things without really knowing what we were doing. I feel He is talking about children without any boundaries.
I remember when I was a child, sorta, I had no boundaries, I would jump off of the roof of my house not thinking I could break a leg, thank God I didn’t either, I would tell everyone I knew about Jesus and never gave it another thought if I was just giving the pearls I had to the swine.
Now with the attitude of life I do think before I react, I pray more now than when I was a child, I ask for more from my heavenly Father more now than when I was a child, I even argued with my Uncle about Jesus because he thought my Aunt was crazy because she loved Jesus. Then later on in life I found out that he had become a full fledged Christian carrying a bible with him wherever he went.
As child I had no boundaries, I didn’t place any limits for myself as I thought I could do everything through Christ because He is the One that gives me strength. He still does and I still can do all things through Him. I may be a little slower than I was but I still stand strong in Christ.
That’s my take on it anyway,..
Thank you, John.
I love your “take!”
“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15)
The key word is receive. How do little kids receive? I tell my three year old nephew something and he immediately repeats it like it’s the best thing in the world. He refuses to go somewhere alone, but if Daddy or Grandma or Auntie goes , then he’d go anywhere.
The context of the passage in question is also Jesus pointing out that children are a part of the kingdom, not to be shooed away.
These two things lead me to believe that Jesus wants us to take Him at His word, follow where He goes, to not be shooed away, and that there will be children in heaven.
My last point for today is that in Luke’s parallel passage, it appears it was translated babies not children. An even stronger statement. Then are we not all vulnerable? Are we not all held in God’s hands, relying on His protection? Are we all not made innocent by His blood, as innocent as a baby?
Angela,
You make a very interesting point! Thank you!
We are tasked with receiving the kingdom of God. Then Jesus implies if we don’t receive it like a little child, we “will never enter it.”
What are we to make of this? What is the difference between receiving the kingdom and entering it?
There are a lot of places my mind wants to go with these questions, but one that rises to the top is this: While we are in the flesh, we are able to receive Jesus, his Word, and his Spirit. In this way the kingdom of God enters into us. Then Jesus begins his work of transforming us into his image. (2 Corinthians 3:18) We become citizens of the kingdom.
Then, when our time on earth is complete:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21)