Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. Why were the people bringing their little children to Jesus? See Mark 10:13 (printed below)
And they were bringing little children to him, so that he might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. (Mark 10:13)
The parents wanted Jesus to touch their little children and thereby place God’s blessing upon them. They recognized that Jesus came from God and that His touch brought healing and blessing from God.
2. Why do you think the disciples rebuked the people for bringing their little children to Jesus?
Apparently the disciples thought that the little children were insignificant and that Jesus had more important things to do than spend His time laying His hands on little children. It was the disciples’ common practice to try to send people away rather than be bothered with their problems and seek to minister to them (note, for example, Matthew 14:15 and 15:23)
3. How does Jesus react when He saw what His disciples were doing? See Mark 10:14 (printed below)
But when Jesus saw this, he was moved with indignation and said to them, Allow the little children to come to me; and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Mark 10:14)
When He saw what His disciples were doing, Jesus was moved with indignation. In other words, He was angry and offended by the action of His disciples because they were giving the people the false impression that Jesus had no time for insignificant people like little children and His ministry did not include them.
4. Jesus gives the instructions, “Allow the little children to come to me; and do not forbid (or, hinder) them.” What are some ways we might hinder our children from coming to Christ?
We may hinder our children from coming to Christ by living a hypocritical life—speaking like a Christian but living like the world. Another way in which we might hinder our children from coming to Christ is by failing to show them the love and mercy of the Lord Jesus, that He is compassionate and forgiving and willing to restore us when we confess our sins and return to Him.
5. What does Jesus mean when He says, “Anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it?”
What Jesus means is that in order to enter the kingdom of God a person must have the trust and dependence that is characteristic of a little child—a trust and dependence upon Christ. Jesus is not referring to some supposed innocence of a child, for we are all born in sin and need the forgiveness only Jesus can give.
