Bible Study series: Mark 10:13-16. We should also bless children, especially those in our own household. Don ‘t mistreat them.
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Let’s begin.
Scripture: Mark 10:13-16
13 They brought to him little children, so that he would touch them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he became indignant and told them, “Allow the children to come to me and don’t forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such ones. 15 I tell you the truth: whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God as little children in no way enters into it. 16 Hugging them, he blessed them and placed his hands on them. (Mark 10:13-16)
Comments:
13:
“children”: These children were really young. It is possible to be blessed by Jesus, but how much can they relate to him.
“touch”: apparently the parent held the baby, while he just touched them. Matt. 19:13 adds that the people brought them so that he would touch them and pray. Jesus does more than touch them; he hugs them (v. 16).
“disciples”: BDAG. a thick Greek lexicon, says of the noun that it means (1) “one who engages in learning through instruction from another, pupil, apprentice”; (2) “one who is rather constantly associated with someone who has a pedagogical reputation or a particular set of views, disciple, adherent.”
The disciples miss the boat again, not catching on. Why were they so protective? Were they tense because they were on their way to Jerusalem, and the crowds didn’t know anything about his mission? Jesus did repeatedly predict that he was about to be tried and executed (Luke 5:35; 9:22, 43-45; 12:50 13:32-33; Matt. 16:21; Mark 2:20). So the disciples were afraid, maybe. Or maybe they were simply obtuse. It’s tough to read the inner thoughts of a person, when the text does not disclose them.
“rebuked”: the verb could be translated as “scolded,” “warned,” “censure.”
14:
I like the picture of Jesus calling for or summoning the parents holding their babies. He probably looked disapprovingly at the overprotective disciples. Just as they were scolding the parents with words, he called for them with words that canceled out theirs.
“indignant”: Mark expresses Jesus’s emotions at various times, sometimes “negative” ones like anger and frustration: 1:41, 43; 3:5; 8:12, 17-21; 9:19. He is true God and true man, and being true man he could feel the condition of man without sin.
8. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Was Sinless
“kingdom of God”: What is it? As noted in other verses that mention the kingdom in this commentary, the kingdom is God’s power, authority, rule, reign and sovereignty. He exerts all those things over all the universe but more specifically over the lives of people. It is his invisible realm, and throughout the Gospels Jesus is explaining and demonstrating what it looks like before their very eyes and ears. It is gradually being manifested from the realm of faith to the visible realm, but it is not political in the human sense. It is a secret kingdom because it does not enter humanity with trumpets blaring and full power and glory. This grand display will happen when Jesus comes back. In his first coming, it woos people to surrender to it. We can enter God’s kingdom by being born again (John 3:3, 5), by repenting (Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:5), by having the faith of children (Matt. 18:4; Mark 10:14-15), by being transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son whom God loves (Col. 1:13), and by seeing their own poverty and need for the kingdom (Matt. 5:3; Luke 6:20; Jas. 2:5).
Bible Basics about the Kingdom of God
Questions and Answers about Kingdom of God
Basic Definition of Kingdom of God
1 Introducing the Kingdom of God (begin a ten-part series)
“belongs”: it could be more literally translated: “For the kingdom of God is for such ones.” In the first-century view of things, “such ones” does not mean that they are perfectly innocent, gentle or pure. Children could be the opposite.
What Happens to Children after They Die?
15:
“I tell you the truth”: Jesus’s faith in his own words is remarkable and points to his unique calling. In the OT and later Jewish writings is indicates a solemn pronouncement. It means we must pay attention to it, for it is authoritative. He is about to declare an important and solemn message or statement. The clause appears only on the lips of Jesus.
That is, in Paul’s epistles, for example, he never says, “I truly say to you.” That phrasing had too much authority, which only Jesus had. The clause only appears on the lips of Jesus in the NT. The word appears in a Jewish culture and means “let it be so.” So Jesus speaks it out with special, divine emphasis. “Let this happen!” “Let what I’m about to say happen!” We better take it seriously and not just walk by it or read over it with a casual air.
“welcome”: It could be translated as “receive.” So it is possible to receive the kingdom of God. Welcome or receive Jesus, and thereby you welcome or receive the kingdom of God. He represents the kingdom, and we could even say he is the kingdom of God (Luke 9:48; 17:21).
Note that Jesus says we are to welcome the kingdom like little children. He did not say we remain as little children after we receive it. We need to grow up (1 Cor. 13:11). We need not to overthink things when we initially receive the kingdom. Then we can use our heads. Recall that Jesus said we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30). Don’t disengage your minds after you enter the kingdom.
“in no way”” one translation says “certainly does not enter.” The negation (not) is emphatic, so I chose “in no way.”
“enter”: speaking of entering, we can enter the kingdom. To enter it, a boundary line has to be crossed from the kingdom of the unredeemed, dark, worldly kingdoms to the kingdom of God, the Redeemer and the light (Col. 1:13).
16:
His response shows the Father’s heart for children. He loves them and from heaven he hugs them, and he embraced them and took him in his arms through his Son. Now we are his representatives, and we too should hug and take them in our arms.
To bless is the physical act of speaking. Do you speak blessing over your children out loud, or do you say derogatory things? It is best to bless or speak well of them, to build them up.
He hugged them. Then he placed his hands (on them). Placing your hands on them also signifies blessing them. This is especially important when they are young. Place your hands on them and say, “I bless you!” You can elaborate on this, as you see fit.
One more time, not to be overlooked: he hugged them.
GrowApp for Mark 10:13-16
1. Do you bless your children out loud? Do you hug them?
2. Have you taken your younger children to church and had them dedicated and blessed?
3. Does your church have a program to bless older children and dedicate them to God? If so, have you participated in it for your children?
RELATED
10. Eyewitness Testimony in Mark’s Gospel
2. Church Fathers and Mark’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES
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