Suffer the little children to come unto me

Scripture: Mark 10:13-16

Sermon notes 

Mark #50: Suffer the children to come unto me        Mark 10:13-16

The Saviour’s focus on the family continues here. It is striking that He turns from considering the subject of marriage and divorce to deal with the children brought to Him in these verses.

It is of course the purpose of God regarding marriage that children be born and raised to know Him, Gen 1:28. This command was given to mankind in his unfallen condition, stamped with the image of God to a degree since lost. Important lessons about the raising of children can be learned from God’s stated purpose for marriage.

Children too are going to be exposed to harm by any break up of a marriage. That is what the Saviour has also been addressing in the context. Aside from any natural emotional, psychological harm etc that may be imposed, there is spiritual harm done when sin destroys the God-ordained environment for raising children.

These verses demonstrate the Saviour’s tender heart toward children and towards those who desire His blessing on their children. That tenderness prompts His stern response to the disciples who acted to hinder the children experiencing the blessing of the Saviour.

I  TREATMENT OF CHILDREN THAT DISPLEASED THE SAVIOUR.

1. Disciples. The Saviour must deal with wrong attitudes towards children in the hearts of His servants. Christians can have such wrong views! These erroneous ideas produced actions which grieved the Lord. Their subjective evaluation of the situation was all wrong. The word forbid indicates the conclusion to that assessment. The same verb is also used for honour which is a different result of that assessment.
2. Prevented from coming to Christ. These men became a hindrance to the blessing of God in the lives of these little ones. The disciples got in the way of a desire for the touch of Christ on these children. We are not told what exactly was their reasoning. There are many reasons/actions that become such a hindrance. They felt that the Lord was not going to be interested.
3. Much displeased. It caused Him much pain/anguish and stirred His indignation. The Saviour sternly rebuked His disciples. He was angered by their behaviour. This is an expression of the same kind of censure seen in 9:42.

II  A GOSPEL LESSON.

1. A reminder of a basic gospel truth. Entering the kingdom of God requires a humble, child-like demeanour. Here is the simple faith and obedience necessary for salvation. The Saviour reminds them of the terms upon which a sinner is saved.
2. Application to disciples. This truth was the remedy for the warped thinking of the disciples at this point. Gospel truth regulates the attitudes and behaviour of God’s people. This is why our constant need is to be brought back to such basics. Our first love of Christ, our first grief over sin, our first simplicity in faith and obedience—these are the things that the Christian must seek never to lose. This will keep us from being an obstacle to others and bringing the displeasure of Christ upon us.
3. An exposure. The hearts of the disciples were exposed here. It is clear that at heart they had got away from the mentality required to enter the kingdom. Departure from this state of heart will produce all manner of errors of thought and practice. They had no burden for others to know the touch of Christ, but rather hindered them, because they had lost out on this heart condition.

III   THE SAVIOUR RESPONDS TO THE EXPRESSED DESIRE FOR BLESSING IN THE LIVES OF THESE CHILDREN.

1. Despite obstacles. The Saviour determined to bless them and did so. Despite the hindrance the disciples became! He cleared those obstacles away.
2. He welcomed and embraced them. With open arms He drew them to Himself and closed them in His embrace. How great a contrast to the disciples is seen here. What closeness to the Saviour these children enjoyed!
3. He pronounced His blessing on them. Cp Matt 19:13. He prayed for them.