Luke 18:15-17 · Bible study
Luke 18:15-17 Commentary: Receiving the Kingdom as a Little Child
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus welcomes the children and teaches that entering God's kingdom requires receiving it with childlike trust and humility.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God's kingdom belongs to the lowly and dependent; entry requires receiving it with childlike trust.
- Key words: βρέφη (infants), παιδίον (little child), βασιλεία (kingdom).
- Main debate: Whether the passage supports infant baptism.
- Theological theme: Humility and grace in salvation; the reversal of human values.
- Best use: Teaching on discipleship, children in the church, and the posture of faith.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
15Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.
16But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
17Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
15They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.
17Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”
KJV King James Version 1769
15And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16But 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.
17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
15And they were bringing unto him also their babes, that he should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16But Jesus called them unto him, saying, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God.
17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
15And they were bringing near also the babes, that he may touch them, and the disciples having seen did rebuke them,
16and Jesus having called them near, said, `Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the reign of God;
17verily I say to you, Whoever may not receive the reign of God as a little child, may not enter into it.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
15And they brought to him also infants that he might touch them, but the disciples when they saw [it] rebuked them.
16But Jesus calling them to [him] said, Suffer little children to come to me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God.
17Verily I say to you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
15And they brought unto him also infants, that he might touch them. Which when the disciples saw, they rebuked them.
16But Jesus, calling them together, said: Suffer children to come to me and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
17Amen, I say to you: Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child shall not enter into it.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 18:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this passage corrects the disciples' mistaken view of who matters in God's kingdom. The Cambridge Bible notes that the disciples saw the children as an interruption, but Jesus reverses their thinking. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown explains that the disciples believed 'only grown people could profit' from Jesus, which is why Mark adds that Jesus was 'much displeased.' Lange describes the scene as a farewell blessing as Jesus leaves Galilee. Gill points out that the Greek term βρέφη (brephē) in verse 15 refers to infants, making Jesus' welcome all the more pointed. Matthew Henry highlights that 'none are too little' to be brought to Christ. The central agreement: the kingdom belongs to the humble and dependent, and receiving it requires childlike trust, not worldly status.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Infant baptism support: Jesus welcomes infants, says the kingdom belongs to them, and blesses them — seen as including them in the covenant community.
- Childlike faith required: Verse 17 emphasizes receiving the kingdom as a little child, suggesting a conscious, trusting response rather than a passive state.
What is clear: Jesus welcomes children and teaches that entering God's kingdom requires humility, trust, and a posture of receiving, not achieving.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'such as these' | The phrase points to children's dependent and humble state, contrasting with self-sufficiency. | Some traditions focus on children's innocence or simplicity; others emphasize their lowly status and need for grace. |
| Infant baptism | Jesus welcomes children and declares the kingdom belongs to them. | Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed and Anglican traditions often cite this passage to support infant baptism. Anabaptist and many Evangelical Protestants read it as about the need for personal, conscious faith like a child, not as a baptismal prooftext. |
| The nature of childlike faith | True faith involves trust, humility, and dependence, not self-reliance. | Some understand childlike faith as primarily cognitive simplicity; others stress it as receptive openness to God's gift apart from any human achievement. |
| The disciples' error | The disciples underestimated the value of children and the nature of Jesus' mission. | Some see their mistake as a theological misunderstanding of the kingdom as political; others see it as practical impatience or misplaced priorities. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Bringing children to a rabbi for a blessing was common in first-century Judaism. Adam Clarke compares it to a Hindu guru practice, and Gill notes that parents often sought healing through a rabbi's touch. Here, the word βρέφη (brephē) indicates very young children, even babies. Lange suggests that since this took place on Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem, parents wanted a parting blessing for their little ones. The disciples likely operated under the assumption that Jesus had more important work to do. Their misunderstanding of the kingdom as a temporal, political rule (a point made in the Poole background) made them think children were irrelevant. Mark's gospel explicitly says Jesus was 'much displeased' at their attitude.
The immediate context strengthens this point. Just before this passage, Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, ending with 'he who humbles himself will be exalted.' Now Jesus demonstrates humility by welcoming the least powerful. The setting, a journey toward Jerusalem and the cross, underscores the kind of kingdom Jesus is building: one built on service, not status.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants in Luke 18:15-17. A very few manuscripts show minor differences in word order or the inclusion of the definite article, but the reading is stable across the manuscript tradition.
Reception History
This passage has been central to Christian teaching on children and the nature of faith. From the early church, it was used to argue for the inclusion of children in the Christian community. Tertullian and later Augustine cited it in discussions of baptism. The Cambridge Bible mentions a tradition that Ignatius of Antioch was one of the children blessed here. During the Reformation, Luther and Calvin saw it as supporting infant baptism, while Anabaptist groups stressed verse 17 as requiring personal faith. In modern times, the passage has been widely used in children's ministry and to teach about the disposition required to receive the gospel, humble, open, and dependent on grace.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Unwelcome (v.15): Parents bring babies to Jesus; disciples rebuke them. Why? They think children are a nuisance, not worthy of the Master's time.
- The Welcomed (v.16): Jesus summons the children and announces the kingdom belongs to 'such as these.' He redefines who is important.
- The Required (v.17): Receiving the kingdom like a child is the condition of entry. Childlike means dependent, trusting, without pretense.
Five-point outline
- The disciples' barrier, they blocked access to Jesus.
- Jesus' correction, he reverses their priorities.
- The kingdom's nature, it belongs to the lowly.
- The childlike posture, receiving, not achieving.
- The solemn warning, miss this and you miss the kingdom.
Illustration hooks
- A gatekeeper at a conference tells a single mother her toddler is too disruptive for the main session. The mother feels judged. Jesus' response to the disciples challenges every such gatekeeper.
- A child asks a simple faith question, 'Does God have a belly button?', and an adult dismisses it as silly. But the child's wonder reflects the trust Jesus celebrates.
- Think of a moment you received a gift you didn't earn, someone paid your bill, gave you a second chance. That is how the kingdom is received: as a gift.
Questions your congregation is asking
- What does it mean practically to 'receive the kingdom like a little child' when I'm an adult with responsibilities?
- Aren't children innocent? Does Jesus mean I need to become ignorant or naive?
- How can I make sure my own children feel welcome in church, not just tolerated?
Leading a Discussion
This passage sits right after the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector, which ends with 'he who humbles himself will be exalted.' Now Jesus shows what that humility looks like: welcoming the least powerful and receiving the kingdom as a gift.
Discussion questions
- What reasons might the disciples have had for rebuking the parents? Were they trying to protect Jesus or just impatient?
- How does Jesus' response (calling the children, saying 'let them come') reveal his heart? What does it tell us about God?
- What does Jesus mean by 'of such is the kingdom of God'? Is he saying children are already in the kingdom, or that the kingdom belongs to people who are like them?
- Read verse 17 again: 'whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will in no way enter.' What does it mean to 'receive' the kingdom? Is that different from working for it?
- In what ways do we adults make faith complicated? What would change if we approached God with more childlike trust?
- How might our church culture hinder children, or adults with childlike faith, from coming to Jesus? What can we do differently?
- What is the difference between being 'childlike' and being 'childish'? How does the passage guard against misunderstanding?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 1:24 | When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a container of wine, and brought him to Yahweh’s house in Shiloh. The child was young. |
| Matthew 19:13 | Then little children were brought to him that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. |
| Matthew 19:15 | He laid his hands on them, and departed from there. |
| Mark 10:13 | They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them. |
| Mark 10:16 | He took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. |
| Luke 9:49 | John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow with us.” |
| Luke 9:50 | Jesus said to him, “Don’t forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.” |
| Luke 9:54 | When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky and destroy them, just as Elijah did?” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws a parallel between this scene and a Hindu custom in his own day: a disciple brings his child to a spiritual teacher (gooroo), pressing the child's head to the teacher's feet to receive a blessing of long life, learning, and riches. This illustrates the cultural practice behind bringing infants to Jesus.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary notes that the mothers brought their own babes, following a Jewish custom of seeking blessing from eminent Rabbis. Children belong to the kingdom because they are meek, humble, and trustful, and a tradition (though mistaken) held that St Ignatius was one of these children.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that the infants brought were not newborns but older children capable of being called and coming. He sees the purpose as healing, not baptism. The kingdom belongs to those who are like these children, meaning they receive the Gospel with meekness and humility.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB argues the disciples made a grave mistake in thinking infants could not benefit from Christ. Jesus was "much displeased" because the children did not need to become like adults; rather, adults must become like children to enter the Kingdom. His blessing proved infants are capable of receiving God's grace as infants.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry sees this event as a deliberate follow-up to the parable of the publican, confirming that humble, dependent people are the ones Christ welcomes and blesses. He emphasizes that even infants, too young to serve, are not too young to receive Christ's grace through his touch, which applies his Spirit and makes way for his blessing.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that only Mark records Jesus taking the children into his arms, a tender detail the other Gospels omit. He also draws attention to the Greek word for "infants" (ta brephe), distinguishing this from the broader term for children.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley's focus falls on Jesus' words "of such is the kingdom of God," which he takes as a declaration that childlike persons are the rightful subjects of the Messiah's kingdom. He argues that the kingdom properly belongs to those who resemble children, not merely that children are examples.