What is the meaning of Luke 18:15? Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus Parents did not wait until their children could speak or understand; they came immediately, believing Jesus was the source of life’s greatest blessing. • Scripture treats little ones as genuine gifts from God (Psalm 127:3). • Like Hannah presenting Samuel to the LORD (1 Samuel 1:27-28), these families publicly acknowledged God’s claim on their children. • The scene echoes an earlier moment in Luke when shepherds hurried to see the newborn Savior (Luke 2:15-17); now parents hurry to bring newborns to the grown Savior. for Him to place His hands on them Laying on of hands signified personal attention and covenant blessing. • Jacob placed his hands on Ephraim and Manasseh, praying, “May the Angel who has redeemed me from all harm bless these boys” (Genesis 48:14-16). • Jesus regularly touched those He blessed or healed (Mark 1:41; 10:16). • Touch in Scripture communicates both identification and impartation; Jesus literally touched humanity in order to save it (Hebrews 2:14-15). And when the disciples saw this The disciples, still learning Christlike priorities, viewed the infants as a distraction from “important” ministry. • Earlier they had argued over greatness, and Jesus set a child before them as the example (Luke 9:46-48). • Adults often assume that children contribute little, yet Jesus values the meek and lowly (Matthew 11:25). • Their reaction exposes how easily human standards of significance clash with the Savior’s heart (Isaiah 55:8-9). they rebuked those who brought them Rebuke here means an open scolding, a forceful attempt to shut down access to Jesus. • Crowds once “rebuked” blind beggars, but Jesus stopped and healed them (Matthew 20:31-34); He never endorses gatekeeping the needy. • James condemns favoring the socially important over the seemingly insignificant (James 2:1-4). • By hindering parents, the disciples mirrored legalists who burdened seekers with obstacles (Luke 11:52). Jesus will immediately correct them in the next verse, teaching that “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Luke 18:16). summary Luke 18:15 shows parents acting in faith, infants embraced as worthy recipients of Christ’s touch, and disciples mistakenly pushing them away. The verse reminds believers that all people—starting with society’s smallest—need unhindered access to Jesus. It calls the church to welcome children, trust God’s covenant care from the earliest days of life, and resist attitudes that measure worth by age, status, or perceived usefulness. |
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