THESE few verses perhaps do not seem to be of great importance, but the fact is that this record is reported also by Mark and Luke, and if all three Gospel writers include it, it must be of serious importance. But what is the importance. Two great truths stand out. The first is Christ's attitude of good towards children. The other is how Jesus describes the character and disposition which constitutes his kingdom.

If we are to understand Christ's attitude to children as is expressed by this incident, we need to understand the scene. We can assume that the parents which brought their children to Jesus believed on him, and however dimly, saw in Jesus more than a man, but one come from God and the Messiah promised. They sought a blessing from Jesus for their children, but the children were not sick, so the blessing must have been of a spiritual kind, a blessing for their soul. That Jesus understood this is seen in the fact that he speaks of the kingdom of heaven belonging to such as these, and that such a blessing of salvation was for children, and children could be blessed with salvation. As we see these parents seeking for Jesus to lay his hands on their children we can observe a desire in them for such a blessing, and a faith that Jesus could and would give it to their children.

Let us notice how it is the parents, and their faith, which is involved in this seeking of Jesus. There is no evidence that the children had any faith whatsoever, or were old enough to have any understanding of spiritual things. It was the parents that had this understanding, and Jesus shows he was ready and willing to grant their request made in faith. That the faith of these parents was real can be deduced by the fact that in coming to Jesus and seeking such a blessing, they were flying in the face of all the prejudice and criticism of the church, the Jewish religion, of the time. It was a brave thing to do.

When the disciples sought to turn the parents away, and rebuked them for bothering Jesus, Jesus told the disciples not to hinder these parents in bring their children to him. In the fuller account in Mark's Gospel (Mark 10:13-16) we are told Jesus took the little ones in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. Can we doubt that this was not merely a gesture of good will, but the actual bestowal of saving blessing on these little ones. And as this is so, should not all believing parents be encouraged to bring their children to Jesus for such a blessing, and believe that Jesus will give such a blessing, which will show its reality as the children grow up and show faith and love for Jesus, as they are nurtured by their parents.

If this is so, what is the proper way for seeking of such a blessing. Those who say categorically that baptism is not for little children and babies because they can't exercise faith, seek such a blessing where they dedicate their child to the Lord in some dedication ceremony. But how can this be seeking the blessing that these parents sought from Jesus in the verses before us, and which Jesus so gladly gave. Such a dedication is a denial of faith in the parents. They are accepting enormous responsibilities for their children, but denying them the blessing Jesus is so ready to bestow.

Surely bringing children to baptism, which has been the practice of the church down the ages from the time of the early church, and practiced by the majority of believers, is the only way which answers the welcome of Jesus to parents to seek his blessing on their children.

What is baptism? It is seeking to receive by faith, by the outward sign of sprinkling of water, or immersing in water, in the name of the Trinity, that Jesus should give them the seal of assurance that he has laid his hands on their children, and bestowed on them the saving blessing which they desire. The blessing is not something magically done by the outward action and sign, but the outward sign is for the believing parents a seal to them, that as they come to Jesus trusting him for his blessing, as these parents did as recorded in the passage we are looking at, they can be assured, as Jesus welcomed the little children then, and took them in in his hands and blessed them, that spiritually he is doing the same for their children. Is it not a denial of faith, and a doubting of Christ's goodwill towards our children, if we are reluctant to do this because of some prejudice, or because others abuse Christ's invitation and goodwill.

Just because some areas in the visible church teach extravagant views which deny the need of genuine faith in the parents, and many come for baptism of their children who have no real faith, and deny faith by their lives, we must not draw back from the genuine and loving invitation of Christ here, which assures believing parents that he is willing to grant them their hearts desire, which is that their children may be given the gift of eternal salvation.

No believing parent, who comes as these parents did to Jesus in these verses before us, will sit back and imagine that the blessing means that they have no need to bother about their children's spiritual welfare thereafter. No! Such believing parents, in gratitude of the assurance of Jesus' good will towards their children, will make every effort to teach their children concerning the blessing, and bring them by example and teaching to know what great blessing they have received.